Fern Bluff Elementary Math Pentathlon

Math Pentathlon Meetings Begin Sept 17th

2009-08-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

Training Workshop & Student PreRegistration Now Available

2009-06-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, August 29th, the math program will be providing Math Pentathlon games training for our full time coaches, rule experts, and club monitors. If your child is considering joining the Math Pentathlon program at Fern Bluff this year, we'd like to invite you to join us in the school cafeteria for this event, as we believe that you will find the training program valuable for understanding and encouraging your child's experience with Math Pentathlon and for at home play with your child. There is a small fee for the training which allows us to bring the program to our school. Adults who attend the training on Saturday, August 29th will be able to pre-register their children for the club. The training workshops are limited to 28 adults per division and we will place parents in the classes based on order of receipt of registration and payment. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, email the Math Club coordinator at mpcbobcats@hotmail.com for the registration forms.

We currently have parent staffing to enroll 40 students per division. If you are interested in volunteering EACH THURSDAY after school from 2:30-4 PM for the Math Club, your children will have automatic placement in the club and one registration fee will be waived. Please contact us immediately if you are able to join our team!

If you can not attend the training workshop on Aug 29th, the next opportunities for student registrations are (in priority order):

# 4. Students of parents who attended training in 2008, who went to tournament, and are changing divisions (by Sept 1)

# 5. Students who went to tournament in the prior year (by Sept 2)

#6. Students who were in Math club, but not at tournament (by Sept 3)

# 6. New Students & Parents attending Mini Orientation Session on September 3rd

# 7: New Students; Waiting List Replacements until September 30th

However, this priority placement list does not guarantee enrollment in the Math Pentathlon Club for 2009-2010. This simply states the order in which we will accept registrations. Once we have reached the capacity in any division, students will then be placed on a waiting list.

Regardless of when your student registers, we still expect a parent to volunteer for SIX hours during classes as a rotating volunteer or at a Saturday tournament as a supervisor.

Tournament Programs & Student Photos

2009-06-14T08:19:00.001-07:00

http://mathpentath.org/mpt/programs.html

More About Fern Bluff . . .

2009-06-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

http://rrleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=7&ArticleID=21956

Fern Bluff Makes Front Page News

2009-06-09T04:59:00.000-07:00

Round Rock Leader, Tuesday, June 9, 2009

http://rrleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=21927&TM=28766.75

2009 National Champions on K-EYE at 5 PM

2009-06-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

Celebration Thanks!

2009-06-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

HUGE Thanks to our special guests at the 2009 Math Pentathlon National Champions Celebration & Awards Ceremony!

There is only one school in the United States that can claim the title 2009 Math Pentathlon National Champions and it's Fern Bluff Elementary. Now there are one-hundred thirty-six students who will always be able to say, "We were National Champions!"

The celebration and awards ceremony was incredible and lovely in the school courtyard! Dr. Wilson, Principal, welcomed the crowd and introduced Lisa Mack, campus coordinator for the program. She shared her thanks for the strong parent support of the program and her pride in the kids growth and sportsmanship.

Round Rock ISD Director of Curriculmn, Suzanne Burke spoke on behalf of Superintendent Dr. Chavez in congratulating the students for their incredible achievement.

Dr. Lorenzo Sadun of the University of Texas who is the advisor to a collegiate math team spoke about real world applications of the math program and how how hoped to meet them again in 10 or 15 years at UT.

Jarrod Weaver presented a certificate of special congressional recognition on behalf of Congressman John Carter.

Rene LeBlanc, national director of the Pentathlon Institute honored Fern Bluff Elementary students with a trophy presentation.

Students then marched through the halls in the Parade of Champions getting high-fives from their classmates before getting their individual trophies in the gym.

Special thanks also to Round Rock ISD's Board of Trustees Member Charles Chadwell and Williamson County Commissioner Lisa Birkman's representative, Tammy Smith for joining our celebration!

LAST DAY TO SEND IN YOUR TOURNAMENT PHOTO

2009-06-04T11:23:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is the last day for to email us your tournament/club photo so we can try and include it in the OFFICIAL NMPAT PROGRAM

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS AT:
www.mathpentath.org/mpt/mptPHOTOS.html#tournament

Your group or child can be a part of the National Academic Mathematics Pentathlon Academic Tournament Program. This free program with tournament photos taken by parents and coaches can be accessed online soon. Updated information and pictures taken the day of the tournament will make this program more accurate and enjoyable to share with family, friends, and co-workers. The Pentathlon Institute is grateful to everyone who submits photos and will make every attempt to include at least one of your pictures in the Official National Tournament Program. However, some photos may not be included due to problems with resolution, downloading, dropped emails, and other unknown conflicts.

We are hoping ALL the Texas Official Programs will be up by June 12.

Awards Ceremony Address by Lisa Mack

2009-06-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

Last spring, when we first began discussing the possibility of having a Math Pentathlon club here at Fern Bluff, I was encouraged to keep it small. Have 12 kids, maybe 20 total? Truly, my heart couldn’t handle the disappointment that would result in turning away any student (my disappointment) and so we set out to build a club in which parents could each offer their time and talents, which would allow us to grow it for more students. We set out to make a club where new friends from different grade levels helped each other learn how to play the games, how to think differently, how to see future moves, and how to defend their position. The Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon club is not simply an after-school activity. We are a family of families each participating in some aspect of the Math Pentathlon club at Fern Bluff. We knew the payoff was great: our kids would develop math strategies; and learn critical thinking skills, good sportsmanship, and self-confidence through game play. How can it get any better than that? Let me tell you how; by the numbers:

BY THE NUMBERS:

9 Teachers supporting us by letting us use their rooms each week for our classes

21 Moms & Dads as our full-time Volunteer Staff serving as coaches, rule experts, and monitors each and every Tuesday

32 Parents as rotating Volunteers on Tuesdays 57 Parents as Tournament Supervisors

136 Students in Math Pentathlon: 40 from Kinder/First, 60 from Second/Third, 36 from Fourth/Fifth

94 Students at 3 tournaments

20 Honorable Mentions earning 11 points

9 Bronze Medalists earning 12 points

17 Silver Medalists earning 13 points

5 Gold Medalists earning 14 points

7 Hall of Fame Gold Medalists earning 15 points. These kids won all 5 of their games!

And, finally, it gets better like this:

There is only ONE 2009 National Champion and it’s Fern Bluff Elementary!

Students in the News

2009-06-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

Look for your kids in the news and on the news . . .

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
KEYE 5 PM, 6 PM, & 10 PM

Saturday, June 6 or Tuesday, June 9
Round Rock Leader

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Community Impact
Web Article: http://impactnews.com/round-rock-pflugerville/recent-news/4688-fern-bluff-elementary-celebrates-math-pentathlon-national-victory

Wednesday June 3, 2009
Round Rock ISD Website
http://www.roundrockisd.org/index.aspx?page=3400&recordid=1564&returnURL=%2findex.aspx

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Statesman, Metro section

Championship Award Ceremony

2009-06-02T11:48:00.001-07:00

Reminder: Have your student wear his/her Math T-Shirt tomorrow for the ceremony. If your child won a medal, have him/her wear the medal too! EVEN students who did not attend tournament are a part of our team so all kids in Math Pentathlon club should come to school with their club T-shirt.

Ceremony: We will begin at 8:00 AM in the school courtyard with a presentation of the National Trophy and some words from Dr. Wilson and district representatives. The kids will then have a parade of champions around the school and will end in the gym with donuts and juice for all pentathletes, parents, and invited guests.

Fern Bluff Elementary Named Math Pentathlon National Champion

2009-06-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

There are 15 Math Pentathlon National Championship schools in the United States. Fern Bluff Elementary in Round Rock ISD is now one of them.

Yesterday, Rene LeBlanc, Associate Director of the Pentathlon Institute, announced that once scores had been counted and confirmed for all schools nationwide, the Kinder —5th grade team at Fern Bluff Elementary took the Championship with 352 points.

“This is truly an incredible achievement for our kids and our coaches,” said Lisa Mack, Fern Bluff Elementary Math Pentathlon campus coordinator. “We know our kids are truly special and now the whole country knows.”

Tournaments have been held for the past 31 years with national championships awarded since 1994. Texas has been hosting tournaments since 1997 and this is only the 2nd time a school in Texas has won the national championship. Thousands of schools around the US have Math Pentathlon games in the schools either in the classroom or as an extracurricular enrichment program. In 2008-2009 there were 219 schools that participated in the national tournament.

What’s even more astonishing about the win is that this is the first year Fern Bluff Elementary has even had a Math Pentathlon club on campus. “Clearly the dedication of the coaches, rule experts, and parent volunteers working with the kids each week has made a huge difference on that campus,” noted Mr. LeBlanc. “They have an exceptional program, an exceptional staff of parents running the program, and exceptional students.”

At 8:00 AM on Wednesday, June 3rd, the campus will celebrate their victory with a presentation by Mr. LeBlanc and reception.

DIV III TOURNAMENT RESULTS: 4th & 5th Grade

2009-05-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

SEVENTEEN 4th and 5th grade students took part in the National Math Pentathlon Tournament today. Another FANTASTIC experience for all of us as the kids played each of the games they have learned all year long with about 350 competitors from schools around Texas. Everyone seemed to have lots of fun and showed super sportsmanship and behavior. We are very proud of all the students who so wonderfully represented Fern Bluff Elementary.

HALL OF FAME Gold Medalists: John Davis, Praveen Elangovan, Kenyon Landt, Taylor Sims
(These kids won all five of their games!)

Silver Medalists: Rachel David, Marissa Lozano, Meghan Richardson, Garima Singh,Vishrudh Sriramprasad

Honorable Mentions: Arvind Ashok, Jack Dressendorfer, Nate Menke

Final Practice: Tuesday May 26

2009-05-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

Fourth & Fifth graders going to tournament on Saturday should plan to attend a final practice Tuesday, May 26th from 3 PM - 4:30 PM in the science lab!

Tournament Scheduled for May 30th

2009-05-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

The Division III and IV Math Pentathlon Academic Tournament for Texas has been rescheduled for:

May 30, 2009
New Date and Location
Austin ISD
Covington Middle School
3700 Convict Hill Rd | Austin, TX 78749

TOURNAMENT POSTPONED

2009-04-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

We have the final confirmation from AISD that the Math Pentathlon Tournament is CANCELED and will be rescheduled to a later date.

Final Class

2009-04-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Today is the last class for Math Pentathlon as the 4th & 5th graders get ready for their tournament this weekend! First-timer tournament tips and directions to LBJ High School were emailed to parents today. We're excited for our final tournament!

4/24: Family Fun Friday

2009-04-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

4th & 5th Graders! Bring the family or come with friends to play the Math Pentathlon games before tournament. Coaches Cruz & Carrie will be answering last minute questions and available for rule clarifications.

THURSDAYS

2009-04-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Next year, 2009-2010, Math Club at Fern Bluff Elementary will be held on Thursday afternoons. Tuesdays conflicted with Musicats, another fantastic school activity that is offered only on that day and is highly anticipated by 5th graders. With the exception of Mad Science, there are no known major conflicts with Thursday. Mad Science will be scheduled for a different day of the school week so that students currently enrolled in both will have the opportunity to continue to attend both.

WEEK 25: 4/21

2009-04-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Tournament preparations continued for DIV III students with focus on the rules and challenges for Stars & Bars and Kings & Guards.

Aug 29th: Math Pentathlon Training at FBE

2009-04-20T20:37:00.001-07:00

Mark your calendars now! Rene LeBlanc, director of Math Pentathlon Institute, will be at Fern Bluff Elementary on Saturday, August 29th, to provide coaches, parents, and teachers with training on the Math Pentathlon Games. DIV I will be in the morning, DIV II will be in the early afternoon, and DIV III will be in the late afternoon through evening. If you need a registration form, email us!

WEEK 24: 4/14

2009-04-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

As part of tournament preparation, DIV III coaches covered rules, strategy, and correct challenges on Juggle, Contig 60, and Fab-a-Diffy.

Student Placements for Math Club 2009-2010

2009-04-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

Students will be placed in the Math Club according to this schedule.

# 1. Coaches, Rule Experts, Monitors, DIV Coordinators, Math Club Chairs by May 15th

# 2. Students whose parents attended training in the prior year, who went to tournament, and who are staying in the same division by June 1st

# 3. Students of parents who attend training on August 29th

# 4. Students of parents who attended training in the prior year, who went to tournament, and are changing divisions by August 31st

# 5. Students who went to tournament in the prior year by September 1st

# 6. New Students & Parents attending Mini Orientation Session on September 1st

# 7: New Students; Waiting List Replacements until September 30th

Volunteers Needed for 2009-2010

2009-04-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

The Fern Bluff Math Penathlon Club has had an exciting year so far! Our DIV I (Kinder & 1st grade) and DIV II (2nd & 3rd grade) teams have already been to tournament and brought home many gold, silver, bronze, and honorable mention medals. Now, we are starting to plan for next year's Math Pentathlon club at Fern Bluff and are looking for volunteers.

If you are available every week after school on Thursdays, for an hour, to work with the kids or to work behind the scenes organizing the program, please consider volunteering as a full time member of our club staff. In return for your commitment to the Math Pentathlon club, your children will get automatic placement, you will get free training, and one child's registration fee waived.

We need Coaches, Rule Experts, Monitors, and Division Coordinators. For a detailed list of the responsibilities, please email the club at MPCBobcats@hotmail.com.

DIV III Classes Extended to 5:00 PM

2009-04-07T07:03:00.000-07:00

The final three classes of Math Club for DIV III students (4th & 5th grade) will be held from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM for greater tournament prep. The DIV III games are 45 minutes long each so the students will benefit from longer playing time as they continue to develop strategies.

Tuesdays: April 14, April 21, April 28

Games Donated to Fern Bluff Math Club

2009-04-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

A HUGE thanks to Michael Scott and Dan Robinson who each donated their set of DIV II Math Pentathlon games to the Fern Bluff Math Club. We truly appreciate their support of the club!

No Club Meeting April 7th due to TAKS Testing

2009-04-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

DIV II TOURNAMENT RESULTS: 2nd & 3rd Grade

2009-04-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

FORTY-TWO 2nd and 3rd grade students took part in the National Math Pentathlon Tournament today. Another FANTASTIC experience for all of us as the kids played each of the games they have learned all year long with some of the 640+ other competitors from schools around Texas. Again, everyone seemed to have lots of fun and showed super sportsmanship and behavior. We are very proud of all the students who so wonderfully represented Fern Bluff Elementary.

HALL OF FAME Gold Medalists: Kevin Black, Kam Dyer, Naren Gundapaneni
(These kids won all five of their games!)

Gold Medalists: Jace Robinson, Angela Zhang

Silver Medalists: Rose Anconentani, Samantha Banks, Alec Kennison, Emily Lai, Molly Riquelmy, Hayden Zahler

Bronze Medalists: Sean Aiton, Daniel Cogan, Richard Lai, Taran Nudurumati, Katie Swain, Cindy Wang

Honorable Mentions: Sinduhja Ayyagari, Hannah David, Emily DiLullo, Mira Jain, Ethan Paquet, Anika Puri, Isabelle Scott, Andrew Tang, Reymond Wong

WEEK 24: 3/31

2009-03-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

DIV II: Last class for second & third grade students. We reviewed what to expect at tournament and game rules. Tournament is Saturday, April 4th!

DIV III: Earthquake game play, one-on-one, with all five pentathlon games.

DIV I TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Kinder & 1st Grade

2009-03-28T05:52:00.000-07:00

THIRTY-FIVE Kinder and 1st grade students took part in the National Math Pentathlon Tournament today. It was an AWESOME experience for all of us as the kids played each of the games they have learned all year long with some of the 400+ other competitors from schools around Texas. Everyone seemed to have lots of fun and showed great sportsmanship and behavior. We are very proud of all the students who so fantastically represented Fern Bluff Elementary.

Gold Medalists: Sam Davis, David Dressendorfer, Benjamin Molis

Silver Medalists: Hayden Anconetani, Varun Jawarani, Ethan Mack, Coleson Muirhead, Elaine Yuan, Carson Zahler

Bronze Medalists: Kristen McCullough, Pooja Reddy, Daniel Velani

Honorable Mentions: Brett Adcock, Logan Hoover, Katelyn McLeod, Aidan Myers, Matthew Riquelmy, Tarek Sims, Gaurav Singh, Blaine Schroeder

Math Fun Friday!

2009-03-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

Family Fun Night Friday
6:30-8 PM
Cafeteria

WEEK 23: 3/24

2009-03-24T04:17:00.000-07:00

DIV I: This is the LAST week of Math Club for Division I students! Tournament preparation and fun game play are on order as the students get ready for their tournament on Saturday, March 28th.

DIV II: Today DIV II students will play in a mini-tournament with friends from other classes.

DIV III: More instruction on Queens & Guards.

Spring Break!

2009-03-17T04:13:00.000-07:00

WEEK 22: 3/10

2009-03-10T04:14:00.000-07:00

DIV I: First grade and Kinder students were matched up one-on-one this week for an exciting mini-tournament!

DIV II: This was the last week of instruction on Sum Dominoes & Dice for second and third grade students.

DIV III: The fourth and fifth grade students continued with lessons for Kings & Quards.

Family Fun Night Tonight!

2009-03-06T06:16:00.000-08:00

WEEK 21: 2/24

2009-02-26T06:49:00.000-08:00

DIV I: Game lessons are over! Today the kids played all the games one-on-one Earthquake style. This was a fun refresher before they have a mini-tournament during class to prepare for their tournament on March 28th.

DIV II: Sum Dominoes & Dice rules were explained today and the students had the chance to practice the game. Ask your son or daughter what it means to REACT, ROLL, REACT, and DRAW.

DIV III: Fourth and fifth grade students began learning their final game today: Kings & Guards.

THURS Feb 26, 6:30 PM: Tournament Volunteer Training

2009-02-23T13:24:00.002-08:00

NO Math Club MARCH 3rd

2009-02-23T13:24:00.001-08:00

The school will be closed for extracurricular activities due to TAKS testing.

WEEK 20: 2/17

2009-02-17T12:20:00.000-08:00

DIV I: Kinder and first grade students finished learning their final game, Star Track.

DIV II: Second and third grade students played a game to help them recognize how to find two domino ends that added together equal the sum of three dice rolled. Roll, react, draw. These steps, and correct domino placement, are the founding steps of our final game, "Sum Dominoes & Dice."

DIV III: Fourth & fifth grade students enjoyed EARTHQUAKE game play with one-on-one practice of all the games they have learned thus far.

WEEK 19: 2/10

2009-02-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

DIV I: First lesson in their final game, "Star Track." This game has students pick two strands of links, count them, and choose which one they want to use for moving their pawn forward. There are advantages to determining a good move based on the number of links in the strands. For instance, if you end up on a star you have to move your pawn back on the game board to the previous star.

DIV II: Earthquake game play day with one-on-one play between students for all four games learned so far.

DIV III: Final week on Stars & Bars!

Family Fun Night Tonight!

2009-02-06T07:35:00.001-08:00

Tournament News

2009-02-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

Over 100 students from Fern Bluff Elementary have registered for the National Math Pentathlon Tournaments!

Tournament Supervisors & Game Assignments

2009-02-04T06:29:00.001-08:00

Yesterday tournament supervisors were emailed their game assignments and the rules for that game. Come to Fun Fridays on Feb 6th or March 6th to practice hands-on! Volunteer training is on Thursday, February 26th at 6:30 PM. If you are a tournament supervisor and did not get an email from the Math Club, email us at MPCBobcats@hotmail.com.

WEEK 18: 2/3

2009-02-03T06:22:00.000-08:00

DIVISION I students played the popular EARTHQUAKE game today. This is where all the games they have learned so far are put out and the kids play each other one-on-one. Randomly, the coach will call EARTHQUAKE and the kids will move to a different game (currently in progress) and play against a new opponent. Their goal is to try to pick up on the previous students' strategy to continue and/or win the game.

DIVISION II students completed their final week learning and playing RAMROD by working through some strategies for making captures and recognizing when their opponents are trying to set up captures so they can be prepared to defend against those moves.

DIVISION II students continue to make progress on the game, STARS & BARS. This is the most challenging game of their division.

Family Fun Night

2009-01-28T04:24:00.001-08:00

Friday, February 6th is Family Fun Night! Be sure to bring your child for some fun game playing time with you and his/her friends at Fern Bluff Elementary.

Tournament Registration

2009-01-28T04:23:00.001-08:00

If you haven't registered for tournament yet, do it now! If you don't know how, email us at MPCBobcats@hotmail.com for detailed instructions.

WEEK 17: 1/27

2009-01-27T04:19:00.000-08:00

Today was the final day for DIV I students and their journey in the land of Kings and Quadraphages. DIV II students practiced Ramrod with the recycling rule today and DIV III students are still exploring the many operations and possibilities of Stars & Bars.

WEEK 16: 1/20

2009-01-16T04:16:00.000-08:00

This was a big week for game rules! We have introduced the basic concepts of each of the games to the students and are learning to play. As usual, there might be one or two rules that come after the main concepts have been learned. These make the games exciting and offer additional strategical options. Ask your child what a quadraphage or a cuisinaire rod is or what the big deal is about stars and bars!

Tournament Registration

2009-01-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

Today we sent home instructions on how to register your student online for the National Math Pentathlon Tournament. Please take some time in the next two weeks to get your child(ren) registered! If you have any questions, be sure to email us. Thanks.

WEEK FIFTEEN: 1/13

2009-01-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

All of us started our first lesson on a new game today! Generally, on a first week we introduce concepts (through exploration and activities) that will be used when learning the game during a subsequent week. From www.mathpentath.org, here's the MATH we are learning behind all the fun!

DIV I: Kings & Quadraphages
Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal movement, which is the basis of many mathematics/ science concepts, is practiced in this simple, but challenging entrapment game. In addition, students experience a dynamic use of counting skills while exploring deductive thinking and the topology of open and closed regions. Students take turns placing a chip (referred to as a square-eating Quadraphage) on a grid-type gameboard and moving their pawn (the King) to entrap the opposing King.

DIV II: Ramrod
The game of Ramrod combines the ability to know all facts for each number family with strategic thinking. Cuisenaire rods and a gameboard that connects rectangular (sum) boxes composed of different metric lengths provide the setting for students’ active investigation of addition and subtraction, measurement, estimation, spatial reasoning, and inductive and deductive thought. In this game students must plan ahead to construct “RAMROD” (addend) combinations of two rods that complete a rectangular (sum) box length in the playing area of the gameboard. Such (addend) combinations result in captures that relate to the game goal of being the first to complete their 24 cm rectangular region of the gameboard. The ability to associate each of the colored rods with their corresponding number value facilitates students’ skill to mentally compute all of the facts for each number family represented on the gameboard.

DIV III: Stars & Bars
This multiple classification-logic game uses geometric attribute cards and a grid-type board to help students develop understanding of multi-variable relationships. For each play students try to maximize their scores by placing cards onto the gameboard and comparing them to adjacent cards that are one, two, three, or four-ways different. The horizontal, vertical, and diagonal placement of the cards onto the gameboard contributes to the development of logical, computational, and spatial thought.

WEEK FOURTEEN: Earthquake Day

2009-01-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

To get the students back into the games, each division had an Earthquake Game Play day. Every five minutes the students would rotate to a new game, with a new partner, and play the game that was currently in progress. This challenges the students to quickly determine the strategy of the former player to try to make progress or win the game before their next rotation five minutes later. It's a great way to remember the games we've been playing and play one-on-one with many of their friends in class!

Classes Resume

2009-01-04T13:22:00.001-08:00

Math Club will resume on Tuesday, January 6th!

WEEK THIRTEEN: 12/16

2008-12-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

For our final class of Math Pentathlon for 2008 students played one-on-one in mini-tournaments. The kids were awesome at really thinking about their next move out when playing each other and yet the classes were also full of good sportsmanship.

See you next year!

WEEK TWELVE: 12/9

2008-12-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

This week each class hosted Earthquake game play and/or started their mini-tournaments. Until now we have been having the students play two-on-two as teams to work together to learn the winning strategies of the math games. During the mini-tournament, the students will play one-on-one with tournament rules to get their first experience with the process.

WEEK ELEVEN: 12/2

2008-12-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

This was the last week of instruction for DIV I & DIV II games and review of all the games for DIV III. For the next two weeks we will have Earthquake play and mini-tournaments. The kids are really catching onto the games and it's been fun watching their growth and learning as well as how they help their fellow students.

WEEK TEN: 11/25

2008-11-25T20:59:00.000-08:00

This week Math Pentathlon students in all divisions spent the afternoon playing their current game for more hands-on experience. Have a super Thanksgiving Holiday!

WEEK NINE: 11/18

2008-11-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

REMINDER: There will be Math Pentathlon Class on 11/25.

DIV I: Started learning the third game, SHAPE UP.
"The game of Shape Up integrates fact families with geometric shape recognition, attributes, spatial visualization, and directionality. The former two abilities relate to the goal of Shape Up. The Shape Up game board is comprised of a connected network of circles which each contain a large or small version of a geometric shape. There are eight different shapes which are rotated and shaded in different ways. To win the game, students are to position one of their chips on the small version and the other chip on the large version of the same shape. What enriches this task is that in order to win students are to focus on the attributes of shape and size and disregard the rotation and shading of the shape. Chip movement is based on the roll of a die. Students choose to move one or both of their chips up or down on either side of the game board. Strategic play is based on using fact families effectively to determine better options." -- www.mathpentath.org

DIV II: Started learning the third game, KWATRO-SINKO.
"Both computational and spatial reasoning are required in this alignment game where chips are moved along the game board’s connected horizontal, vertical, and diagonal pathways. One player has five even numbered chips and the other, five odd-numbered chips. The goal of the game is to create a spatial and numerical alignment, which results in an answer of four or five. To play this game effectively students must know many number sentence combinations of adding two even chips and subtracting an odd numbered chip (or vise-versa) to get an answer of four or five." -- www.mathpentath.org

DIV III: Continued learning JUGGLE.

WEEK EIGHT: 11/11

2008-11-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

DIV I & DIV II had fun today with EARTHQUAKE play while DIV III students started learning their third game.

EARTHQUAKE play gives the kids ample opportunity to play all the games they have learned and with several different friends, by mixing the kids up among the various seats and tables mid-game. When the coach says “EARTHQUAKE” the children finish their turns and then move to a different table. Then they pick up where someone else’s game left off (a different game then the one they were just playing) and they resume that game with a new opponent.

This gives our students opportunities to play the games one-on-one (remember we have been learning these games with partners) without fear that they will lose every game to another student. During instruction we mix grades so older students can help younger students learn strategies, but during this exercise we match grade students so a 2nd grader plays a 2nd grader--just as it will be at tournament.

DIV I: EARTHQUAKE play with CALLA & HEX-A-GONE.

DIV II: EARTHQUAKE play with FIAR & PAR 55.

DIV III: The third game our 4th and 5th graders are learning is JUGGLE.
"In this game players “juggle” polyominoes in order to be the first to complete their 9x9 grid-like gameboards. The roll of two dice determines which pieces are selected from five different types of polyominoes, including pentomioes and tetrominoes. In the process of playing the game students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical relationships involving area, perimeter, and transformational geometry (flips, turns, and slides). Spatial and logical reasoning skills are enhanced as students try to balance probability and chance, as well as numerical and structural relationships." -- www.mathpentath.org

WEEK SEVEN: 11/4

2008-11-04T15:58:00.001-08:00

Math Club T-Shirts were distributed today and they look AWESOME! Thanks again to Betsy Melton for submitting the winning design. FBE will definitely stand out at tournament.

DIV I: In Hex-a-Gone, strategy primarily comes into play when the game board is almost completely filled, at which time players must think a few turns ahead so that they can guarantee that they play the final piece for the win. Todays investigations helped kids focus on that strategy.

DIV II: PAR 55 is a race to 55 on the game board and the key is to determine where to place a block from the bank on the board so that you can maximize the number of spaces you are allowed to move. Exercises in class today focused on that as well as recognizing how to get a certain score that might be needed to win or "bump" an opponent.

DIV III: An EARTHQUAKE Game Play day, these students were able to play both CONTIG 60 and FAB-A-DIFFY to practice the games and have fun!

WEEK SIX: 10/28

2008-10-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

After a week off for early release day, we spent our Math Club time reviewing our second game and improving our strategies.

DIV I: Learned the rules and played the game of Hex-A-Gone.
DIV II: Learned the rules and played the game of PAR 55.
DIV III: Practiced the game FAB-A-DIFFY.

Math Club T-Shirts came in today so we'll sort them and hand them out at class next week!

October Family Fun

2008-10-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

All three divisions were represented as parents and students of the Math Club challenged each other to games of Calla, Hexagone, FIAR, PAR 55, Fab-a-Diffy, and Contig 60. Join us at our next Friday Fun Night: February 6th, 2009.

10/24: Family Fun Friday

2008-10-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 24th, come to the school cafeteria from 6:30 ~ 8:00 PM to see what all the excitement is about! Play Math Pentathlon games with your kids or watch what they've learned as they play a friend. This evening is an optional night designed for fun while reinforcing the learning concepts at Math Club.

NO CLASS 10/21

2008-10-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, October 21st is an early release day so there will be NO Math Club meetings next week.

WEEK FIVE: 10/14

2008-10-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

We continued learning our second game or learning about the attributes that make up our second game.

DIV I: Learned the game rules for HEX-A-GON where students use pattern block shapes to cover the board.

DIV II: Spent more time learning and comparing the attributes of the game pieces used in PAR 55: Color, Shape, Size, and Thickness.

DIV III: Learned the game rules for FAB-A-DIFFY -- a game about making fraction equivalents.

WEEK FOUR: 10/7

2008-10-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

We've moved on to a new game and for most of us, we spent today preparing to learn our second game next week by becoming familiar with new game pieces and their characteristics.

DIV I: We learned the colors and nomenclature of the shapes of the different blocks used in HEX-A-GON. We have a yellow hexagon, blue rhombus, brown rhombus, green triangle, orange square, and red trapezoid. We talked about the block characteristics, their proper placement when played (must share one common edge with other shapes), and how to create one type of block using smaller blocks together (for instance, two green triangles placed back-to-back will build a blue rhombus). We created our own designs and had our friends copy them and we also tried to cover a pre-printed designs using the blocks to get familiar with how to fill a space.

DIV II: We learned about attributes and specifically the ones used in our game PAR 55: COLOR, SHAPE, SIZE, and THICKNESS (CSST). We practiced describing the game pieces using CSST and then we made one-way, two-way, and three-way trains with our BANK of pieces. For example: if our train engine was a yellow triangle, large and thin we tried to find a yellow triangle that was large and thick to add to our one-way train; a yellow triangle, small and thick to add to our 2-way train, and then finally a yellow square that was small and thick to add onto our three-way train. This is fun math!

DIV III: Getting ready to play FAB-A-DIFFY next week, we reviewed lots of fractions, how to make fraction equations, and how to determine fraction equivalents. We also played a few fun games like fraction concentration!

RED WINS

2008-09-30T04:37:00.000-07:00

We had the students in Math Club vote for their favorite T-Shirt design and the RED T-Shirt with the Math Pentathlon Shooting Stars won the popular vote by a landslide! One section of students actually tied 10-10 between the two finalists, but in most classes the vote for this design was overwhelming and it won both the electoral college vote and the popular vote! As part of the Math Club all students will get a T-Shirt but if you want one too and haven't ordered one, be sure to contact us right away!

WEEK THREE: 9/30

2008-09-30T04:34:00.000-07:00

We continued playing our first games this week and reviewed a few game worksheets to help us think about strategy and imagine some what if scenarios. This was our last week for learning CALLA, FIAR, & CONTIG 60 but not our last week playing it! After each learning section, we'll have an Earthquake Game Day where the kids will have fun playing the games we have learned to date while having to be on the move from game to game and continuously changing their thinking.

The best part of this program is cooperative learning! We play in groups of four with two students on each team, who sit across the table diagonally from each other. The number one goal for our kids at this point is to say, "Partner, I'm going to make this move, because . . . What do you think?" We are trying to help our friends with learning the game and understanding strategic moves that help us to play better. We know that we are supposed to help each other now, so we can all play well at tournament when we are playing against students from other schools. The kids are really cognizant of including their partners in their decision making. This translates to better sharing and math skills for everyone.

Need Game?

2008-09-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

The Math Pentathlon Institute is having a Back-T0-School Special on their games. If you are interested in purchasing a set for home use, be sure to visit their website soon! Offer expires October 5th.

http://www.innovativeecom.com/b2c/browse.pl?owner=90

T-Shirt Finalists

2008-09-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Here are our two T-Shirt Design Finalists! We had 17 entries and the decision to narrow the field was so difficult we had two rounds of voting. These designs will be sent to the students next Tuesday when they will vote for our club T-Shirt.

CONGRATULATIONS to FBE Mom & Artist Betsy Melton for both of these designs!

A special honorable mention for all of the artists who shared their time and talents in creating fantastic artwork for our club T-shirts: Stephen Dudley, Lauren Mack, Chanta Sheidow, Nikki Muirhead, and Lisa Mack.

WEEK TWO, 9/23

2008-09-23T19:29:00.001-07:00

Today we learned the How-To's of our first game! For a quick look at the game highlights and rules, follow the links below.

DIV I: Calla
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv1.pdf

DIV II: FIAR (Four-In-A-Row)
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv2.pdf

DIV III: Contig 60
http://mathpentath.org/pdf/highlightsdiv3.pdf

The kids did GREAT today! We had a fun time.

WEEK ONE, 9/16

2008-09-16T19:38:00.001-07:00

Hopefully, by now, your student has shared some of their fun from today's class with you! All of the classes reviewed what it means to be a PENTATHLETE and a member of the Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon Bobcats. We also talked about the purple FLAG CARD that students pass from player to player to indicate which person has the current move.

DIV I: Students learned a lot about standard configurations (how numbers appear in a way that is easily recognized such as found on dice, cards, or dominoes). We also practiced how to set up the CALLA game board using standard configurations. Send homes included a reference sheet for standard configurations and a few practice sheets.

DIV II: Learned three games which progressively became more challenging where the object was to get your chips lined up three in a row. The game "Five Chip" was sent home for practice play. Ask your student how to play! No need to get blue or red chips: use pennies and dimes as markers.

DIV III: After a brief review of standard configuration, students rolled dice to play "Cover Up" where the object is to cover a bingo type board of numbers by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing the numbers showing on the dice.

NOTE: Send home worksheets are always optional. This is a club that teaches math, but is supposed to be FUN! If you have time and desire to do these, fantastic, that's why we are sending them home.

EMAIL

2008-09-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

We will be communicating primarily through email so please be sure that your email isn’t sending important information to your junk folder!

You should have received several notes by now including:

Important information about Math Club,

Tuesday’s rotating staff assignments,
Tournament Supervisor groups, and a
Class list and meeting room reminder.

If you have not received these from lisamack@austin.rr.com, check your junk folder as your spam filter might be working overtime!

Enrollment Closed

2008-09-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

Registration is now closed for Math Pentathlon 2008-2009.

Registration Confirmation

2008-09-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

If you registered your student at the Math Pentathlon Orientation Session, you should have received an email confirmation by now. If you have not, please email us.

Today, confirmation letters were put in teacher mailboxes. When you receive these, please review and edit your information, complete and sign the parent commitment agreement, and submit your student's contract (if not already on file.)

Classes start Tuesday, September 16th!

Calling All Artists!

2008-09-05T11:58:00.001-07:00

The Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon Bobcats Club needs a look. A logo. A T-Shirt design of our very own. When we go to the National Tournament next spring with schools from all over the state, we want everyone to know that Fern Bluff Elementary is in the house. Kinder students will wear them. Moms & Dads will wear them. Teachers will wear them. So we need a design that works for small and large T-shirts. Think broad strokes that screen print well. We'll want to print on a color T-Shirt so plan to incorporate that into your design. Forget pink, purple or any other color T-shirt that doesn't work well for everyone. Try yellow, orange, gold, red, maroon, or another hot color for the actual T-Shirt but don't use blue or green because many of the teams at tournament have a blue or green T-Shirt and we want to stand out!

Math Pentathlon is all about learning math through game play. Our students learn and play five games each in their respective divisions, and are called PENTATHLETES. For inspiration, take a look at what it's all about at www.mathpentath.org where you can see what some of the games look like and also see t-shirt designs used by other schools. MUST HAVE the phrases "Fern Bluff Elementary" and "Math Pentathlon" in the artwork, although not necessarily together. There are no other design requirements. Submit your design to the school, attn: Lisa Mack by 3:00 PM September 19th. The Math Club volunteer staff will review all of the entries and choose their favorites to present to the Math Club students. Because this is an exciting election year, we plan to model the voting process of our nation:

Each student will cast a vote for their favorite design.
The design that has the majority of votes within each of the seven sections of students will receive one vote to reflect the popular vote of their section.
The winning design for our T-Shirts will need only a simple majority of those seven votes.

We'll even consider primaries, if necessary!

If your design is chosen to represent our club, you'll win our heartfelt appreciation, bragging rights as over 150 people proudly wear your design, and your very own T-shirt, of course.

Registration & Enrollment

2008-09-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

WOW! What excitement at Fern Bluff Elementary! We now have over 120 students registered for the Math Pentathlon program. There are just a few openings remaining and we will continue to accept registrations first-received, first enrolled. Classes begin on Tuesday, September 16th. Club Fees: $89 per student, which pays for coach training, weekly instruction, games and materials, snacks, club T-Shirt, and tournament entry fees. Parent Commitment: We expect that a parent of every student will sign up as a floater volunteer for five meetings and/or as a judge on a Saturday for the national tournament if being at school in the afternoon is not possible. Scholarships Available.

Tues, Sept 2: Math Pentathlon Orientation & Club Registration

2008-08-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, September 2^nd from 6:30-8:30 PM, the Math Club is hosting an ADULTS ONLY Math Pentathlon Orientation event designed to provide parents with an overview of the program.

Registrations for the Fern Bluff Math Club will be accepted after the presentation. For more information and registration forms, email MPCBobcats@hotmail.com.

Local Elementary School Wins National Tournament

2008-06-04T05:33:00.001-07:00

www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=209986halon

Volunteer & Parent Training

2008-06-03T21:36:00.000-07:00

If you volunteered to support the Math Club by serving as a coach, rule expert, or monitor thank you for volunteering your time and talents for the Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon Club! Training is on Saturday, August 16th.

DIV I 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

DIV II 11:30 AM - 3:45 PM

DIV III 4:15 PM - 9 PM

Parents interested in learning the Math Pentathlon games for better understanding of their child's experiences with the club or for at home play are also encouraged to attend this training as well, as space permits, for a small fee which allows us to bring the program to our school. Parents who attend this training will be allowed to pre-register their children for the Math Club. For a registration form, email mpcbobcats@hotmail.com.

Fern Bluff Math Pentathlon Club

2008-06-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

We've had exciting responses to our interest form! Over 100 students and 40 parents willing to participate weekly in our new Math Club. We are currently setting up training for this August so we can be ready to start our club in mid-September. More on that soon!