Tips and Guidelines

For School - Steps to Implement

Once you registered your school, take a look at the next steps below:

1. Coordinate with the school staff on the math challenge submission process. (i.e. how and where students can submit solutions).

2. Write the content of your school's page. This includes:

the contact person & email and how to participate. Send this information to mathchallenge@mathinaction.org on a Word doc format.
when to submit (calendar/schedule). Use this calendar template: mc_schedule_2019-2020_editable.docx. Please edit the due dates (if necessary to meet your school's calendar), and send it back to mathchallenge@mathinaction.org. Please note that only DUE DATES can be edited. Published dates and solution dates are set (non-editable).

We will then set up your school page and provide you with a link to this page that you can share with your students, parents, and teachers.

3. Promote the program.

Share the availability of the program to teachers, parents, students through various venues such as newsletter, announcements, email reminders, etc.

Other Tips:

Get PTSA Support. It’s helpful to have PTSA support, especially if you want to have an incentive program as recognition to students who participate in the program. PTSA may be able to provide funds to purchase these prizes.
Determine prizes, awards or recognition for students. This is optional but highly recommended as it will help entice students to do all challenges.
You can also simply print certificates for students who completed a set number of challenges.

Work with your school office to establish how and where to collect submissions from students.
Send us content of your school's page.
Established due dates plan for 2019-2020 schedule (mc_schedule_2019-2020_editable.docx). Please edit the due dates if needed, and send us back via email. Note that solution will be posted online on the published date of the next Math Challenge.
Create a flyer to be include to the school's 'FIRST DAY PACKET'. A colorful half sheet flyer works well to introduce the program to students/parents (optional, but recommended).
Add the link of your school's Math Challenge page to your school's website and PTSA website.

Write an article for your newsletter introducing this new program. The basic What, When, Who, and How/Where to submit format works well. Provide the Math Challenge's link for your newsletter, school's website, PTSA/PTO website.
Send a brief email to teachers introducing yourself, the program, and how they can help collecting submissions.
Plan and order your prizes (optional).
Make posters to create awareness.

Send a brief announcement (to the school office, to teachers, to newsletter, to PTSA website) about the first Math Challenge, its due date, and information to students on how to submit their solutions. Provide the link to your school's page.

Send a request to school office to be included in the morning announcement that the Math Challenge is available online to print/download. Remind students of the Math Challenge due date.

One week prior:
- Send to your newsletter editor a short article for every math challenge published. Include due date and the link.
- Send a brief blurb to the school office for morning announcement.
After due date:
- Collect submissions. Record on spreadsheet.
- Correct papers and give back to students (optional).
- Announce winners and distribute prizes (optional).

Below are options for school to recognize students who participated at the program:

Award students who continued to participate throughout the school year.
- You may give certificates or medals to students who complete 10 or 12 sets of math challenge.
List students' names who continuously participate at the program on the 'FAMOUS WALL OF MATH CHALLENGE MATHLETES'
- Simply create a big wall where you can display all students names (by grade). Decorate it with math symbols.
Call out names during end of the year school assembly.

Other ideas that came up if schools do not have budget to give prizes: get shout-out from principal during morning announcement, lunch with the principals, famous mathlete picture (photo taken with 'math bear' or 'math beagle').
For prizes, Norman Rockwell Elementary had a lottery system for each challenge. 12 qualified entries are picked. I believe they did this so that at least 180 students will get a small prize in the rotation (12 x 15 challenges). Prizes are budgeted and set at the beginning of the school year.
Rosa Parks and Smith Elementary both graded the students' solutions. It took them sometimes, but they have a couple of volunteers to grade the papers. Rosa Parks gave back each math challenge to students. Smith gave papers back at the end of the program.
Most schools gave end of the year awards (medals or trophies or certificates). Not all schools give prizes for each challenge.
Rosa Parks had point system in place instead of asking students to do the minimum requirements of solutions. Students collected points through out the 15 challenges and organizers record those points.
Alcott Elementary and Wilder Elementary give options to students to submit solutions online using google doc.