Embedded Files
Meet Your Instructor
Meet Your Instructor
Julia Mandryk holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics with an emphasis in numerical methods, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with advanced coursework in statistics and quantitative business reporting.
Her background combines systems thinking with extensive experience in marketing performance measurement and digital systems optimization.
Driven by a deep interest in the science of learning and how students learn math, Julia transitioned from her corporate career to focus entirely on mathematics education. She founded Foxberry Math to put proven, evidence-informed teaching strategies into practice within a small, instructor-led setting. She aspires to help every student develop the skills and confidence needed for independent math success.
Julia continues specialized study in math education to deepen her pedagogical knowledge, bringing a research-grounded approach to mathematics instruction.
The Meaning Behind the Name
The Meaning Behind the Name
Foxberry is the English name for Vaccinium vitis-idaea, known in Russian as brusnika. It is a wild evergreen shrub native to the tundra and taiga, including the boreal forests of Siberia, Julia's native region. Brusnika is an essential symbol of cold-weather resilience, organic strength, and concentrated vitality, producing small red berries that endure freezing temperatures to yield their deepest flavor.
At Foxberry Math, we connect that natural resilience with rigorous structural clarity. We view math challenges not as a fixed limitation, but as a temporary frost that can be worked through. Because math knowledge is cumulative, learning depends on secure foundational skills. Through structured teacher modeling, guided practice, and explicit feedback, initial difficulties yield deeper conceptual understanding and procedural fluency.
Founder's Story: How Foxberry Math Started
Founder's Story: How Foxberry Math Started
The idea for Foxberry Math was born when my own fourth grader prepared for her first Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) assessment. An informal at-home practice test five weeks before the exam showed where targeted support would build greater readiness. Through dedicated, step-by-step guided practice, she approached the test with calm confidence.
While that short-term effort achieved its immediate goal, it highlighted a deeper truth: last-minute test preparation often creates unnecessary stress, whereas addressing foundational needs early lets mathematical understanding grow at a natural pace.
Inspired by that experience, I spent the following months synthesizing research on cognitive load, explicit instruction, and cumulative practice. That work led to the official launch of Foxberry Math: a structured, 30-week program designed to catch prerequisite concepts early, protect working memory, and foster habits of self-verification and independent reasoning long before exam season arrives.
Core Pedagogical Approach
Core Pedagogical Approach
Beyond mastering efficient standard algorithms and methods with understanding, our broader goal is helping students develop the habits of independent self-study. In our sessions, children build genuine interest in verifying their mathematical results rather than simply rushing to an answer.
With guided teacher support, students learn to locate, characterize, and correct their own errors, determine the root cause of a difficulty, and thoughtfully evaluate the effectiveness of their problem-solving steps. Through carefully sequenced mathematical problem solving questions, students gain the confidence and internal tools to analyze unfamiliar problems, engage deeply with mathematical reasoning, and continue learning independently.
Grounded in the science of spaced repetition and cumulative practice, our instructional approach continuously builds on prior concepts week after week. Instead of short-term cramming before assessments, this approach helps students deeply consolidate mathematical ideas, build reliable procedural fluency, and form a resilient foundation for higher-level middle school math.
The Six Pillars of Our Math Instruction
The Six Pillars of Our Math Instruction
1. Explicit Instruction & Scaffolding
1. Explicit Instruction & Scaffolding
We model step-by-step reasoning using a "Model, Guide, Practice, Apply" progression. As support is gradually removed, students build the internal habit, "Let's figure this out."
2. Meaning Before Procedure
2. Meaning Before Procedure
We connect visual models, graph paper arrays, and math language to formal equations so students understand why an idea works before applying symbolic steps.
3. Efficient Algorithms & Schema Building
3. Efficient Algorithms & Schema Building
Standard algorithms provide reliable frameworks for problem solving. Teaching proven methods frees up working memory, allowing students to focus on complex reasoning.
4. Active Paper-Pencil Practice
4. Active Paper-Pencil Practice
Students calculate, draw, and organize problem-solving steps in graph paper notebooks, building secure skills through deliberate written effort and focused engagement.
5. Accuracy Before Speed
5. Accuracy Before Speed
Students first establish strong, reliable accuracy on paper. Timed practice is introduced only after accuracy is secure, protecting students from math anxiety.
6. Mistakes as Information & Memory Retrieval
6. Mistakes as Information & Memory Retrieval
Errors highlight learning needs. Short retrieval exercises at the start of sessions address natural memory decay, helping move knowledge into long-term memory.
Free 30-Minute Math Consultation & Mini-Assessment
Free 30-Minute Math Consultation & Mini-Assessment
Meet virtually via Google Meet to discuss your child's current math experience, learning goals, and school math context. This introductory meeting combines a brief consultation with an informal skills check to help determine the best program fit across our small-group and 1:1 options.
Have questions before booking your free 30-minute consultation? Read Our FAQs.
To express interest, please send an email inquiry to contact@foxberrymath.com with your name and your child’s current grade. Additional details can be discussed during our meeting. Following your inquiry, you will receive a private calendar link to select a preferred day and time. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response.
Report abuse