Triple Helix

Frequently the arguments against registering a MATHCOUNTS team is that it costs money or that teachers don’t have time for it. I think it’s time to go beyond this kind of thinking because it is exactly this kind of thinking that has gotten the US where we are, which is below the average of the  OECD countries that participated in an international exam in math and science.

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/54/12/46643496.pdf

A team of four students and a teacher working MATHCOUNTS problems in a classroom somewhere shouldn’t be the goal – it’s the first drop in a mathematical pond where the effect of the ripples from that drop which are far more important and ultimately more valuable.

Building a mathematical community – starts with an enthusiastic teacher and 4 students diligently working on math contest problems. Those four students have an effect on their friends and other younger students – and possibly persuade them to also diligently work on math contest problems. This can be done at weekly meetings that might involve pizza and an appropriate social time. Participant students grow older and move on but are asked to COME BACK to assist their former teacher in coaching younger students. The positive energy builds, young students learn from older students who are modeling desirable behavior, older students get service credit for say ‘National Merit Scholarships’ and create line items for their college resumes. The effort continues to expand blossoming into (dare I say) a full blown math circle. A lively community actively involved in math, linguistics, and physics competitions.

The ripple effect from such a group in a single school could quite possibly be a tide that lifts all boats. And all of this from a little MATHCOUNTS team working diligently with a teacher in a classroom someplace. I don’t think we can afford not to.

Congratulations to Zubin Mukerjee, Jason Xu, Matthew Babbitt, Jien Ogawa, Felix Sun, Aniket Tolpadi, and Elizabeth Parizh for the performance of all of their teams today at the MATHCOUNTS Chapter competition held at GE Global Research, Niskayuna NY. It is clear from the enthusiasm of their middle school team members that they have all succeeded at sharing their enthusiasm and love of math as well as serving as positive role models to these younger students.

Zubin has been instrumental in assisting members of both the Farnsworth Middle School and Shaker Junior High School teams. Through his outreach efforts in running a satellite math circle in conjunction with Albany Area Math Circle, Zubin worked with many of the students that found themselves on MATHCOUNTS teams that finished first and second respectively at today’s competition.

Jason Xu has been working with the Van Antwerp Middle School team that placed third today. In addition, Van Antwerp had two students in the top 12 making the Count Down round and another in the top 20.

Matthew Babbitt and Jien Ogawa have been coaching the Home Educators Enrichment Group team that meets weekly at the Clifton Park Library. HEEG finished fourth today with one member in the top 12 making the Count Down round and two additional students in the top 20.

Felix Sun has been instrumental in building a math culture at the Shenendahowa  Middle Schools. A multiyear MATHCOUNTS coach veteran with a team that did very well at the State competition last year, this year Felix coached Acadia to a fifth place finish at Chapter. In addition, Felix also coached the Koda team.

Aniket Tolpadi and Elizabeth Parizh have been working with the Iroquois Middle School team that placed sixth today. In addition, Iroquois had one student finish in the top 12 making countdown and two additional students in the top 20.

Congratulations to Tamara Moffett for her Hackett MS MATHCOUNTS team performance today. Hackett MS finished 12^th out of 21 schools that competed at todays MATHCOUNTS Chapter competition at GE Global Research in Niskayuna NY. Hacketts performance was all the more remarkable considering that the school decided to field a team for the competition only in early January, meaning that the four students had just one month to prepare for the event.

I hereby award 6 Hackett Hoorays to principal Paolino for his decision to green light the team. You may ask why six? Well, one for each of the contestant students – Taofeek, Ian, Griffin, and Sergio who had an experience today that they will never forget, and can be celebrated regardless of their individual scores for their teams accomplishment. One for the experience the event afforded teacher Tamara Moffett who very enthusiastically stated that she found it rewarding and would like to coach a team again next year. And especially important to me, one for allowing Hilly Adler, an Albany High School student to assist with coaching the team. Experiences like this for students like Hilly are so tremendously important providing opportunities to help others, develop leadership skills and serve as a positive role model for the students who worked with him. Hilly very obviously imparted his enthusiasm and love for mathematics to these four students!