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Mathematics contests such Waterloo and the American Mathematics Contests are perhaps the most commonly attended extracurricular math programs. The most immediate importance of these mathematical competitions is apparent: they increase the interest of students in mathematics and inspire them to pursue academic pursuits.
Kids love games, and many turn just about any activity into a contest, or something to be good at, in other words. Math contests inspire them to become good at mathematics, just as physical fitness is encouraged by sports. Students finally set the games aside. Hopefully, by then, an interest in the underlying operation has emerged.
Kids can be taught in such a way that they are prepared to become future leaders capable of solving future problems that are unique and complex, including those that we don’t even know about yet.
Goods of Math Contests
Many students profit from engaging in math contests, and there are many competitions to choose from. Many websites & institutes offer a more comprehensive list, an excellent resource for all mathematical stuff. Here is how these contests are helpful for kids;
Develop problem-solving abilities
Preparing for math competitions allows kids to assess their progress and develop their problem-solving abilities. They work preferably with a mentor or math coach who can give them personalized attention and help them find areas for improvement.
In competitive settings, some kids excel, and a successful score gives them satisfaction in their skill. Most of all, competitions can make math more appealing, particularly in the early years. After all, the ultimate objective should be to have fun, as in all children’s activities.
Identify Challenges
Although numerate children can apply the math and problem solving skills they have to problems similar to those they have already solved, mathematical mastery prepares young people to use the resources they already have to solve issues unlike those they have seen before.
It is better for teachers or guardians to identify more challenging problems that could require five to eight steps before a solution is found, rather than showing high-scoring children more problems that are equivalent to those their teacher has already discussed in class.
Math Circles
For several youngsters, definitely, but not for all. Some children just don’t care about competitive math. Many sites offer comprehensive online tools related to math competitions. For the ones that aren’t?
A viable alternative could be math circles. “In an informal environment, after school or on weekends, math circles bring K-12 students together with mathematically sophisticated leaders to work on interesting mathematics problems or topics. Math Circles combine significant content with environments that foster a sense of discovery and enthusiasm about mathematics through problem-solving and interactive exploration,
Conclusion
Although math contests are part of many middle schoolers’ lives, most parents do not realize that for elementary schoolers they are also an option.
In an era when extracurricular makes many demands on family time, parents of students of all ages may question whether to add math contests to the mix. For many youngsters, these math competitions are extremely fun and insightful.