8th ISMTF Middle School Mathematics Competition

JESS, Dubai, 24th-25th February 2012

The International Schools Mathematics Teachers Foundation (ISMTF) organises a number of mathematical events throughout the academic year. In the competitions, students in teams of three from all over the Europe/North Africa Region, arrive at one of the region's schools to spend a weekend on challenging mathematics and then head home again with a host of new experiences to relate to their friends and families.

The Middle School competition is a team event in short rounds of ten to fifteen minutes over the course of Friday morning. In the other competitions, older students with more mathematical stamina, use the afternoon as well to include an individual event. Middle School teams use the afternoon to explore the area or visit a mathematical attraction. On Saturday morning, the Saturday Chase mixes students from different schools who "chase" from room to room to answer the question provided in each room and return with ten "correct" answers in the fastest time. Then awards are presented before everyone heads for home about mid-day.

The students stay with host families: families of students at the host school who are generous enough to accommodate two or more students for the Thursday and Friday nights of the competition. Host families meet their guest students on Thursday afternoon at the host school and take them home for the evening and return them the following morning in time for the competition. This process is repeated again on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Competition mornings are a-buzz with students recounting their many varied experiences with their host families as the competitors gather for the day's events.

Teams who arrive early or leave late due to travel arrangements find that they have more time to explore the local area. Host schools often provide lists of local attractions that are good to experience. Some arrange part of these lists into a treasure hunt or guided tour that teams can follow and see the most impressive parts of the locality in a short period of time.

These competitions allow students of mathematical intent to challenge themselves in competition, experience new cultures and activities, make new friends and expand their horizons. Participants usually find that however unique they may find themselves in their own environment, there are others with similar abilities and challenges in schools across the Region.