Testimonials

Comments from students, parents, and teachers

Our school just completed its first year of participating in this program. There was a lot of interest in the program, and 89 kids (kinder to 5th grade) completed at least 10 challenges throughout the year to earn a prize. The challenges cover a wide variety of math problems, and they are fun and educational for all grade levels. It's good brain exercise for adults too. Thank you for making this program available for the kids!
SY, Parent, Bringhurst Elementary, CA

Our students look forward to Math Challenges. They actually love being challenged!
KS, Teacher, Collierville

Tim loves the challenge that each math challenge set provides. He is only in second grade. Last year, the math problems were hard for him. This year, he can do at least 7 problems all by himself, and he is very proud of that. I enjoy seeing his growth in math and problem solving abilities.
ST, Parent of Tim, Smith Elementary, WA

My two kids enjoy working on the math problems. Some problems are hard for them, but it build preserverance.
NA, Parent, Ella Baker Elementary, Redmond, WA

I’m a fourth-grade teacher at Mead Elementary and my kids love working on these as one of many extension options. We enjoy the creative mix of problems/topics!
N Olsen, Teacher, Mead Elementary, WA

We had over 100 students participate this year which was almost 50% of our K-5 students. Thank you for a great program!
SL, Teacher, Annunciation School, Minneapolis, MN

My two daughters have been working on the Math Challenge sets every other Saturday religiously for two years! They enjoy the problems and always look forward to each one of them.
NS, Dad, San Jose, CA

Thank you so much for an amazing program!! The students and families really enjoyed it. We had great participation and had a party last week to celebrate our success. 😊 Looking forward to future successful years of this. Thank you for creating this and keeping it going. ❤ It is very appreciated.
LT, Teacher, Jupiter Elementary, Jupiter, FL

Our school enjoys participating in this math challenge program year after year. Thank you so much for making it available for free, for all students!
PS, Parent, Clara Barton Elementary, Redmond, WA

What a great program! Our school just started this year, and the response has been very positive from students and parents. We hope the program will continue at no charge. My third-grade students particularly are enjoying the challenges. It's a great way for them to be challenged. Small group of math enthusiasts emerged, and they constantly make attempts to solve at least 10 of the problems.
DB, Teacher, Bothell, WA

Cecilia has been working with her Dad on these Math Challenge papers for the past 3 years. It has been a great father and daughter bonding opportunity. I am thankful for the program.
LP, Mom of Cecilia, Woodinville, WA

Some questions are hard, but I enjoy them. My brother helps me when I am stuck.
SH, second grade, Collierville, TN

Our family made it a tradition to work on Math Challenge papers on the Friday evenings each time the papers were available. We have been doing it for the last 4 years! It's a great way for all 4 kids to work on their problem solving.
MB, Mother of 4 elementary students, Sammamish, WA

Nicolas started doing the Math Challenge papers 2 years ago when he was in Kindergarten. He needed help most of the time. He is in second grade now and proud to do 6-8 problems with little help. Thank you for providing the program. He looks forward to each math challenge.
NS, Mother of Nicolas, Kirkland, WA

My two kids have been doing Math Challenge since they were in first grade. They never miss any. It has been our routine to work together on math on Sundays afternoon. I have enjoyed working with them and spending time with them this way. They are moving up to middle school this year.
SS, Father of two, Rosa Parks Elementary, WA

My son always looks forward to get his Math Challenge papers. It's been a blessing for us as he continues to be excited about math.
Mom, Samantha Smith Elementary, WA.

What an awesome program! The math problems are interesting, and my students are always looking forward to the next challenge. Please continue this great program. My weak kids are also involved in the program this year. It's a great option I provide for those who are fast finishers.
Teacher WM, Redmond, WA

It has been working very well. The whole school attitudes about math and problem solving are changing. This year, we have more than 50 kids participating just from the second graders for each Math Challenge.
M.Y., volunteers for second grade level

"We are very lucky that Rockwell has many different kinds of math enrichments. My two daughters (1st and 2nd graders) always look forward to the math challenge. So far both have not missed one!"
R.Y. and T.Y., parents of first and second graders at Norman Rockwell Elementary

"So grateful with all volunteers involve in organizing the math challenge. My kids are always looking forward to every publication of math challenges. Thank you."
M.N, parent of a first grader and third grader at Norman Rockwell Elementary

"I am very happy that Rockwell started the math in action program and it has expanded to other schools. Truly an excellent program to get kid interested in math. We did the math challenge as a family and it brought us all together having fun and debating on the answers."
Parent of a third grader at Norman Rockwell Elementary

"My daughter Tori (age 7) has gotten so much out of the Math Challenge program. It has introduced her to a huge variety of math concepts that she otherwise would not have experienced. Most recently, she was doing logic puzzles--which I distinctly recall not being exposed to until the 5th grade--and she had such a good time doing them. Each challenge has afforded us an opportunity to spend time together, talking about math and having fun while learning. The modest prizes have been enough to motivate my daughter to push through the difficult parts and learn something new. I'm so grateful to our math challenge organizer--Kari Tai--and everyone else who has contributed to this wonderful program."
Kirsten Reddish, Audubon Elementary

"We are new to Norman Rockwell this year and we are impressed with the Math Challenge Program. Our kids just caught up with the program in January but have enjoyed it tremendously. It has been really a fun discussion during our family dinner time. We moved from Boston, and we have nothing like it our old school."
M.B., parents of third and fifth graders at Rockwell

"My daughter is advanced in math. She needs to be challenged. We got her hooked with the Math Challenge Program at Rockwell. At first she was not too crazy about it -- she looked at it as more homework. But after completing the first two challenges, It is becoming one of her favorite thing to do with dad! For me, I love to watch them bonding over math :). We are looking forward to sign her up for MIA Class. We heard only good things about it."
S.M, parent of a third grader at Rockwell

"The Math Challenge activities have been a fun way to get kids excited about doing math on their own. They love the prizes! It is also a great way to provide home enrichment for those who need it. Thank you!"
Gina Holmen, 2nd grade teacher, Norman Rockwell Elementary

"I have a handful of students who do this each year. They are very enthusiastic about it and I think it is challenging and fun for them."
Colleen Smith, 3rd grade teacher, Norman Rockwell Elementary

"The Math Challenge program is yet another great way to get students to practice more math at home. Math challenges often reinforce the skills that are taught here at school, but provide further motivation through challenging problems (and of course, prizes and rewards). Students who take the opportunity to complete bi-weekly Math Challenges enjoy the work, thrive on the difficulty of problems, and look forward to the possibility of earning prizes."
Ms. Calkins, 4th grade teacher, Norman Rockwell Elementary

“I really like them. They are fun to do because they are new challenges. Within one math challenge, there are different problems, but they all relate to the same math skill. There are different grade levels which is good because I can either stay in my grade level or try harder grade level problems.”
R.P., 5th grader, Norman Rockwell Elementary

“I think they are fun. Sometimes they are a little hard. I like exercising my brain, so that’s why I think they are fun.”
E. E., fourth grader, Norman Rockwell Elementary

"I like the Math Challenge. I have fun doing it. They are all a fun challenge and they make me think."
Camille, 2nd grader, Horace Mann

"It's like a puzzle. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is hard, but it is always fun."
Kyra, kindergartener, Horace Mann