We spend a lot of time at MPA discussing our approach to whole child education, emphasizing that we go beyond teaching just the traditional "core" subjects.  In this case, I'm going to do something different, so hopefully you won't consider it a sin to talk math for a moment!  In addition to our math classes, we have a variety of enrichment opportunities for students as they move through the Middle School, including several competitions against other schools.  Read to the end of this blog for the opportunity to solve an extra-credit problem!

This year, for the first time in recent memory, we have a thriving middle division math club at MPA.  It's for 7th and 8th graders, is advised by Dan Ethier, and consists of about 30 students.  That's right--approximately one-quarter of our students in grades seven and eight are in math club!  Even more impressive, these students are missing study hall for the opportunity to work on math problems an extra 35 minutes every other day.

For those of you with 5th and 6th graders, you may be interested to know that we have a couple of fun math opportunities coming up soon.  All 5th and 6th graders may participate in the annual Mental Math Bee here at MPA.  They take a pre-test in classes, and the top students in each homeroom compete in front of their peers to solve problems in their heads. We also field 5th grade and 6th grade Math Masters teams, each of which will compete at the regional level this spring.  That competition consists of a combination of individual fact knowledge, individual problem solving and group problem solving.

Plus, each year our 7th and 8th graders put together a team of math competitors in a challenge called the MathCounts examination.  This isn't just a test (though the team members are chosen through a test), but is a combination of individual problem solving, quick-answer work and group problem solving. This year's competition, held last Saturday at Century College, pitted more than 80 competitors, representing 14 different middle schools and junior highs, against one another.  Our team did great: Colton G. finished in 2nd place, John B. took 6th, and six of our students were in the top 23.  And the team WON, sending them to the Minnesota State Championships in early March!  (This is the 8th time in the last 12 years that MPA has gone to State in Math Counts competition.)  Congratulations to Mr. Ethier and the team!

As you can see, we do teach to the whole child here, which in our case includes all subjects. In sum, math is alive and well at MPA!

Extra Credit: How many math terms you can find in the above blog?