Maths wizard
My younger son is something of a whizz at maths. He was selected, along with three other gifted and talented (G&T) mathematicians in year 5, to represent the school in a maths competition at a private school on the other side of the county. The four kids were split into pairs and there were 36 teams/ pairs in total, from state and private schools around the county.
I didn’t go to watch – it was too far away and there were ballet logistics to consider, so I only have my son’s account of what happened. When my son tells a long story it’s often a long and elaborate excuse as to why he has failed (in his mind, not winning is failure – except in football where failure is quite usual).
Apparently the 36 teams were split into two competitions, with 18 teams in each. The split was random, there was no ability ranking. The competition took the form of six rounds, each lasting eight minutes and consisting of five questions.
The first round consisted of arranging dominos in a certain way so that they all fitted together and the numbers all matched. My son and his partner got full marks. Each time the points were squared – so if you got five out of five you got 25 points, four out of five was 16, three out of five was nine etc.
They got full marks on the second round too – something involving complex shapes. On the third round they got three out of five, so only nine points. They only dropped points in one other round – where they got four out of five, or 16 points. Apart from that, it was full marks all the way.
And still he strung his story out…
The runners up were announced for both competitions. It wasn’t them. Then the winner was announced for the other competition. And FINALLY they announced the winner for their competition.
It was them.
And their score was considerably higher than the winning team in the other competition.
Overall winners. Out of some seriously clever kids.
AND they beat the posh kids. I did a special air punch just for that. I don’t know why, I just like to beat the private school kids.
Once again, I was very proud of my maths wizard. And he was particularly pleased because he won a scientific calculator for his efforts.
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Wow Sarah, are there no ends to the talents of your offspring? Well done to your son, amazing that they won 🙂
Thanks very much 🙂 He is a VERY clever boy, but to beat the private school kids was particularly satisfying! 😉
Well done to him!! It can’t have been easy under pressure but he seems like a real natural!
He certainly is! Thanks very much 🙂
Wow! Well done to him and his team, sounds like they are all a very clever bunch! I know exactly what you mean about wanting to beat the private school kids, we’ve been there ourselves 😉 x #LoudnProud
Thanks very much. There’s something extra special about beating the private schools! I know it’s wrong, but it just makes me feel extra smug! 😉
Fantastic! I know the competition very well and it really rewards children who are able to think for themselves AS WELL AS being very good at maths!
If he enjoyed it, make sure whichever school he ends up at next year enters him into the UKMT Maths Challenge. It’s a great way for the brightest kids to get a level of competition which they may not get at school, and the questions are a lot of fun.
Thanks very much, Clare, I’ll bear that in mind!
I’d be punching the air too. Well done that boy! Certainly an achievement worthy of #loundproud today 🙂
Thanks very much! I thought it was definitely worth it too 🙂
That’s brilliant, you must be so proud! That must have given him a massive boost of confidence too. Well done to him!x
Thank you, I am so proud and he was really proud of himself too 🙂
Fabulous! I think your son has inherited your wonderful story telling technique 🙂 You must just be so incredibly proud of him xx
Thanks you! He really can string his stories out for a long time and build up the tension! x
Woop woop! That’s brilliant, you should be very proud. Hope your son was also really pleased with his own achievements. And winning a calculator too – great prize! x
Thank you! He was very proud – and very pleased with his calculator too! x
Well done him. It’s lovely when they make you proud isn’t it?
It certainly is! Thanks very much 🙂
That is such a great achievement- especially with the private schools around here! I tried linking up with Loud and Proud but the linky seems to have expired.
Thanks very much, Emma. There’s something especially satisfying in my book about beating the private schools!
I love how he tells the story and totally yay to the win, brilliant 🙂
Thanks very much 🙂 He loves to build up the tension in his stories!
Brilliant! Well done to him.
Thanks very much 🙂
Welldone to your son Sarah… and yay to kicking the Private school kids BUTTS! haha :p #PoCoLo
Thank you, Leanne! I love kicking the private school butts! 😉
I’d be totally punching the air too. How cool to have a Maths whizz in the family – he can work out all the bills at family meals out (like my brother in law ha) #loudnproud
Thanks very much! He really is amazing at maths 🙂
Wow well done to your son! What a fantastic achievement 🙂 xx
Thanks very much, I’m so proud of him 🙂
What an absolutely outstanding achievement! No wonder you are shouting loud and proud. Well done to your boy and team. Thank you for linking to PoCoLo 🙂 x
Thanks very much, Vic, I’m very proud of him! Always a pleasure to join PoCoLo 🙂
Well Done – super job and great post x #pocolo
Lucas says – Awesome job dude – high-5!!!!
WOW your children really are amazing! It must have been quite nerve racking to be up against of all the other children. A well deserved congratulations is in order for winning the whole competition.
Thanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
x
Haha, I love that you victory punched the air for beating the snooty kids! haha. Just right! Congrats to your little brain boxes!! #PoCoLo x