For Ms. Nusri Hassam, academic instruction specialist at FA^x, math is less about memorizing facts and more about nurturing logical thinking and building confidence, one step at a time.

Drawing on her own early challenges with math, Ms. Hassam brings genuine empathy and thoughtful, research-informed strategies to each one-on-one session.

A Personal Connection to the Struggle

Ms. Hassam’s passion for teaching math stems from her own journey as a learner.

“I actually didn’t like math until about Grade 11, which is when I was gifted with a phenomenal math tutor,” Ms. Hassam reflects.

“Having walked through the frustration of feeling lost in math, I understand the barriers neurodivergent students face, and I know the kind of change a good tutor can bring about.”

That pivotal experience inspired her lifelong commitment to helping students overcome their own academic challenges.

The Power of 1:1 Instruction & Thinking Algorithms

Early in her career, Ms. Hassam discovered just how powerful small-group and individualized instruction can be. At FA^x, she combines one-on-one academic support with ongoing professional learning to help each student reach their potential.

Rather than leaving students to struggle on their own, the FA^x approach is thoughtfully designed around a few key principles:

• Continuous Success from Day One: Lessons are structured so that students experience meaningful successes right from the start.
• Scaffolded Learning: Robust support is provided at first, and then gently eased as students grow in independence.
• Thinking Algorithms: Students learn clear, logical steps to approach problems, building understanding rather than relying on guesswork.

When students discover how to approach a problem with confidence, the clarity they achieve is truly rewarding—for them and for Ms. Hassam.

Overcoming Working Memory Hurdles

One of the most common hurdles in math is working memory: holding onto and recalling concepts when they are needed most.

To help bridge the gap between short-term understanding and lasting memory, Ms. Hassam often uses spaced repetition and creative mnemonics.

She shares a favourite moment demonstrating this in action with a student learning fractions:

“He needed to remember that the numerator is always on top of the denominator. He relied on the physical action of nodding his head to hook the terms to the N over the D.”

“Now it was just a matter of repeating the terms until he could recall them efficiently, instead of relying on rote memorization.”

Rebuilding Self-Esteem, One Win at a Time

Math anxiety and self-doubt often walk hand-in-hand with learning challenges. Ms. Hassam’s approach to rebuilding self-worth is both simple and powerful: begin with small steps.

By celebrating each small victory, students soon find the confidence to take on bigger challenges. In just a few weeks at FAx, many students move from feeling discouraged to embracing new academic goals with enthusiasm.

Looking to the Future: Fostering Independence

For Ms. Hassam, true success is watching her students become so independent that they no longer need her help.

“The thing that keeps me motivated is to see how successful my students have become with their math. Over time, they are fully independent learners and don’t need me anymore. They send me report cards showing proficiencies all the time.”

Her passion extends well beyond K–7 learners.

Reflecting on how many adults, including her own mother, grew up with undiagnosed neurodivergence, Ms. Hassam sees even greater opportunities to offer support.

Her dream is to launch a “Math for Moms” course that empowers parents with the same clarity and confidence she shares with her students each day.

Ms. Hassam teaches 1:1 Math Essentials Instruction at FA^x. For more information, or to enroll your child for in-person or virtual math instruction, visit fraseracademy.ca/x or email fax@fraseracademy.ca.