Junior Camp Information
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Half-Day Program
Eligibility
- To be eligible you must:
- Have completed the 3rd-8th grade, depending on level. (Note: Exceptions to grade level will be made depending on mathematical background and experience.)
- Submit an application to Texas Mathworks before April 30, 2010.
- Admissions decisions will be made from February 1 through May 30, 2010.
- Students are encouraged to apply early, since enrollment is limited and we have a rolling admissions policy.
To Apply
- Complete and return the Junior Summer Math Camp Application together with your camp fees so that they are received by April 30, 2010.
- Deposits will be refunded if student is not accepted or cancels by May 30, 2010.
Expenses and Financial Aid
Total Cost: The program costs $290, with scholarships available based on need.
- Includes supplies, workbook, daily snack, and T-shirt.
- Students who need financial assistance should indicate the amount of need on the application form.
- Students may receive scholarships depending on family income and circumstances. Scholarships are provided by the school district and other sources.
Sample Daily Schedule
7:30-8:00 Breakfast
8:00-10:00 Class
10:00-10:30 Break/Snack
10:30-12:00 Class
12:00-12:30 Lunch
Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided.
Level Description
Level 1: The Mathematical Mystery Tour (Grade Level: Rising 4th and 5th graders*)
- Topics include: beginning algebra, positive and negative numbers, absolute value, variables, expressions, and inequalities.
- Using math dramas, students encounter a conflict whose resolution requires using the mathematical idea being studied. Students learn new mathematical ideas while having fun acting and working together in groups.
Level 2: MathQuest (Grade Level: Rising 5th and 6th graders*)
- Topics Include: Cartesian plane, functions, fractions, equivalent fractions, and decimals.
- MathQuest is the name of the hot air balloon that carries Math Explorers through a series of explorations, each requiring the mastery of a new topic to complete. This level also incorporates dramatics, as students relate the mathematics learned to real-life situations.
Level 3: Math Explorations (Grade Level: Rising 6th and 7th graders*)
- Topics include: algebra, graphs, measuring angels, triangles, straight lines, coordinate geometry, and applications with an emphasis on problem solving.
- The drama activities from Levels I and Level II are gradually replaced by hands-on models that students build for each new mathematical idea.
Level 4: Combinatorics (Grade Level: Rising 6th, 7th and 8th graders*)
- Topics include: basic concepts from discrete math, rule of sum, rule of product, combinations, permutations, counting principles, and applications.
Level 5: Problem Solving (Grade Level: Rising 6th, 7th, 8th graders*)
- Topics include: problem solving and contest type problems, logic problems, and fundamental theorems in geometry, using combinatorics in a variety of settings.
- A limited number of spaces are available for a residential program in this level.
- Top students from Level 5 become members of the Texas Mathworks Team that competes in the Primary Mathematics World Contest in Hong Kong held in July.
*Exceptions to grade level will be made depending on mathematical background and experience. Level changes made during the first two days of camp.
Transportation
Texas Mathworks does not provide transportation for students.
San Marcos CISD will have buses running, however we do not have specific information about times and routes yet. For more information about the buses, contact San Marcos School District at 393-6700.
For parents dropping off students please do so at the front entrance of the school. At the end of the day, students will not be allowed to leave the cafeteria without a parent/guardian present. So please come in and let their teachers know you are picking your child up. This is for safety reasons. Thank you for your cooperation.
Orientation Meeting
The orientation will be at DeZavala Elementary. We will be collecting all forms not completed and accepting payments for camp tuition. Classroom and teacher assignments will be given out at the meeting. There will also be a time for a question and answer session where all your concerns will be addressed. Please make every effort to attend as so much vital information is presented at this time.
End of Camp Picnic
There will be a celebratory picnic for all program participants and their families on the last Friday of camp from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be served and a guest speaker will address the campers. Students will also be receiving awards for their participation at this time.
Testimonials
- "This program helped me understand rules that I followed...I liked this experience because I just didn't learn the rules, I understood why."
- “It changed my perspective towards math. I used to hate math because it was my worst subject...Now I actually enjoy math.”
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“Instead of learning the answer, I have learned why that answer is the answer. I was never sure why you got that answer for a problem but now I do.”
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“The Math Camp is so much different from class work. [In the math camp] they give us challenging problems so we can show our skills and learn from our mistakes…. It was fun at the summer math camp because in the classroom the work was done by ourselves.”
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“Coming up with our own tips and little tricks to find the answer to a problem was a little different. I'm really used to having someone find or do things for me.... I have learned to be responsible and to succeed with my own tricks.”
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“Math Camp was actually fun instead of the usual ‘boring!’ math experiences. Now I'll have a head start.”
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“The difference from this camp and sixth grade is that in school we concentrate on different things at a time, and in math camp we concentrate on one thing and learn a lot more on that topic than in school, and we have more time to actually demonstrate it and in class we can't.”
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“I really appreciate this program because it helps me think more. Before I got into this program, in math problems I just wrote the answer. Now I think about it.”
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“This program is really different because it made me understand the why. Sometimes I did so many things in math, but I just didn't know why I was doing that problem.”
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“I learned that math is not boring. It's fun if you like it and get into it. I think I'm better in math than I was before I came.”
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“I used to think that algebra was hard, but after coming here, I now think it is easy.”
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“Before I came here to Math Camp I was flunking, but now with what I have learned I know I will go on and learn more and also succeed.”
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“This program has been different from other math experiences because sometimes I don't catch on just by writing. I have to draw the pictures, and that's what we did. Everybody did an awesome job, and I am looking forward to next year!”
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“I have learned a lot of things, like algebra…. I am 10 years old. I am passing to fifth grade. I am in ELP. I love doing math.”
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“I liked how Miss [R] pushed us to our limit and even more.”