My Experience as Coach of

MATHCOUNTS PROGRAM @

Peterson Middle School

Pankaj Kumar Pankaj Kumar

MATHCOUNTS @ PetersonMATHCOUNTS @ Peterson

• Who Am I?Who Am I?

• What is MATHCOUNTS?What is MATHCOUNTS?

• Why have a MATHCOUNTS Program?Why have a MATHCOUNTS Program?

• How are MATHHCOUNTS problems different How are MATHHCOUNTS problems different than, say, STAR Test problems?than, say, STAR Test problems?

• Logistics of Running a MATHCOUNTS Logistics of Running a MATHCOUNTS ProgramProgram

• What made it work?What made it work?

• Challenges I facedChallenges I faced

All About MeAll About Me

• An Involved ParentAn Involved Parent– My daughter is in 6My daughter is in 6thth Grade at Peterson Grade at Peterson

• A Software Engineer (tbp, Enterprise A Software Engineer (tbp, Enterprise Architect)Architect)– Work at Yahoo!Work at Yahoo!

• An Engineering graduateAn Engineering graduate– B. Tech. in Computer Science from IIT Kanpur B. Tech. in Computer Science from IIT Kanpur

(1989)(1989)

• A math-o-phileA math-o-phile– Love numbers and mathematicsLove numbers and mathematics

What is MATHCOUNTS ?What is MATHCOUNTS ?

• A non-profit organization promoting mathematics A non-profit organization promoting mathematics among middle school studentsamong middle school students– Details at Details at http://mathcounts.org – The cost of participation is nominal (less than $100)The cost of participation is nominal (less than $100)

• Supports MATHCOUNTS programs in schoolsSupports MATHCOUNTS programs in schools– Provides questions and instructions for volunteer coachesProvides questions and instructions for volunteer coaches

• Conducts math competitionsConducts math competitions– Competitions are held at School, Chapter, State and Competitions are held at School, Chapter, State and

National levelNational level– State and National winners get recognition and State and National winners get recognition and

scholarshipsscholarships

Why MATHCOUNTS?Why MATHCOUNTS?

• Differentiated learningDifferentiated learning

• It is about problem solvingIt is about problem solving

• Nurtures competitiveness Nurtures competitiveness

• An opportunity for studentsAn opportunity for students

• Is notIs not– Help for homeworkHelp for homework– A tutoring programA tutoring program– Competition to Soccer practiceCompetition to Soccer practice

How are MATHCOUNTS problems different from STAR Test?

A Sample 7th grade Problem fromCalifornia Released Tests

• Sub division into rectangles is indicated• Numbers to be multiplied are small• multiple choice

A MATHCOUNTS problem

• Needs to reason that the area of the shaded region is difference of the area of small square and triangle• Needs to compute height of the triangle by identifying two similar triangles

LogisticsLogistics

• Announce the Program ( Sep. timeframe )Announce the Program ( Sep. timeframe )– I created a program FlyerI created a program Flyer

• Collect SignupsCollect Signups– A class of 30 is idealA class of 30 is ideal

• Coaching sessionsCoaching sessions– Weekly sessions of 60+ minutesWeekly sessions of 60+ minutes

• School level competitionSchool level competition– At the end of JanuaryAt the end of January

• Participation in Chapter level competitionParticipation in Chapter level competition– Top four get to participateTop four get to participate

What made it workWhat made it work

• Tremendous support from School and Tremendous support from School and SCUSD AdministrationSCUSD Administration– Both Principal Mrs. Susan and GATE coordinator Mrs. Both Principal Mrs. Susan and GATE coordinator Mrs.

Barbara were very supportive and involvedBarbara were very supportive and involved– School office took care of making copies of handoutsSchool office took care of making copies of handouts– Access to a classroom after school hoursAccess to a classroom after school hours

• Yahoo! ManagementYahoo! Management– Allowed me to spend 2 hours every weekAllowed me to spend 2 hours every week

• Parent participationParent participation– Parents brought refreshmentsParents brought refreshments– Frequent e-mail communicationFrequent e-mail communication

• A dedicated webpage for problemsA dedicated webpage for problems– This is evolving into a real web applicationThis is evolving into a real web application

Challenges I FacedChallenges I Faced

• Little interest from 7Little interest from 7thth and 8 and 8thth graders graders– Still puzzles meStill puzzles me

• Culture ShockCulture Shock– Why be smart if it is not COOLWhy be smart if it is not COOL

• Mechanics of paying the registration feeMechanics of paying the registration fee– Learning how to work with beurocracyLearning how to work with beurocracy

• (Un)suitability of the MATHCOUNTS (Un)suitability of the MATHCOUNTS problemsproblems– I ended up designing my own problemsI ended up designing my own problems

Thank you!Thank you!