Math Contests Revisited

Homeschooling with Technology

290: Math Contests Revisited

In this episode of the Homeschooling with Technology podcast, we revisit the topic of math contests with guest Haley Story. This episode builds on Haley’s previous discussion from Episode 243 Math Contests, where she introduced listeners to the topic. Now, with a year of experience running multiple contests, Haley shares valuable insights on what works, what doesn’t, and how these contests can benefit homeschoolers, particularly those in middle school.

Episode Highlights:

• Recap of Math Contests:
  • Math contests are academic competitions that involve problem-solving and logic skills rather than traditional math problems found in school or on standardized tests.
  • Benefits of participating in math contests include exposure to the fun side of math, development of test-taking skills, and opportunities to build community and friendships within the homeschooling community.
• Why Homeschoolers Should Consider Math Contests:
  • Math contests can introduce students to academic competitions with less time commitment compared to other contests.
  • Participation can help students develop resilience in competitive environments and realize that they may not always be the best, exposing them to a world of gifted peers.
• Important Considerations:
  • Stress the difference between a competition and a test to avoid pressure on students to achieve perfect scores.
  • Make the contests low-key and fun to ensure students enjoy the experience, with activities like game days or social events after contests.
  • Let math contest days replace regular math assignments to avoid overwhelming students.
• Types of Students Who Thrive in Math Contests: Haley suggests that all students should try a math contest, but those who particularly enjoy logic puzzles, are motivated by competition, or have a strong interest in math will likely benefit the most.
• Math Contests Covered:
  • Bebras Challenge: An international computational thinking contest with fun, interactive logic puzzles. It’s free, accessible to students from kindergarten through 12th grade, and an excellent introduction to academic contests.
  • Noetic Learning Math Contest: A 20-question contest with a mix of easy and challenging problems, ideal for grades 2 through 8. This contest is offered twice a year and is perfect for group settings.
  • American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8): A more challenging contest aimed at middle school students, the AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice exam that covers topics like algebra, geometry, and number theory. Haley describes the AMC 8 as ideal for students who are more serious about math competitions and looking for a national-level challenge. There is also an AMC10 and AMC12 for high schoolers
• Practical Tips for Organizing Contests:
  • Form a homeschool group to register participants for contests like Bebras.
  • Offer small prizes and participation awards to keep the contests enjoyable.
  • For group settings, consider organizing a math club or circle to foster a sense of community among participants.

Article mentioned:

• Some great articles are found on AoPS website. Here is one: https://artofproblemsolving.com/blog/articles/math-competitions-when-youre-not-competitive

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