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“My child is taking Russian Math at the 5th-grade level with Damir Nassymkhan at Russian Math Tutors. Damir has been teaching math concepts in a much broader way than we are used to at school — including logic, understanding word problems, looking and finding similarities and analogies in solving problems, not just repeating the same type of actions over and over. This is what we have been looking for — a more holistic approach to math.”

— RMT parent (tutor: Damir N.)

“After almost 100 or so lessons, Etty remains kind, professional and experienced. My daughter finds her straightforward, logical approach much easier to understand than her teachers at school. Etty has extensive knowledge in all areas of mathematics, and met my daughter at her level. She tutored her almost daily in preparation for the ISEE assessment — my daughter achieved high scores and is now at a selective independent school in the greater Boston area.”

— RMT parent (tutor: Etty B.)

“Zurab asked questions to check my understanding and encourage critical thinking. He drew graphs or used Desmos whenever possible, which helped me to visualize the problem. Moreover, he provided physical interpretations whenever possible, bridging the gap between theory and real-world applications. I highly recommend this math tutor for his teaching methods and dedication to student growth.”

— RMT parent (tutor: Zurab J.)

Russian Math BYOM Tutoring
The Peterson Method — Online & In-Person

BYOM (Build Your Own Math) — the authentic Soviet-origin curriculum developed by L.G. Peterson. Students derive math by solving problems, not memorizing procedures.

Why BYOM Works

  • The authentic Peterson method — kids rediscover math principles themselves with a tutor's guidance — "not a student for mathematics, but mathematics for a student"
  • Tens of millions of students — have studied the Peterson program over 30+ years (Peterson Institute)
  • Developed by top Soviet mathematicians — Peterson, Vilenkin, Dorofeev — the curriculum that trained more than half of the RF national math team
  • Online or in-person — 1-on-1 online, in-person at our San Jose center, or in-home with selected tutors
  • English or Russian — pick a tutor who teaches in English, Russian, or both — perfect for Russian-speaking families

Live Video. Real Whiteboard. No Typing.

Most online math programs are group sessions with typed chat — slow, clunky, and disconnected. We use 1-on-1 live video with an interactive whiteboard:

  • →See your tutor explain problems in real time
  • →Draw diagrams, write equations, sketch your thinking
  • →Ask questions immediately — no chat lag
  • →Watch BYOM-trained tutors guide your child to discover math principles — the Peterson way
Live 1-on-1 video lesson with interactive whiteboard

BYOM Curriculum — Grades K–12, Built on the Peterson Method

BYOM covers 10 grade levels (preschool through 9th grade) using the curriculum L.G. Peterson developed with Naum Vilenkin and Georgy Dorofeev over 50 years. Each lesson starts with a challenging problem; students derive the solution with the tutor's guidance rather than copying a procedure.

The program adapts to every student. Gifted students tackle the hardest problems; students who struggle in traditional math often level up once they experience the discovery-first approach. Your tutor diagnoses your student's starting point and paces accordingly.

Early Years (K–2)

  • Number Sense & Counting Discovery

    Counting, number comparison, basic addition and subtraction through concrete problems. Kids discover place value by trying to count groups of 10 and 100 on their own before being shown the shortcut.

  • Early Geometry & Pattern Recognition

    Shape recognition, symmetry, pattern completion. Introduction to logical thinking through grouping tasks and simple puzzles. Pre-reading friendly — most tasks are visual.

Elementary (3–5)

  • Multiplication Discovered Through Problem-Solving

    The classic BYOM example: students try to add 856 copies of 120 until they invent multiplication themselves. Division, fractions, and decimals introduced the same way — through problems that demand the next operation.

  • Measurement, Fractions & Early Algebra

    Units of measure, fraction arithmetic from first principles, introduction to variables as placeholders. Word problems that train the student to translate language into math.

Middle School (6–7)

  • Pre-Algebra, Ratios & Proportions

    Negative numbers, rational numbers, ratio-and-proportion reasoning. Students write and manipulate simple algebraic expressions — derived, not memorized.

  • Intro to Proofs & Logical Reasoning

    First exposure to mathematical proof. Students learn to justify each step of a solution and to spot logical errors — the habits of mind that distinguish a mathematician from a calculator operator.

Secondary (8–9)

  • Algebra 1 — Polynomials, Factoring, Functions

    The full Algebra 1 curriculum via BYOM: polynomials and factoring from scratch, introduction to functions, linear equations and inequalities, combinatorics and probability.

  • Bridge to High-School Math

    Students completing BYOM are ready to jump into our Algebra 2, Geometry, or Olympiad tracks with a deeper foundation than peers from standard curricula.

Download the BYOM Workbooks

We publish our workbooks as free ebooks so parents can preview what their child will work on:

We intentionally do NOT publish answer keys with the ebooks — the point of BYOM is for students to derive solutions themselves. Paid tutoring or our scheduled group classes get full answer walkthroughs.

About BYOM & The Peterson Method

What BYOM is

BYOM stands for Build Your Own Math. It's the authentic Soviet-origin math curriculum developed by L.G. Peterson (born 1950, doctor of pedagogical sciences) working with Naum Vilenkin and Georgy Dorofeev. The program spread through Russian kindergartens and schools starting in the 1990s and has since been studied by tens of millions of children.

RMT runs the only “Pure Russian Math Program” in the US — a direct adaptation of the Peterson curriculum for American families. Every BYOM tutor on our platform is trained in the Peterson methodology.

Why the Peterson method works

Standard US math teaches procedures. Peterson teaches problem-solving. Instead of "here's the multiplication rule, now practice it," BYOM students face a challenge ("the school needs to buy 856 students each a $120 book") until they invent multiplication themselves.

The result: independent thinkers who can derive formulas from first principles. If they ever forget a procedure, they can reconstruct it. More than half of the RF national math team studied under Peterson's system. Students in Peterson programs consistently score 82–100% on 4th-grade final exams and 71–85% above-average on standardized tests.

How lessons work

Sessions are 1-on-1 or small-group (2–4 students) over live video with an interactive whiteboard. Your tutor draws, writes equations, and sees your child's thinking in real time — no typed chat, no lag. Prefer in person? Families in the South Bay can join in-person classes at our San Jose Bernal Road center, and selected tutors across the country offer in-home sessions.

Standard pacing is 2 lessons per week. No long-term contract — buy lessons individually or in packages. Group lessons average $18/hour per student; private 1-on-1 averages $30/hour (varies by tutor).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BYOM the same as "Russian Math"?

Yes — BYOM is the authentic Russian Math. The confusion is that many US "Russian Math" schools have diluted the original program to meet US/UK curriculum standards. BYOM is the real thing: the Peterson/Vilenkin/Dorofeev curriculum used in Soviet and Russian math schools for decades.

What ages is BYOM for?

Preschool through 9th grade (ages 3–15). The Peterson curriculum is a continuous 10-year program. Students who finish BYOM move into our Algebra 2, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus programs.

Is BYOM only for gifted kids?

No. Peterson designed the program to be suitable for all students. Gifted students take on the hardest problems; students who struggle in traditional math often level up fast once they experience the discovery-first method. Every student is expected to reach a baseline, and no one is held back from going further.

How much does BYOM cost?

Pricing varies by tutor. On average, private 1-on-1 lessons run about $30/hour and small-group lessons average $18/hour per student. Browse our BYOM tutors to see each tutor's rate and book a free trial lesson.

Can I see sample BYOM materials?

Yes. We publish all BYOM workbooks as free ebooks in our Russian Math Books Library. We intentionally don't publish answer keys — the whole point is for students to derive the solutions themselves. Tutors walk through answers during lessons.

What Parents Are Saying

Rated 4.8 / 5 across 148 verified reviews from parents of K–12 students at Russian Math Tutors.

★★★★★

“My child has been having class with Meiram. He's extremely patient. He focuses on the thinking process a lot. After a few classes I can see a change in how my child approaches problems. She doesn't give up easily and believes that she can solve the problems on her own.”

Veronica Lee  ·  Tutor: Meiram  · 
★★★★★

“Shabnam is absolutely wonderful! She's a very smart teacher who is consistently friendly and patient with my 11-year-old and 8-year-old even when they're not in the best of their learning moods. She explains concepts very well in different ways if needed, articulates very well, and has wonderful positive energy overall. We highly, highly recommend her!”

J Kim  ·  Tutor: Shabnam  · 
★★★★★

“Lilit Khiat is the best math tutor we have worked with. She easily found a way to engage with our son and connect with him to make him feel comfortable. She's encouraging and makes math accessible to him, actually improving his participation and his drive for wanting to learn more. He's always happier and feels better after coming out of a lesson and is getting more and more confident with math. I would highly recommend working with her.”

Letitia Borelli  ·  Tutor: Lilit Khiat  · 
★★★★★

“Etty is an amazing teacher. She is efficient and covers a lot of material, provides encouragement, gives my son time to think through an answer, and adapts the lesson and her teaching to his level and skills. My son ALWAYS looks forward to math lessons, which I didn't think was possible! I can see how this is slowly building up his confidence and comfort with numbers.”

RMT parent  ·  Tutor: Etty  ·