A name for your extracurricular A description of the extracurricular and what activities will take place A designated faculty adviser Signatures from potential members A plan that outlines the structure of your meetings A proposal form
Planning a budget for funding things such as transportation, team t-shirts, and food. Getting permission for transportation to competitions in accordance with school and district policies. Some alternatives to this would be asking for funding for bus transportation or simply having students arrange their own rides. Hosting events such as mail-in competitions, guest speakers, and fundraisers will also require you to get your school’s permission well in advance.
What is the purpose of your math team? What are the needs and opportunities you will address? What will you do to address those needs? What values will create the foundation of your math team?
You can also look into recruiting parent volunteers or other community members who will be able to get the necessary approval to work at your school.
Making posters and flyers to put up around your school Posting on your school’s website or other social media accounts about your math team Publishing a brief introduction to the math team in your school’s newsletter Giving an informative presentation during class time Hosting virtual or in-person information sessions for both students and parents Offering free things like pizza or small prizes at your first meeting to get students interested in attending.
Talk with your school principal about any empty classrooms or office space that may be available. Inquire about hosting meetings outside of the school building, such as at a local library, and if that’s permitted. If you start the team early enough, students probably won’t have joined many other clubs and will most likely have more of an open schedule to fit the math team in. [8] X Research source
Math competition practice problems. This will help students get used to the format of competition questions as well as the rigor of competitive-style math. Reviewing homework. This is a great way to cement some of the harder topics that may have been covered in class. [10] X Research source Exponent Battle. This is a fun and simple card game that helps students practice multiplying out exponents. [11] X Research source What Would Pythagoras Do? This is an activity where students use the Pythagorean Theorem to figure out how many feet of lights will be needed to decorate the roof of a house. [12] X Research source
This is also a good item to show your principal and parents of students as proof of how you’re running the team.
Be kind to everyone. Raise your hand before speaking. Never be afraid to ask for help. Do your best every day no matter how hard the work may seem. Be open to new ideas and ways of thinking even if you don’t necessarily agree.
Specific. What needs to be accomplished? Who’s doing it? What steps need to be taken? Measurable. Add a specific quantity to track your progress more easily. Achievable. Your goal should be within your ability to eventually achieve. Relevant. How does this goal fit into the bigger picture? Time-bound. By when will you achieve this goal?
Absolute Value: Hosts math/puzzle competitions for middle schoolers with a focus towards creating a fun and collaborative environment. [16] X Research source AMC 8: A contest for students in grades 8 and below that is hosted annually by the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) to students all across the US. [17] X Research source Beestar National Competition: The largest online math competition for students in grades 2 through 8. [18] X Research source MATHCOUNTS: This competition offers 4 levels of live, in-person competitions throughout the year–school, chapter, state, and national. [19] X Research source
Creating a math team website, blog, or Facebook group where you can post updates about the team and schedules for future activities. Sending out a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly newsletter to keep students’ families up to date Posting in your school’s newspaper or newsletter about the math team’s achievements and upcoming activities
