I believe that academic competitions are a wonderful avenue for our bright kids to test themselves agains others. One, relatively new in USA but widely popular in Europe, is called Math Kangaroo. Check it out at www.mathkangaroo.org
maybe there is a site near you. If no, you can open a site yourself. I did it last year in Utah and within 2 short weeks was able to attract 28 kids to participate. Check it out, it serves kids from grade 2-12. I can answer any questions you might have from an organizational perspective.
Ania

There is still time to register for Math Kangaroo !
Competition will take place on March 15, 2007 in the evening.
Registration deadline is December 23. It cost $20, which includes t-shirt, certificate of participation, two small prizes and a letter to the school principal (great way to have your child stand out from the crowd), not to mention prizes should your kids place in the top 10.
Go to www.mathkangaroo.org
I truly recommend it!
Ania

Hey, yesterday I could access Math Kangaroo at the link here, but today it says that the domain is expired! Any idea what's going on?

Being nosey, I clicked on it, and got this...

"Thank you for your interest in the international mathematical competition for students grades 2 through 12 "Math Kangaroo 2007".
Due to technical problems our web page has been withdrawn for few hours. Please check tomorrow. We apologize for all the inconvenience."

You are right, web page is not accessible at this time. This morning it was still working as I did register some students at my school. Check back tomorrow :-)
Ania

www.mathkangaroo.org is back up. Check it out.
Ania

Well, the competition is over. This year Utah had gone from 1 to 2 sites and between those two sites we have seen close to 70 kids! I consider this amazing, especially since I started the whole thing here last year thinking that just mine kids and those of my friend's will participate. As I am reading through these posts, I can see that a few of you have signed your kids
for participation . How did you like the event, what do you think
about questions? The pictures should be up shortly.
Ania

The results are in (well, sort of:-). Any of your brilliant kids participated? Would you like to share? This competition is different, isn't it?
Ania

Hi Ania,

My kid's class participated (1st New Mexico participants). I really couldn't get much out of my 8 yr old or the teachers (it was a busy time of year), but they said they liked it. They thought the process of participating was very smooth and uncomplicated.

The middle school math teacher didn't participate because she was at a conference that week (I would have thought it'd be something a substitute could administer). Maybe next year.

The teacher of my son's class ended up being very pleased about the Math Kangaroo contest and delighted that her students did well. They're planning to do it again next year--so that's good.

Are there other math competitions anyone recommends for elementary school kids (4-5th grade?). The students already do Continental Math and the other one I was looking at was the Math Olympiad. Let me know if you recommend others.

Cym

Math Olympiad: have both elementary amd middle school divisions
http://www.moems.org/

Mathcounts - for 6-8 grades but you can start preparing early
http://www.mathcounts.org/

Rocket City Math League:
http://www.rocketcitymath.org/index1.htm

I am resurrecting this thread as registration is now in progreass for Math Kangaroo 2008.
Check the top of this thread, go to www.mathkangaroo.org or just e-mail me with any questions.
The competition is open to students in grades 2-12.
Check it out. It is administered by a non profit organization.
Ania

Ania:
I'm assuming that the child should register to take the test in the grade they are enrolled in, whether accelerated or not. My son should be in first grade (chronologically) but attends 3rd grade math, 2nd for everything else. Would he register for the 3rd grade level test or 2nd?

Hmm, good question Debbie! And thanks for the link Ania, I'm definitely interested, but doubt it would work out on a school day. DS is in a simiilar situation chrono 3rd, in 5th with 6th grade math.

From what the website said, it looks like the child should take the level of math s/he's currently taking, not the chronological age/grade level.

Of course, if you're bound and determined for the kid to win some cash, then I guess you could go with chronological grade level instead, to try to boost his/her chances...

For a child who has been grade skipped you have no choice but to register them for the grade they are currently in, but for a child who is only math accelerated, while remaining with his age peers for other classes, the choice is yours. There are no advantages in registering them for higher levels, the test is not easy - very non standard questions, they have to use logic and combinatorics, not just simple arithmetic.
So Debbie, you can register your child for level 2, Dottie for level 5.
The test takes place in the evening, check out if there are locations near you, if no you can open your own site for example in a public library. I did just that two years ago and that is how we started.
Will be happy to answer more questions :-)
Ania

Sadly Math Kangaroo is during our school district's spring break this year, so we won't be participating. We already do Continental Math but the Rocket City one looks good. Math counts has always been on the same weekend as Science Olympiad, but I talked to them yesterday and they said they're going to change the day this year.

We had something like a math club afterschool a few years back and unfortunately it dwindled. Hopefully we can get it back up and going (I'll ask the teacher-sponsor today).

Bump...
Since there are so many new members on this board...

There is still time to register for Math Kangaroo 2008
Go to www.mathkangaroo.org

Hello Again:

Registration deadline for Math Kangaroo 2008 has been extended till the end of December.
And honestly, they don't pay me anything for promoting this :-)

I started this competition in our state two years ago and it has grown so much, that next year we are probably going to have it at the state University!
If there is no location near you, you can PM me and I will tell you what to do to start your own chapter.

For more info go to www.mathkangaroo.org

Ania-

I'm curious- sent you a PM.

take care,

Lorel:
I just mailed you back:-)
Ania

Hey, any kids participating next week?
Good luck!
I love the t-shirt color!

Ok, you all know that I volunteer for MathKangaroo in our state.

Wanted to share some incredible numbers.
Look here to see how this competition is growing:
http://www.mathkangaroo.org/
Click on 2008 numbers. They are amazing!

If anyone would like to bring MathKangaroo to their school or district you may contact me with any questions :-)

Hi Ania,

We did Math Kangaroo last year, but this year it was during our Spring Break. I'm hoping next year is not the same because the kids loved participating--do you know what 2009 date is (if not, let us know when they do come out with it & I'll advocate for elementary, mid & high school level participation).

I just sent our gifted coordinator an email with a link and a request that it be implemented next year at our school district. I didn't see any Ohio locations, I hope we get it.

They have not set a 2009 date yet, but I will post it here when it becomes available.

Hi Ania,

I'm a new member. Just currently, I notice the Kangaroo math competition which was held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Fortunately, I found this forum. My daughter who will be Gr-1 next school year, really good at math, would like to attend 2009 Kangaroo contest. Could you give me some advice, such as how to help her prepare to it and how to register it. Thanks.

Boa

Hi Boa and welcome! Ania is on vacation for the summer and I am not sure when she's going to be back. I'm sure she'll have lots of advice when she gets back and some others may have some as well!!!

Boa:
Mathy 1st graders should do really well on 2nd grade Math Kangaroo questions - they are really easy compared to 3/4 grade.
You can purchase old questions from www.mathkangaroo.org
Also, do contact the organizers in Edmonton - they might be able to share some materials with you.
Good Luck