Studying 15 minutes can save you 15% or more on math tests

Encouragement comes in many forms, 10 minutes and a flip camera....

Fun!

Math Meet!

Every year for the last six years Juda hosts a conference math meet (could say I do).  The first meet was a ton of work, and it is still quite a few hours - especially creating keys.   This post stared as just a break from the hours of making solutions three nights ago.  It is always a lot of work - but it always works out well.  I think this something every conference should do - it is a great way to do mathematics - to celebrate academics.

The meet ran yesterday and was a really nice time.  Our small school of about 95 students, had about 205 mathletes doing problems.  It is a fun math day.

The hardest part is creating the tests.  With that knowledge I would offer anyone who wants help with getting tests made for their first year.  I am willing to help whoever get this running in their school and/or area.  It is a fun day for my students and the other conference schools. 

For me it is just chance to tie what we do in class, to something outside of class.

Summer School Math - Passion makes it fun.

So today was the first day of our school's summer Math class - a skill practice class.  I like the idea, coming in 12 days total scattered over 5 weeks for 90 minutes a session.  Just hitting up the things we had already worked on, it is a way to help them recall skills (build on some concepts) and just make sure the students don't backslide.  I did a little recruitment by saying it would be different than the school year (wasn't sure how though when I said it) and got a 1/3 of the 9,10 & 11th graders.
 
So I started with a "scavenger" hunt -- where the clues lead to practice problems that they completed in teams.  I ran the 2 classes with passion, I was really pumped up - and that in turn pumped them up!  They practiced math, ran the halls and overall had a relaxed first day.  I am following up with some relay games coupled to practice problems, then I want to do some sort of "math lab."  (That is the part I have not figured out yet - I have to create/find/steal some sort of math lab.  The lab needs to make sense to supporting/growing skills.)

But first things first, today went well.  Math was fun...

Math Meet - a chance for all!

Today was the 5th annual Six Rivers Conference Math Meet!  It was exactly 5-3/4 years ago that I acted on the thought that our small school and the others in our athletic conference really needed an academic math event.  It has gone from me and other teachers begging students to being part to being an expected event!

It also gives a chance for students to do math in a fun and challenging environment.  But there is one caveat, the more, the merry is our motto.  Fill up a team then go ahead and throw a few more students on the bus, with proper expectations everyone can be part.  Juda had 56 students in the meet today -- out of a school of 92 students.  Each student had a reasonable expectation, which really centered with them just doing their best.

To those who say a student who can only get one correct should not be part - I say "posh."  It is an event, a problem solving day, a growth day - a day where math is really neat, really interesting.  And when done in the proper mood with students it becomes an event that your class room academics can build from and be better.  Math events should not only be gifted and talented events, though those students might excel, it should be event for anyone who can work the problems and learn from the experience.
 

And at least in this little corner of the world we have done it this way and have had success.

Math Team Season

So I am really excited, the first (and only in this area) math meet is happening at UW-Platteville in a couple of weeks.  I am big believer that everyone can be part and this year over 1/2 of the High School has signed up.  Right now it is 52 out of 92 about 56%.

We practice during lunch as a group and support each other on the team; all the while setting individual expectations and experiencing a great, fun, off-site math day.  Some students are there to do their best and hope to get 1 out of 10, while others are going for a perfect score.  We all go -- I have a "lead" team but everyone works and plays together and we celebrate the day together.

And this works, I am actually able to use the math meet as a carrot for students not completing work or struggling.  (Can't take a student on math team that cannot finish homework, etc.)

Students will follow their leaders, so I get the student leaders on my side.  It is slow process that has taken years...  But I really feel we are reaping the rewards now.