Nikki Muslim, Leiha (Grade R) Gordon Road Primary School, Durban, KZN

There has definitely been an improvement from Leiha since starting SEMAS. She doesn’t get marks at this stage of her schooling, but I have noticed a change. Her attention span and concentration level has improved. She has grasped the concept so well, which amazes me, and there has been an improvement in other aspects of her school work. I have started teaching her words and spelling and have also been using the visualisation technique (taught at SEMAS), which has been great.

We are kept well informed as to the progress and lessons of the class promptly after each lesson. The girls in the class are advancing at their own levels and I am glad that the stronger ones are being allowed to move ahead at their own pace and not kept back to accommodate the rest of the class. Learning something new, especially maths, is always a challenge, but my child is always eager about her lessons. She does not have a fear of maths as we all had as kids.

Thanks to SEMAS she finds it exciting and fun, and to see her face when she gets the answers correct – PRICELESS!

Natashia Reddy, Kyran (Grade R) Chelsea Preparatory Northway, Durban North, KZN

Kyran has not been doing maths at school previously however it is amazing to see someone his age perform maths calculations in his head. He has amazed me and others! I have noted that he is more focused and has developed a liking for maths as a result of his attendance at SEMAS classes. SEMAS has certainly illustrated to him that practice makes perfect and his love for maths has grown as his performance has improved.

It is wonderful to see him strive for something – working towards achieving a high test mark, and now we have been talking about how nice it would be to represent SA in the International Competition. He realises to get there he will have to work really hard. It is obvious that his instructor loves what she does, and that is vital to transfer that love to my child. She is caring and loving and this is awesome.
The general admin and service levels are above average. For me it has been money very well spent.

Claire Gatonby, Ryan (Grade 2) Chelsea Preparatory Northway, Durban North, KZN

I have noticed an improvement in Ryan’s confidence since starting with SEMAS. Ryan has developed an enjoyment for maths which is invaluable. He wants to do his SEMAS homework. He will do it on weekends voluntarily. I am completely satisfied with the service levels and level of tuition received from SEMAS. It is the best investment we make for “extra mural” activities.

I would highly recommend it. I must complement the teacher on her personal attention to the children and the good work done in developing his love for the subject. We will definitely continue with SEMAS.

Ingrid Green, Mitchell (Grade 5), Highbury Preparatory, KZN

Mitchell has always done well at school, and it is difficult to isolate the variables, but since starting Semas he has come top in his class, he has an increased memory span and therefore doesn't have to learn much for tests, his confidence in maths has improved and his speed with which he calculates sums has improved immensely and is phenomenal. He enjoys SEMAS so much that he chose it as his topic of interest for a public speaking competition in which he reached the finals, exuding confidence.

His Semas instructor has been extremely approachable and has made herself available to answer any questions, any time, if he is having difficulty. She understands Mitchell and has motivated him to excel – a true reflection of her dedication, commitment and belief in SEMAS .

Jeff and Wendy Blackbeard, Ross (Grade 3), Winston Park Primary, KZN

Ross has been Level 4 of 5 (Good Achievement) the whole year. Since starting SEMAS, Task Completion has moved from 3 (Satisfactory) to 4 (Good) – it has been noted that his speed in everything has improved dramatically – which means that he is able to move onto extended work which he was not able to do previously.

I have noticed an improvement in Ross’s confidence, particularly once he was made Champion of Champions at the SEMAS National Competition in August!! He has definitely become more self confident and assertive (this is in combination with and his karate and other achievements).

His instructors have shown tremendous individual interest in Ross and there have been many times he has needed an individual lesson to enable him to move to the next Kyu. Ross has thrived under his instructor’s guidance and has exceeded all our expectations! The small group teaching since mid year has enabled Ross to progress at a fantastic rate. We believe that SEMAS is a really good tool to assist the development of a child and fits so well into our belief of the infinite scope of what a child is able to achieve.

The one area Ross has always had a weakness has been the “completion of tasks” and SEMAS has addressed this requirement directly. The speed with which he has covered the volume of work in the last 4 months is incredible. SEMAS definitely requires dedicated tutors combined with commitment and time from the parents.

The initial 2 terms of an hour a week at school and half an hour to an hour homework in the week would have seen Ross lose interest – we needed to escalate the levels more quickly and as soon as I requested that in May, his instructor responded and Ross has benefitted tremendously!!

Lindi Barrett, Joshua (Grade 3), Ethan (Grade 1), Zach (Grade R), Hillcrest Christian Academy, KZN

I have noticed an improvement in all three of my children’s’ confidence since starting with SEMAS. I so enjoy SEMAS for the way in which it teaches the children to think in a manner different to what they learn in school. I like the children to learn to think “out of the box” (a wonderful life skill) and SEMAS is a great way to facilitate this.

Tracy Hauptfleisch, Daniele (Grade R) Hillcrest Pre-Primary, KZN

Daniele is in grade R and she has achieved top ratings for the basic numeracy that they are assessed on at this age. I have observed a definite improvement in Daniele’s confidence levels. Daniele assists me with my SEMAS presentations and demonstrations to parents and she confidently stands up to demonstrate the skills learned through SEMAS, at times to 200 parents.

Daniele has been doing SEMAS for a year now. At the age of 5, she easefully moves through the Grade 1 maths work books. I am extremely impressed with Daniele’s development over the past year. Although she is only in Grade R, she is able to mentally compute addition and subtraction sums with ease and confidence in seconds using the technique of visualising her abacus. She has not learned any other maths techniques at school, and therefore for her, SEMAS is the only way to do Maths.

She does not even consider “pulling up her fingers” to count. I have noticed her concentration has greatly improved, she is thinking “out of the box” and thus her problem solving capability has improved in all walks of her life. She is able to write and recognize numbers into the 100’s which is quite rare for a child her age. She truly loves SEMAS and loves working with numbers. She takes out her SEMAS books at any opportunity she gets (with no encouragement from me).

She is very competitive and seems to have an insatiable desire to constantly learn more. I am very sure that when she goes to Grade 1 next year she will excel with any number related learning that she encounters. As a SEMAS Instructor, I am daily in awe at what a child of her age can achieve, and she has helped me to realise that it is us as parents that set the limits on our children’s learning by assuming that they are too young to understand something as complex and abstract as maths can be. SEMAS makes it so easy for them, and the sky is the limit.

Stuart and Jill Milligan, Lloyd (Grade 1) Penzance Primary, KZN

Lloyd achieved all 5’s on his third term report for numeracy since advancing with SEMAS, which is an improvement on previous reports. I have noticed an improvement in other school marks during the same period. There has also been an improvement in Lloyd’s confidence since starting with SEMAS. Lloyd is a shy child, however, with team involvement and enjoying a particular activity, he is growing in confidence and participation. Our SEMAS Instructor sends out a weekly email, keeping parents informed relating to work and progress. We also receive SEMAS Newsletters.

The weekly email from the SEMAS Instructor is greatly appreciated. It is informative for the parents and assists us in assisting our children with homework, and we too get to learn something new. Thank you and I hope that my son and I get to venture overseas with SEMAS in the future.

Bonnie Van Vollenhoven, Jaydene (Grade 1) Atholl Heights, KZN

I have seen a definite improvement in Jaydene’s maths/numeracy results. I cannot believe the difference. Instead of 3’s and 4’s, she is getting 4’s and 5’s – really amazing! Her other school marks have all jumped up during the same period. I have noticed an improvement in Jaydene’s confidence, especially because of her maths results. Jaydene thoroughly enjoys her Instructor and loves the way she teaches.

Michelle Gordon, Emma (Grade R) Chelsea Preparatory Northway, KZN

Emma is a very introverted and shy child, and she has taken to SEMAS and her Instructor like a duck to water, and I am thrilled about that. For me to see Emma being happy and confident enough to go to SEMAS classes is an indication of the quality of service and teachings. I have noticed how much better she has got with her SEMAS homework, and how much easier she is working with her abacus. She even uses her abacus when she is doing sums on her little Barbie computer. It has definitely been an advantage that the SEMAS class is a small group of children.

Bronwyn van der Lingen, Chezney (Grade 2) and Joshua (Grade R)

Chezney’s teacher has commented that her maths skills are exceptional. Joshua’s teacher has commented that he has a love of numbers and has improved greatly with his numeracy skills. Both of their reading skills have improved. Chezney has always been a confident little girl, and Joshua was always very shy, but lately has really come out of his shell and is showing a huge improvement in self confidence. Chezney has always been a social and confident child but lately she has been
completely confident in her maths skills... to the degree that she is even teaching her little brother.

With Joshua, the social interaction at classes has had a huge positive effect on his shyness. Joshua loves to be given a task and to be acknowledged when he gets it right. I think SEMAS has helped improve his self confidence in a huge way, since he is learning and achieving something in his SEMAS lessons, and it gives him a wonderful sense of achievement. I read every feedback note and it is so nice to see the SEMAS teachers show a genuine concern and affection for the children.

While doing SEMAS with the kids may be a job, you can also see the passion the teachers have for their little ones.
This is something you don’t see often enough these days and I think it is fantastic. Well done!

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