Talented Kids Are Also at Risk of Falling Off Math Track

PLANTATION, FL, November 01, 2012 (Press-News.org) Parents of talented 'tweens are not immune from the concern that their children are losing interest in math during middle school. These findings are based on years of regular surveys with parents whose children attend The Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (IMACS). According IMACS President, Terry Kaufman, many parents worry that their children, though mathematically talented, will not be prepared for the future because the dry math curriculum and study techniques to which they are exposed in middle school sap their interest in the subject.

"We know that interest in math, especially among girls, falls off dramatically in middle school. This pattern arises with bright kids too who really start to question why the curriculum they are forced to study is so uninspiring. At IMACS, we keep that interest strong by focusing on the deep and elegant ideas woven throughout mathematics," said Kaufman. "We don't do rote memorization and drilling because that's not what math is about."

In response to requests for a flexible option for advanced middle schoolers, IMACS launched Elements of Mathematics: Foundations (EMF), an online math program at http://www.elementsofmathematics.com. Franklyn Peart, whose fifth grade daughter excels in math, was pleased to learn that his child would now be able to do more than learn formulas at a faster pace. "Making sure that Allison didn't lose interest in math because of the standard middle school curriculum is important to me," said Peart. "EMF makes that possible, and having it online really eases the pressure on her busy schedule."

According to http://www.elementsofmathematics.com, the self-study EMF program is based on the Intuitive Background volume of the Elements of Mathematics series of textbooks. The well-tested curriculum has been in use with gifted and talented students for over 20 years. "With new technologies we are excited to be bringing these courses to a much wider audience through the internet," said Dr. Ted Sweet, IMACS Director of Curriculum Development. The first course is now available online at no cost to students who enroll before January 1, 2013. IMACS plans to roll out the remaining 14 modestly-priced courses over the next several years.

IMACS was founded in 1993 to give talented elementary and secondary school students a competitive edge by teaching them how to think critically using logic and reasoning. IMACS now serves more than 2,800 students in over 10 countries, more than half of whom are distance-learning students.