Virginia Mathematics Teacher Fall 2016

refers to the two different ways of grouping 3 addends, which does not change the total sum. For example, (9+2) + 3 = 9 + (2+3), which becomes 11 + 3 = 9 + 5 and reduces to 14=14, a true statement. Perhaps, this is what the author intended to show. I particularly liked how many of these visual representations are presented before formulas are presented to the students. Research suggests this is the best way to build mathematics conceptual understanding. I also like the way the author explicitly states mathematics ideas that are many times implied. For example, in the chapter titled, How measures are and are not related on page 188, the author explains that all of the

measures of a circle are related (i.e. diameter, radius, circumference, area-if you know one of the measures you can find the others), while the measures of a rectangle are not (i.e. side measures, area, perimeter-if you know one of the measures you cannot find the unique values of the others). Overall, the book has many great ideas for the mathematics teacher to engage all of the students in meaningful mathematics conversations as students keep their eyes on math. I enjoyed the book and will use it when teaching my K-8 preservice teachers.

Upcoming Math Competitions

Dates of Competitions

Name of Organization

Website

https://www.huntington.edu/math/mathematics-competition/middle-school -competition

TBA

Huntington University Middle School Mathematics Competition

http://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-contests/amc-8

November 15, 2016

American Math Competition 8

http://www.sumdog.com/enter_contest/

Online competition

SUM Dog online

http://mathleague.org/arml.php

Mailed to your school

American Math League

http://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-contests/amc-1012

February 07, 2017

American Math Competition 10/12

http://www.radford.edu/mathclub/events.html

See website for future events

Math Club at Radford University

http://www.usamts.org/TipsFAQ/U_Tips.php

Online, month-long contest

USA Math Talent Search

http://www.mathcounts.org/programs/competition-series/competition-faq

At your local school

Math Counts

http://www.cmleague.com/

December 1, 2016

Continental Math League

And many more

http://www.conradchallenge.org/

TBA

Conrad Challenge

https://www.hmmt.co/

November 12, 2016

Harvard/MIT Math Tournament

http://www.mathleague.com/

2017 Month depends on grade level

The Math League

http://www.mathcon.org/

January 16, 2017

Math Con

http://www.moems.org/

Mailed to your school

Math Olympiads

http://www.mathkangaroo.org

March 16, 2017

Math Kangaroo in the USA

http://www.noetic-learning.com/mathcontest/

November 10, 2016

Noetic Learning Math Contest

http://purplecomet.org/

April 18, 2017

Purple Comet

http://www.rocketcitymath.org/

November 7, 2016

Rocket City Math

http://www.usamts.org/

TBA

USA Mathematical Talent Search

http://www.ams.org/programs/students/wwtbam/wwtbam

Oct 27, 2016

Who Wants to Be a Mathematician

Virginia Mathematics Teacher vol. 43, no. 1

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