Woah… October first… palindrome.  
I wonder how many MATH TEAM days in the last 4 years met on a palindrome day when written as monthDay, like October 1:  1001.  I wonder if there is a slick way to calculate that.

Numbers are endlessly fascinating. 

On to some news:

1.  On our 2024_0910 email, we talked about prospective hindsight.  We entertained a thought experiment that allowed us to consider what was done to be successful in NSML #1.  How did it go?   Take a look

On Tuesday we will celebrate the successes we had from our downtown Chicago trip and pass out some ribbons.  We definitely celebrate the effort that led to success

2.  But we know that ribbons and standings are a symbol of one point in time.  We can’t get attached to that.  Take a look at the Topics for NSML #2

We want YOU to be part of our south-side Chicago trip to the University of Chicago on November 7.

3.  While we prepare for NSML #2, we are also preparing for our largest community service event for MATH TEAM: The Math Carnival.   We will devote the first 20 minutes of our meeting this week to forming groups and organizing ourselves for the October 29 event.

4.  The AMC competition is also around the corner.  So not only are we preparing for NSML #1, preparing for the Math Carnival, we also want to help you prepare for the AMC.  If you are taking the AMC 10, it’s time to turn on the grind and power through problems

If you are taking the AMC 12, it’s time to turn on the grind and power though problems

And in order to help you prepare, and to get pumped, we will be holding extra sessions to prepare for the AMC and the AIME.  Our first extra training session will be on October 22.  For interested parties, carve out time and plan to take the 5:30 bus.  

That’s it for now. See ya tomorrow.

Tuesday: 1001
3:31-4:29
1500/1502 All grade levels start in that room. 
We will then shortly after meet in different rooms to introduce the next topic.
daMathTeam

You do your best work when you have great competitors.

For the last few weeks, we have been working and training, studying and preparing.  Yes, competing for the privilege to represent SHS at the first NSML event, but also competing against our own selves to learn more and improve in math.  I know for so many of us, we have met this goal of improvement.  Take pride in that.  

On Tuesday we will do one last push in probability preparation with everyone in MATH TEAM.  We will learn through problems together, share strategies for different problems, and again enjoy the feeling of getting questions right.  

We will also juggle the room assignments a bit.
Frosh / Senior.  1508 / 1510
Soph / Jr.  1500 / 1502

Come meet us on Tuesday as we prepare and make announcements regarding the folks going to NSML #1.

9/24/2024
3:29 – 4:29
Frosh / Senior.  1508 / 1510
Soph / Jr.  1500 / 1502

daMathTeam

You’re probably getting better at probability.  =)

I know it’s hard to tell at times, but listen…
You try a problem, get it wrong, and think, “That was bad! Waaaa!!!  =(. “
No!  Don’t throw it out!  It didn’t work, but what did it lead to?  What ideas were redeemable, and what ideas need to be re-evaluated?  Did you loosen up rigid ways of looking at things?  
When you’re learning, don’t worry about being right.  Focus on generating ideas and finding patterns in the problems you see.  Alternate ways to consider a problem are always present if one bothers to look for them.  Trust that the improvement is happening.

So be encouraged!  Pick up another problem set from the google classroom and work!  Work! WORK!  
That kid that is amazing at violin… you know what that kid does a lot?  practice.
That kid that is amazing at volleyball… you know what that kid does a lot?  Practice.
That kid that is amazing at math… you know what that kid does a lot?  PRACTICE!

Your coaches are giving you the right problems.  You got to go and practice with them.
Those problem sets are simply the difference between what you have and what you want… 

Now to some announcements.
This Tuesday, we are going to bring the whole gang together in room 1508/1510 for the first 20 minutes.  Yup… bring the chaos.  Frosh/Soph/Jr/Sr grades will meet in room 1508/1510 to start our meeting.  There we will formally introduce our first community service event: The Math Carnival.  =).  It’s going to be amazing.  Take joy in being the reason.
After our announcements, we will spread out into our separate rooms: Sophomores in 1500.  Seniors in 1502.  Juniors in 1506.  Freshment in 1508/1510.  In those rooms we will be taking our second vetting contest or reviewing probability strategies, depending on your grade level. 

We are 10 days away from NSML 1!  Time to lock in.

See ya Tuesday, September 17, 2024
1508/1510. frosh/soph/jr/sr
3:33 – 4:29

daMathTeam

Let’s run a few exercises in prospective hindsight – a mental hack that travels you into the future only to look back on past events (though still in the future) with the clarity of hindsight.

1.  First we jump to September 24, 2024
You are pumped for making it onto the bus for NSML #1!  How did you get here?  By grinding out problems on your own since early September.  By studying a few more contests on your google classroom.  There are plenty of smart kiddos at your grade level, but the extra moments of work is what distinguishes your abilities.  You’re glad you put in the time to learn a few more ideas and make it onto the bus.

2.  Next we jump to September 25, 2024
You handed in your contest a few minutes ago and are now talking to the other Patriots at your grade level.  Crazy!  You think you got all the questions right!  One of the extra ideas from your coaches and some of the extra problems from e-board members prove to be crazy useful, and you scooped up a ton of points for SHS!  =)  You took your time and feel great about your effort.

3.  It’s 10 PM on September 25, 2024
Hundreds of mathletes across the Chicagoland area are refreshing the NSML site… and it looks like Stevenson is at the top of the rankings!  Crazy!  You’re pumped to be part of the reason why.  Whether you made it on the bus or not, you have been studying probability, you have been giving and receiving ideas from other patriot mathletes, and you know you can handle yourself a bit better when it comes to probability.  

So there it is, with the benefit of hindsight, know that it is worth it to work out another contest, to muddle through a SINGLE! problem for over 20 minutes until it makes sense, to read up on different resources related to probability.  Let’s do it!  With the clarity of hindsight, I encourage you to go to your google classroom and crank out another problem!  

There is such a peculiar and specific joy in making mathematics bow to your will.  Go get it!

On Tuesday, most grade levels will have their first of a few contests that will simulate the testing environment and also help coaches make decisions on who makes the bus.  Get excited!

Winning Tuesday, 9/10/2024
3:35 – 4:30
1500/1502 Frosh / Jr
1508/1510 Soph / Sr

daMathTeam

hTree ady ewekend.  I adre oyu ot ifnd a ebtter rtio fo owrds.

hWen oyu ocme abck uTesday, ew iwll erunite ni AMTH ETAM ufn.

nOce gaain, ew iwll emet ni esparate oroms, iwth:
rfosh/rj: 1508/1510
osph/rs: 1500/1502

eW iwll psend a omment ot atlk baout hte roalist veent nad atke a usrvey ofr htose htat rae niterested.  eW iwll laso nitroduce a efw enw poportunities ot ehlp oyu rpepare ofr hte MAC omcing ni oNovember.

d’I rwite omre, ubt ti si evry ahrd ot rwite htis m-eail.  )=

ese oyu uTesday!

9/3/2024
rfosh/rj: 1508/1510
osph/rs: 1500/1502

adMathTeam

Ma-ma-ma-Maaaath Team!

Welcome to your weekly MATH TEAM blast, and a warm “aloha” to the 8 new people added to our distribution list.

In our first meeting last week, we had 99 students sign in to 5-Star.  Thank you! Two things about that number.  First, the eye-ball test tells me that we had closer to 150 kids.  Second, from our sample of 6 e-board members (names seen in the cc: line), only (gulp) 3 signed up in 5-Star last week.  That makes our numbers possibly as high as 200… a hilariously large number of students. =). As we start up our meeting this week Tuesday, please be sure to login to 5Star as that is how we build out our official roster.

To have a little bit more elbow room and be a little bit less of a fire hazard,  we will split into two double rooms. In fact, we usually split into multiple rooms throughout the year so that we can give everyone a bit more attention.  This week:
Freshmen and Juniors will be in room 1508/1510
Sophomores and Seniors will be in room 1500/1502

Please come out this week so that we can make sure you are on our roster, make sure you are in the correct google classroom, and to receive a field trip form that works for the whole year.  We hope you can make it to one or more of our various competitions, but in order to be eligible, we will need that field trip form.

Most of our time Tuesday will be spent practicing and hearing from coaches or e-board members about our first topic: Probability.

More specifically: 
Frosh: Counting Basics and Simple Probability: The emphasis is on organized thinking, not using formulas. May include tree type problems, combinations, and permutations. Any calculator (even CAS) is allowed.
Soph: Geometric Probability: Standard treatment of probability problems with continuous variables using ratios of lengths, areas, and volumes. Any calculator (even CAS) is allowed.
Jr: Probability: The standard treatment of probability. It may include combinations, permutations, mutually exclusive events, dependent and independent events, conditional probability, and expected value. Does not include binomial distribution. Any calculator (even CAS) is allowed.
Sr: Probability: May include combinations, permutations, mutually exclusive events, dependent and independent events, conditional probability, Bayes’ Theorem, binomial distribution, expected value, and geometric probability. Any calculator (even CAS) is allowed.

Please bring your calculators Tuesday!  For those that want to dabble with the TI nSpire CAS calculators, please speak with Mr. Anderson or myself during our meeting.

See you Tuesday
8/27/2024
3:35 – 4:30
Freshmen and Juniors in room 1508/1510
Sophomores and Seniors in room 1500/1502

In the meantime, wash your hands a lot and do your best to stay healthy.  I’m pretty sure 5 out of every 4 Stevenson students are mildly sick right now.

daMathTeam

MATH TEAM, assemble!!! … and a big hello to the 13 new people added to our weekly email blast!

This week Tuesday is our first MATH TEAM meeting of the year! For those of you who have been part of our community, we’re excited to see you again!  For those of you who are Spring athletes, we’re excited to have you back!  For those of you who are not sure about coming, well…

Our first meeting tends to draw lots of peeps – certainly big enough for you to come and check it out in the lovely cover of a large crowd.  Be brave! Try something new while a bunch of others are checking out something new too.  No prerequisites and no commitments.  Our first few meetings are a celebration of people and learning under the banner of MATH.  Whether you come on your own or with a buddy, you will leave knowing what MATH TEAM does, how to get involved, and who else is part of MATH TEAM.

Here are some answers to questions I have received in the last few days… hopefully it will make you more confident and excited about Tuesday.
Where do we meet?  Room 1508 / 1510 (a double classroom)
When do we meet?  Tuesday at 3:35 until 4:30 (Every week at this time)
Do I need to be in a certain math class to join?  Any and all students are welcome to learn, compete, and participate in our community events.
Do I need to bring anything?  Nope.  But feel free to bring a friend if that is more comfortable
What will we be doing?  We will introduce events, introduce the staff, talk through all kinds of MATH opportunities for the year, sign up for some events, then play a game from our e-board… with prizes!!!  
What if I don’t know anyone?  No problem.  The MATH TEAM coaches are in the to: line of this email.  Introduce yourself to us at our meeting and we can chat.  Say hello to the e-board members in the cc: line of this email.  They will be the ones wearing name tags and a big smile.  And really, everybody is kinda new… let’s all be the chill, accepting, and joyful person we hope to encounter. =)

see ya at MATH TEAM!
Tuesday 8/20/2024
3:35-4:30
room 1508/1510

daMathTeam

The shock of school is amazing.

Whether you are a freshman about to start your high school career, a senior getting ready to lord over this school, or someone in between, there are a shocking number of questions.  Who will I have lunch with?  Are my teachers going to be any good?  Do I remember how to wake up early?  What should I wear to school on the first day?  Where is my school backpack?  

One question you don’t have to answer is, What should I do on Tuesday after school?  MATH TEAM is faithful.  MATH TEAM has been waiting for you.

But not quite yet.  Pace yourself this first week and get used to the mechanic of school.  MATH TEAM will not meet this week.  The coaches (in the to: line) and the e-board (in the cc: line) will take this week to get ready for our first meeting on:

Tuesday.  August 20, 2024.  1508-1510.

So mathlete, have a good first week of school and see you at our first meeting onTuesday, August 20th!

daMathTeam