Math derby

Tyler was invited to join his school's math derby. He practiced during lunch for a couple of months to prepare for the big math derby event. I went to support him during the competition. It was nothing like I expected. I was expecting a couple teams at the front of the room. Everyone given a math question to figure out. The first team with the correct answer would buzz in and get points (admit it that is what you were thinking too). Nope nothing like that at all. The math derby started and each kid was given a math packet. They had 20 minutes to complete as much as they could. Then they grouped off into 3 fifth graders and 3 sixth graders and the group was given a packet. They had 20 minutes to complete that packet. Then they were grouped together with their schools 5th and 6th graders and they were given a packet to complete as much as they could on. In other wards I got to sit there for an hour. Watching the kids fill out packets. Not knowing the questions and not knowing the answers. No tie breaking was going on. No one threw their buzzer cuz they didn't buzz in first. And absolutely no clapping. After each section the kids would take their packets to a judge to go over and score. After the 3rd and final packet was completed I was lucky enough to sit through a 30 minute power point presentation about math and triangles (you fell asleep with me just describing everything to you huh? It truly was that boring). At the end they handed out participation awards to all of the schools that participated. Tyler's team placed 4th of 5. Which considering this team was the only team that didn't have any 6th graders in it but they still had to complete 6th grade level work that's not too bad.

It was quite the learning experience for me watching the math derby. I would like to point out how smart my son is. Hello Math derby???? He did not get his smarts from me. The only derby I would ever participate in is Roller Derby. That is much more my speed. (My Roller Derby name... Cupcake Frostitute).