Math Clubs
ANSWERS AND CONTACTS

1. Are your coaches teachers or parents or a combination of both? How do you get them involved?

(Heather Forcash) In the early days of our club last year, the teachers began as the primary coaches. As more students become involved, their parents also came aboard and joined the teachers as co-facilitators. I think it was the enthusiasm brought home by students that sparked the interest of parents.

(Gordon Winther) Our Mathematics Pentathlon program is part of the program offered to students during the school day. Students that participate meet on a weekly basis throughout the school year. They are organized in groups of 10 - 20 students by division level to learn, discuss and play the games.

Teachers use individual or the complete package of games within their math instruction. I serve as a resource for those teachers to get the games started and to act as a sounding board for questions that both teachers and students ask.

(Marianne Whelchel) Our coaches are parents, with the exception that the Division IV coach is a middle school teacher. Several of our elementary teachers provide assistance with the clubs and help out at the Mathematics Pentathlon tournaments.

(Rochelle Swensson) Our coaches are teachers and instructional assistants (IA). Our IAs are almost exclusively certified teachers. It has been my experience that professional educators have the experience necessary to both impart the Mathematics Pentathlon knowledge needed and control the behavioral climate of the practice sessions. The added advantage to using school employees is that they are generally present every day and are therefore routinely dependable.

(Cynthia Wiley) Teachers run and organize the clubs. Parents are asked to volunteer to help at math club meetings, a practice tournament in March and the National Mathematics Pentathlon tournaments.

(Roger Brenneman) Our Mathematics Pentathlon program is run by our teachers. For each Division, I offer assistance to teachers wanting to help teach Mathematics Pentathlon games.

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2. How is your club organized? When and how often does it meet?

(Marianne Whelchel) Our clubs are organized as parent cooperatives. We meet October through April; the schedule for meetings is twice per month from October through January. We meet weekly from February through April. Our clubs meet Mondays after school from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Our kindergarten club meets on Wednesdays from 11:15 a.m. to 12 noon. We schedule about four parents to work per meeting, depending on the size of the club.

(Cynthia Wiley) It meets on Wednesday starting in October. Grades 2 through 5 meet after school from 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Our first grade meets before school from 7:00 a.m. to 8:05 a.m.

(Rochelle Swensson) We have a general sign-up period of two weeks in September. Practice groups are then organized and begin meeting weekly after school for one hour from October until the spring tournaments. It has always been our goal to "take all comers." That has routinely given us a group of 100+ students (school population = 700) meeting each week.

(Gordon Winther) Our program is organized by students/parent choice. Interested students sign-up for the program with their parents' permission with the knowledge that they are making a commitment to attend the Mathematics Pentathlon tournament for their grade level. The tournament is used as a culminating experience where they are using what they learn in a real life situation.

Again, students meet during the school day on a weekly basis. We also have a number of what are called "Family Math Nights" where students invite their parents to come to school in the evening to show them how the games are played. This puts the parents in touch with the program and also provides an opportunity for students to have a one-on-one contact with an adult in learning the games.

(Heather Forcash) The club began in early October of last year. We met twice a week for 1 1/2 hours through mid-March in an after-school setting.

Students were placed in after-school classes based on grade level. They were released to the playground after dismissal of the regular day and were picked up by the after-school teacher after a short time. Following a short snack, students began to complete Mathematics Pentathlon activities until dismissal.

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3. What factors did you consider when establishing your meeting days and times?

(Rochelle Swensson) Several years ago we asked parents if before or after- school meeting times would best suit their needs. Most selected after school. The day of the week is typically chosen after reviewing staff obligations and coaches' person schedules. It can change from year to year.

(Roger Brenneman) We try to select a day that suits most students. Meetings are held after school. Shuttle buses are available at 5:30 p.m.

(Gordon Winther) The days and times that we meet are determined by what works best for the teachers whose classes these students are coming out of.

(Heather Forcash) The days were determined by availability. Since this club was established last year for the first time, it was not on the original calendar. We chose the best days which would allow the most students to participate.

The time was determined for us by the transportation department and the hour when buses would be available to return to the school to take students home.

(Cynthia Wiley) Meeting days and times are based on teachers' schedules.

(Marianne Whelchel) We try to work around other activities such as sports practices and scout meetings. Mondays have been established as "Math Club" meeting days.

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4. How do you fund the purchase of Mathematics Pentathlon materials, snacks and T-shirts?

(Cynthia Wiley) Our PTO now budgets monies for our math clubs. We are very lucky in that respect. We have charged a math club fee in the past. Students pay for the tournament fee out of their own pockets.

(Gordon Winther) The program is funded by students paying a fee to participate. That fee can be paid in full or a portion of it can be paid along with participation and also for a team T-shirt that they receive each year.

(Roger Brenneman) Our School Board pays students' tournament registration fees and a stipend to the Pentathlon sponsor in each building. The students sign-up to bring in snacks and drinks.

(Heather Forcash) All materials were provided by a local company after a short proposal was submitted. As a back-up plan, we considered using some of our GT funds to help pay for materials, but when a community sponsor agreed to fund our proposal, it was not necessary.

(Rochelle Swensson) My principal has always "found" the necessary funds for Mathematics Pentathlon materials, as she is an ardent supporter of our program. (We have both an after-school club and an in-school Mathematics Pentathlon "special area" class.) T-shirts are offered at a reduced price, usually $4 to $5 as a result of monetary donations by parents. We do not provide snacks; snacks are left up to each individual coach.

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5. Is a fee charged for participation in your club? If so, how is the amount determined?

(Gordon Winther) The math club fee is based on the cost of the tournament and the T-shirt that students receive. Monies for materials are paid for out of gifted/talented funds.

(Cynthia Wiley) In the past we charged $20 for the year and students also paid the $28 fee for tournament. As of this year the PTO funds the math clubs.

(Rochelle Swensson) No fee is charged. We only have students pay for the tournament entrance. (One way I have formed a small Mathematics Pentathlon nest egg is to charge each tournament participant the full fee, regardless of their membership on the "official school team." I keep the additional dollars in a fund through our school treasury.)

(Marianne Whelchel, Gordon Winther, & Heather Forcash) No fees are charged for participation in the math clubs.

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