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What They Say About MOEMS

What Parents and Teachers Wrote
Let me thank all of you for making this possible for our children. My daughter Kyra has had the most wonderful time participating in Math Olympiads the past two years. I think that the contests have provided an excitement and interest level in math that is fantastic! We are truly grateful for the MOEMS organization. .
Sally Sherwood
Temecula, CA
I have been doing this for 18 years.... I have changed how I use [MOEMS contests] over the years, but it has be one constant among no others that I have been involved with in education. Now more than ever it is helpful with bright math students. ...[So many] math programs are weak in ... problem solving and mathematical applications even though they claim to be conceptual and inquiry based.
Mary Mahan
Field Elementary
Littleton Public schools
It was a great fun! [My kids] learned a lot and MO is a fantastic program. Keep up the good work. You are making a difference.
Dave (a parent who requested anonymity)
I suppose you can tell that Math Olympiads are a valuable part of my math program. They help me immensely with understanding how to elevate math concepts to a higher reasoning level.
Jackie Benner
I just wanted to thank all of you for your hard work. We're a large urban school in Los Angeles with 11 different languages spoken among the children, and this is our second year to enter 4 teams. It's been a challenge to teach problem solving, but we are using our diversity to find many new approaches. We've got a long way to go, but this has been a great experience for us, and I just wanted to say thanks.
Cathy Hoyt
I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you that our 4th and 5th grade students love participating in the Math Olympiads program at our school. We have had a lot of fun through the years. So thank you for that! It's an excellent program!
Julie Neher
Creekside Elementary
Boulder Colorado
This year was the first year that our elementary school participated in the Math Olympiads, so we didn't know what to expect. Wow! The kids LOVED wrapping their minds around the most challenging, quirkiest math problems they'd ever faced before. Many were challenged for the first time. Our PICOs were a bit apprehensive -- but the kids' excitement was infectious. We all learned a lot, and can't wait for the new season to start.
Mona Schorow , John Muir Elementary School
The Math Olympiads give bright math students the extra challenge that is sometimes missing from the regular classroom, and they are a good preparation for such important future testing as the PSAT and SAT. Our students gain extra motivation from the competition, and all of us thank you for making this opportunity available.
Anne McChesney, The Odyssey Program, Houston and Boyd Elementary Schools, Spartanburg, South Carolina
I have been involved with the program for some time and have witnessed that the children have improved with their problem solving approaches.
Mary Ann Gilman, Clifton Springs, NY
It's challenging and FUN!!
Ruth Yang
Thanks again for years of providing challenging math problems for my boys and me. They would all agree that it has been beneficial as well as fun.
Erika Zajdel
Math Olympiads have given me a chance to put my math skills to the test and sharpen my mind. It has also given me the opportunity to work my mind harder than regularly in class. Thank you, Math Olympiads.
Kevin Kulshrestha, NY
I would like to offer my highest praise to the Math Olympiad program nd organization. This will be my 6th year of involvement with the Math Olympiad, and the organization has always been very gracious in meeting special needs that have arisen over the years. They truly care about the students having an opportunity to participate in the program, and the program, when done with instruction, is great at helping the students develop their problem solving abilities. One thing that I really appreciate is the individual incentives that it offers for the students. Anyone having a perfect score receives a medallion. The top 2% of all students receive a gold pin, the top 3-10% of students receive a silver pin, and the top 50% receive a patch. That way, students are able to see their improvement over the years, based on their level of achievement. Also, students are awarded based on their own performance, and not because they were the best in the class. There are other great math programs out there (CalcuSolve, Continental Math, etc.), but none that award individual performance the way the Math Olympiad does. Striving for a patch or a pin is what keeps some of the students coming back each year.My heartfelt thanks to the Math Olympiad for the services they provide and the concern that they show for the participants.
Janet Kelly
I love your program. We are planning our Math O Ceremony and Parent Problem Solving for next month. My students have learned so much!!!!
Meredith Vetter, Olde Providence School, Charlotte
[When Executive Director Richard Kalman did a workshop with our students,] he made the children feel empowered to try to tackle the problems he posed and I could see that even some of the children who were not historically 'good at that sort of problem solving' were engaged. I would like to suggest that when he works with teachers, he give a lesson or structure his whorshop so that our teachers could almost replicate his lesson with their class. I think our teachers REALLY NEED that and it may make them more confident to try such a thing with their classes
Robyn Cooper, Atlanta GA
We have a small team, with students of varying abilities. however, we are all learning alot, and having fun, too. thanks for all you do to make this great program what it is. Jennifer Wise, Homeschool team, New Berlin, PA
My students and I love this program. It really does help build stronger problem solvers.
Sarah Jacobus, Mansfield, TX
I was the PICO at Oxford since about 1982. I thoroughly enjoy the contest. Parents and students are very enthusiastic about it. I still show up on contest day to administer it to the teams but no longer handle the paperwork. I was very happy that the principal of Elk Ridge School decided it was an important part of my program that shouldn't stop.
Jean Catani
Thank you for giving schools the opportunity to work on some higher order math problems. My students love doing the Olympiads!
Nathan Rosin, Westlake Middle School, Broomfield, CO
We really appreciate the opportunity to take part in this program and feel it is an invaluable tool.
Theresa Jones, Fayetteville, NC 
I use this resource and my students [beginning teachers] love the experience and opportunity to see such a valued resource. I spend 4 weeks doing problem solving in my methods classes and assign many of past years problems for them to solve. They do not know how this process works and rave at the end of semester about the growth gained by experiencing your wonderful resource.
Clinton Ludeman, Kearney, Nebraska
MOEMS, in my opinion, is doing more than any other organization in the world to promote problem solving among both children and teachers. Keep up the good work.
Eugene P. Smith, University of Michigan-Dearborn
You have always been helpful when I have had problems.  It is one reason Sunset has been involved in your program for so long.
Mark Owen, Shoreline WA
The questions always offer great clues and are fair in asking for answers that test knowledge.  They aren’t full of tricks or huge answers, but check for real understanding.
Joan Brinkman, St. Louis Park MN
I have considered this contest one of the best vehicles to stimulate my sixth grade students.
Judy Liscum, Canton, NY
Thank you for this opportunity! I enjoyed math contests as a child myself, and am excited about helping get kids as excited about math as I am.
Sculley, GA
I’ve been a Mathcounts coach for 9 years. I can always spot the students who did Olympiads in grade school! My two students who really did well and went on to National Mathcounts were both from Olympiads
Lenora Murray, AR
Everyone in grades 4-6 is encouraged to join Math Olympiads. For the second year we have more than 40 students participating. Math Olympiads is a fabulous experience for all who participate
Debbie Hamburg, West Hempstead, NY
I don’t know about the kids, but I sure have been learning math through these competitions.
Ellie Feldner, Scottsdale, AZ
You’re a terrific organization- -our math program is much enhanced by your MO problems
Erik Wessler, Atherton, CA
[Students] fall in love with math. These questions are four to six years above grade level for third graders, yet they come back every year.
Claire Eiselen, Rochester, NY
This is my first year doing Math Olympiad as a PICO. However, about 12 years ago when I was in sixth grade, I was also a Math Olympiad . . . I look forward to doing the program with my students.
Sharon Dill, Stamford CT
This is a wonderful program.
Shirley Gibb, Stevens Point, WI
Another fine set of problem.
Pearl Taback, Riverdale, NY
Thanks for continuing your high quality program and problems. The questions always offer great clues and are fair in asking for answers that test knowledge. They aren’t full of tricks or huge answers, but check for real understanding . ... This is the best math program around.
Joan Brinkman, St. Louis Park, MN
I can’t begin to tell you what a great program it [the Math Olympiads] is. The students who have participated generally raise standardized test scores several points. Students who rarely solve an Olympiad contest problem become good math students and frequently state that they are good at math because they are on the team. They feel important because it gives them a great deal of prestige to participate. Thank you.
Mrs. Matthews, e-mail
Your materials and program are wonderful mathematical stretchers for our accelerated math students.
  Maxine M. Colston, Hoke County, NC
Thank you for yet another wonderful year of challenging math problems. How quickly the year passes.
Marilyn Chiarello and Beverly Emery, Manhasset, NY
Thank you for another challenging year of Math Olympiad competition. … Interest in the program continues to grow and students are taking the challenge more seriously each year. Thank you again for your efforts on behalf of Mathletes.
Anna Ogunnaike, Hockessin DE
I only see my kids once a week as I am a ‘special’ (the teacher for the gifted) and do this as an extension of my regular chores. I enjoy the challenge and have seen an improvement in my [emphasis added] understanding of math since I have started to teach it.
Ellie Feldner, Scottsdale, AZ
Thanks again for your patience with us. I LOVE THIS PROGRAM! The questions are rich and help our kids think in ways that are not traditionally found in the classroom. Problems are great—I take the tests right along with the kids. … I learned a lot—too much to admit to! … Frankly, I wish _____ had problems like yours—maybe we’d produce more critical thinkers.
Robyn Silbey, Montgomery County MD
We love our Math Olympiad!!!
Sylvia Dean, Huntsville AL
My kids love earning a place on the Math Olympiad team.  I think Math Olympiad is awesome, and so do my team members.  They have learned so much through our club practices and the competition.  Thanks for all the effort the main office puts into this competition!  It is greatly appreciated here at McCoy
Janeth Waggoner, Carrollton, TX
My students and I think this year’s problems were very good. They were tricky, but not beyond 5th/6th grade ability and challenging (which is good) for 4th graders. There were problems for students at all levels.  They made the students think and to become aware of their careless errors.
  Kae Roti, Spencer, IA 
Thank you for a great program.
Michele Marsh, Helena, MT
I would like to use this opportunity to thank you for another wonderful year. Our students enjoyed very much participating in the mathematical Olympiads.
  Dr. Katarina H. Klaf, NYC, NY
Thank you for another fun year.
Amy Reynolds, North Salem, NY
It has been rewarding working with our fourth graders during our first year of Olympiad participation.  You have a fabulous program – albeit extremely challenging for the fourth graders.  We look forward to next year – it will be great to  have one year’s experience behind us.
  Pattie Hazama, Calabasas, CA
I love your program! This is my first year as PICO and now that I’m beginning to get a feel for how to train my mathletes, both they and I are enjoying it more.  I appreciate your tips (experienced PICOs are wonderful!) and your graph of “percent correct for problem” helps me to gauge if I’m on target.
Nancy Van Schoick, Nazareth, PA
My students have been enjoying the Olympiads, both in Division E and Division M teams. I think it is a wonderful program for students in Mathematics.  I work with gifted and talented homeschool students and have very much appreciated giving them the chance for this opportunity.
Catherine Asaro, Columbia, MD
Thanks again for a great contest year.  It was GREAT!
Bruce Cattanach, Denville, NJ
We have surely enjoyed working with you over the years and appreciate the challenges and opportunities you have provided for our students.
Anna Page, South Spartanburg,SC
Thank you very much for your service this year.  Our sixth grade students enjoyed the opportunity to meet weekly and try some challenging math problems.
 Charles Wyand, Niantic, CT
THANK YOU!  I really appreciate everything.  My students really enjoy your contest.
Sarah Dennis Giunchedi, South Barrington, IL

What Students Wrote
hey I rlly [sic] have enjoyed math olympiads in 5th and 6th grade so now im looking toward math olympiads again in 7th grade. I think it's an awsome challenge for my friends that are also in this and me because it makes us think out of the box more often and now we use those skills we devloped in our lives and other math assignments.
Amy Guevara, Thomas Harrison Middle School, Harrisonburg, Virginia
Your questions are challenging and I have to think hard to find an answer to your questions. Also I like your site because it's a challenging web site and it's also an awsome, fun, interesting, hard, and challenging web site.
Christine Canedo
I say that the Math Olympiads program is great. It challenges me and gives me practice on the stuff I don't know and not the stuff I already know. I go to Marshwood Jr. High in Southern Maine and never miss a Friday, that's the day our team meets. "HOTS not MOTS!!!"
Sam, South Berwick,ME
This website is a great way to help people who are very good at math to even better. The Math Olympiads contests are also challenging.
Nihar Patel gr.4, Langhorne, PA
This was a welcome break from the usual math, and really had me thinking.
Ryan, 4th grade
I have competed in the Math Olympiads from the 5th to 8th grades. Through my years of participation in this program, I have developed a wide array of reasoning and problem solving skills that I use regularly. I highly recommend that any one with an opportunity to do this, should!!!
Dani
Thompson age 14, Boulder, Colorado
Hi, my name is Adrian. I’m on my mom’s screen name. I think your Olympiads are a LOT of fun. I also think they are challenging.
Adrian, e-mail
I think the program is good because you can learn things that you wouldn't have learned until 6th grade or later. The program has helped me do better with my normal math work.
Beth Hendricks, gr.5, Bedford,MA
This math class has helped me. I had always said "I can't do it" and now I don't say that anymore. Math Olympiad has given me challenges and I enjoy it.
Lindsay McGrory, gr.5, Bedford, MA
Math Olympiad challenges you to think outside the box. The answers are not always the obvious ones.
Kristine Tom, gr.4, Bedford, MA

ONE LINERS WRITTEN BY STUDENTS

It teaches me interesting problems that I never learned before.

You learn secrets of math.
I learned lots of ways to do problems.
It helps you to solve problems better.
It refreshes your brain.
I feel really proud.
I love the Olympiad ceremonies each year.
It makes me unleash the thinking part of my brain.