Math Olympiad

Steven Millard Math Olympiad 2023-2024

Below you will find useful information on the Millard PTA sponsored Math Olympiad and how it is run at Steven Millard Elementary. Please read through all the information below before you register your child.

What is Math Olympiad?

Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) is an international math competition created in 1977 by Dr. George Lenchner, an internationally known math educator. Last year, nearly 170,000 students from 6,000 teams worldwide participated in the Olympiads. Math Olympiad includes problem solving contests that stimulate enthusiasm and a love for Mathematics in students while introducing them to important math concepts and strategies of problem solving. For more information, check out the MOEMS website.

Math Olympiad Divisions and Contests

MOEMS offers two age appropriate divisions to choose from. Students in grades 4 through 6 will participate in the Elementary Division (Division E)* while the Middle School Division (Division M) is open only to grades 6 through 8.  At Steven Millard, all interested 3rd, 4th, and 5th  graders will be registered for Division E.  Students will be registered as teams of up to 35 students. MOEMS publishes five monthly contests for each division from November through March. These contests provide an incentive for students to intensify their study of math. 

*Note: Though it is recommended for grade 4-6 but brave 3rd graders with high interest in math are allowed to enroll as well.  

Math Olympiad at Steven Millard

Math Olympiad at Steven Millard Elementary is a parent run activity. While the Steven Millard PTA will register students and facilitate use of school facilities to conduct contests, the overall coordination, organization of teams and administering the monthly contests will be handled by a parent volunteer working as the Math Olympiad Chair.

Parents are responsible for coaching the students and preparing them for the contests. Steven Millard PTA and the Math Olympiad Chair will NOT conduct any coaching classes. 

Math Olympiad Registration is paid for all students by Millard PTA. Study materials' are not included - parent volunteers who will lead the study groups can choose the study materials they prefer. 

By registering, the student is committing to participate in the entire program. Please remember that withdrawing from the program after registration closes is not only a waste of Steven Millard PTA funds (donated by you) but also an opportunity denied for another student. Encourage your child to prepare for and attend all five contests. Results of the contests are sent out just to the parents and will not be mass emailed or posted online. 

Once teams are registered, students can form smaller study groups to prepare for the contests under parental supervision. Study groups typically meet once/twice a week and work on study material recommended by MOEMS (see below for information on study materials). Study groups can use school facilities such as classrooms for their meetings (see more information below).

The five 30-minute contests will be administered online for session 2023-2024 on the dates listed below. MOEMS rules require that all registered students take the contests at the same time. THEREFORE, NO MAKE-UPS WILL BE ALLOWED WHATSOEVER. 

    Contest Date   Time and Location

Contest 1 TBD

Contest 2 TBD

Contest 3 TBD

Contest 4 TBD

Contest 5 TBD

Teams and Study Groups

Up to 35 registered students are assigned to each team. However, the entire team does not have to meet and prepare together. You can form smaller study groups consisting of any number of students. You can even choose to prepare individually and not be part of a study group. If you form a study group, it is advisable to have students of the same Division in the group as the study material varies for the two divisions. Students will be given the opportunity to form study groups before assigning them to teams. This way the entire study group can be assigned to one team and their efforts in the five contests will jointly contribute towards the team’s chances for awards.

The Math Olympiad Chair will NOT be responsible for forming study groups. While the Chair can provide information about other students looking to form/join study groups, it is up to the parents to reach out to existing study groups or form a new one.

Study Material and Problems

MOEMS recommends the following books for students to prepare for the contests:

•  "Creative Problem Solving in School Mathematics"

• "Math Olympiad Contest Problems for Elementary and Middle Schools Volume 1"

• "Math Olympiad Contest Problems Volume 2"

• "MOEMS Contest Problems Volume 3"
  
  

 These books are available at the MOEMS online store and on Amazon. These are just recommended books; you can also use other books that teach similar concepts. The MOEMS website also has sample contests and Problem of the Month available. What Every Young Mathlete Should Know is another helpful sheet about the basics participating students are expected to know. 

Use of School Facilities for Study Group Meetings

Due to liability issues, school facilities such as classrooms and the MUR are not available for use for study group meetings. It is recommended that you schedule meetings at your homes  or other common places while following appropriate county and state Covid-19 guidelines/protocols while meeting.

Coaching for Contests

Parents will be responsible for coaching their kids and preparing them for the contests. Here are some pointers that you may find helpful:

•  Schedule practice every week for at least one hour. The key ingredient for improvement of any skill is the amount, consistency, and frequency of time spent practicing the skill. Practices also help students know what to expect. Practice at least 4 times before the first contest, the more the better. 

•  Consider using the first half of each class to teach a new topic from Creative Problem Solving in School Mathematics 2nd Edition. This book was developed from a series of popular in-service courses for teachers.

•  For the second half, assign problems from past Olympiads, from the books Math Olympiad Contest Problems Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3. 

•  Maximum growth occurs when reviewing solutions. Use the model solutions in the books to explain the various approaches to tackling problems.

•  Where time permits, explore variations on selected problems.

•  Assign homework weekly. 

IMPORTANT!! Please do not distribute practice problems by posting them online (neither a secure website nor any other website). Posting them online or emailing them is a violation of the copyright laws, and, therefore, not an acceptable way to distribute practice materials.

Parent Volunteers Needed

Parent volunteers are also needed to help conduct the five contests centrally at school. Volunteers will be needed on the five contest dates listed above. If you are available on any of these dates, please sign up to volunteer. 

If you sign up and later realize that you are unable to volunteer on the day of the contest, please withdraw your name from the sign-up sheet. This will give other parents a chance to sign up and reduce the number of volunteer no shows at the contests. Without adequate help from parent volunteers the contests cannot be administered.

To register your child for Steven Millard Math Olympiad 2023-2024 please fill out  Enrollment form