Meryl continues her conversation with Hayley Story, who runs a local homeschool math club. Last week, Hayley shared details about three math contests, and in this episode, she dives into the final one: MathCounts. Hayley provides an overview of the competition, her experience as a first-time coach, and tips for homeschool parents interested in starting their own MathCounts team.

Key Points from the Episode:

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• What is MathCounts?
  
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  • A nationally recognized math competition for grades 6-8.
    
  • Features four rounds of team and individual math challenges.
    
  • Held across all 50 U.S. states and territories, for U.S. citizens only.
    
  • The competition rounds include: Sprint (individual), Target (individual with calculators), Team (group of four), and Countdown (live competition).
    
  
  
  
• Preparation Tips:
  
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  • Practice is key: MathCounts provides free resources, including videos and practice tests.
    
  • Homeschoolers can form teams to practice and participate at various levels (school, chapter, state, and national).
    
  • Watching previous national Countdown rounds on YouTube can be helpful for preparation.
    
  
  
  
• Why Homeschoolers Should Consider MathCounts:
  
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  • MathCounts is a prestigious competition and provides a sense of community and teamwork.
    
  • The competition is well-organized, and homeschoolers are welcomed and accommodated.
    
  • The competition offers advancing levels, and for those who progress to nationals, travel and accommodation are covered.
    
  
  
  

Pros and Cons of MathCounts:

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• Pros:
  
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  • Prestigious and nationally recognized.
    
  • Well-organized with clear rules.
    
  • Great resources and support for coaches.
    
  • Creates a sense of team spirit and community.
    
  
  
  
• Cons:
  
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  • High competition level: Students often train intensively with tutors.
    
  • Not many students advance to higher levels (only four individuals and one team from each chapter).
    
  • Time commitment required for both students and coaches.
    
  
  
  

Other Contests Mentioned: Hayley also recapped the other contests discussed in previous episodes: Bebras, Noetic, and AMC 8, offering comparisons for homeschool parents looking for different math challenges.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

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• Visit the MathCounts website for more details and to access free practice materials.
  
• Check out videos of previous Countdown Rounds on YouTube for practice.
  
• Listen to last week’s episode on other math competitions.
  

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