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K-State Today

November 13, 2014

K-State math professor author of new book

Submitted by Natalia Rozhkovskaya

Cover image of the book

The American Mathematical Society released the book "Math Circles for Elementary School Students" by Natasha Rozhkovskaya, associate professor of math.

The first part of the book describes Rozhkovskaya's experience of organizing and teaching a math enrichment  program for elementary school students in Berkeley, California. The second part of the book consists of the collection of materials of Math Circle Seminar, hosted by the K-State math department.

The main purpose of Math Circle Seminar is to expose gifted students to the high level culture of mathematics. At workshops students develop logical skills, learn techniques of solving challenging problems, discuss applications of mathematics in science and technology.

Students are encouraged to participate in national math competitions, and the program offers practice sessions for the American Mathematical Contest 8 and the USA Kangaroo Math Competition. In the past Math Circle Seminar hosted several invited lectures of special guests, such as Charles Armstrong from NASA Johnson Space Center and Laura Givental from Berkeley Math Circle. Math-and-Art workshops at Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art and yearly games and puzzles days became a popular tradition of the program.

Workshops of K-State Math Circle Seminar are given at different levels according to the age of participants. Collection of problems from Level 1 workshops, accommodating elementary school students, constitute the second part of Rozhkovskaya's book.

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