Students will develop a positive attitude toward math by engaging in fun, challenging activities that they can feel success and ownership in.

Students will utilize spatial-relational skills, persistence, and patience to solve the puzzles.

Students will develop and practice logical problem-solving skills.

Students will progress to finding the most elegant solutions to the problem, and will be able to distinguish those solutions from the inelegant ones that minimally meet the challenge requirements.

Students will use geometric vocabulary and logical thinking when working on these challenges.

Math is fun!  Don’t believe me?  Give this series of toothpick challenges a try!  This course is designed to help your child use his or her math brain in such a fun way that it won’t feel like a “math class.”

I taught full-time for sixteen years, and math is one of my favorite subjects! I excel in teaching thinking, problem solving, and pattern finding.  I believe in providing for play, discussion, and materials you can hold and move in math.  I have a Masters of Special Education of Academically and Intellectually Gifted Students, and taught in a magnet school for gifted students for eight years.  This means I am an expert at challenging students, delving deep into topics, and helping those for whom math isn't their greatest strength.  These visual challenges are often a strength of students who may not always like math as much, and can really stretch students who may sail through numeric challenges.  That reversal can really help students of all levels grow their math brains!