A few years ago, my young daughter described school as follows. “English is easy. Math is hard and Science is like magic.” The science description made me smile. The math description made me wince. Math is essential to our success as individuals and as a nation. But the reality is that most Americans agree with my daughter. Math is hard.
But there is new cause for hope. A group of sixth graders at Marshall Simonds Middle School is proving that math can be fun.
The first year of the Marshall Simonds sixth grade Math Olympiad Club wrapped up its last session this week amid raucous cheering and celebrating as the students triumphed over their computer in a fun-filled, cooperative math game.
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Jennifer Arcabascio, a sixth grade math teacher and the Math Olympiad Club’s leader, sat down with me this week to share her thoughts on the Club’s first year.
“I love math,” enthused Arcabascio. “I’ve really enjoyed working with these advanced students because I can do so many things with them creatively."
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The club has 24 members who were chosen from over 40 students who elected to take the entrance exam. The top scorers were admitted and met twice a week after school from October through March. Parents paid a fee for their child’s participation.
Arcabascio, whom the students call Miss A, had some simple goals for the group.
“I want them to have fun with math, and learn to be better problem solvers,” she explained.
She certainly achieved the fun part of her goal if one can judge by the shining, excited faces of her students as they enter their classroom.
The club is part of a nationwide Math Olympaid organization (www.moems.org) and the students compete against kids from other schools for both individual and team prizes. Contests occur monthly and at the end of the season, prizes are awarded. All the children receive a certificate for participating and additional awards are given for Perfect Score, Outstanding Mathlete and more.
“The contests are hard. They’re something to look forward to,” said sixth grader Alexandra Deligianidis. “Math Olympiad is fun. It challenges you,” she added.
Arcabascio does not know ahead of time what skills will be tested each month but the skills are generally high sixth grade through eighth grade math skills. Arcabascio spent much of the club’s time on concepts such as working backwards, number sense, finding patterns and “guess and check” to teach students different problem solving techniques. The club members learned Excel graphing, worked with circles and tackled logic puzzles. They also made use of the school’s supply of iPads and laptops.
The sixth graders created a function machine which utilizes algebra skills and completed a scaling project which involves working with ratios.
Superintendent Dr. Eric Conti praised the program and said that it will be continued for grade six next year. It is also funded for grades four and five at all elementary schools.
“I will support the school's decision to expand to grades seven and/or eight next year if there is interest,” said Conti.
Club member Julian Lechner is interested.
“I like math club,” smiled Lechner. “You get to learn ahead of what you learn in regular school.” And then, proving that he’s still a regular kid, he added “My favorite part was the Quarks game.”
Julian’s father is equally enthusiastic.
“I am extremely happy with this program. I am so pleased that the school department is paying attention to this. We need more math programs for our kids,” said Marcelo Lechner.
You can learn more about the Math Olympiad program at Marshall Simonds Middle School by visiting the Club’s web site at www.msmsolympiad.wordpress.com.
