Are You Smarter Than an 8th Grader:

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN AN 8TH GRADER?

PART TWO: PROBLEM OF THE MONTH

How does one become a critical thinker and problem solver? Certainly not the way illustrated in the comic above. Teachers can help students develop some problem solving strategies, but ultimately, the formula for developing into a good problem solver is through two things:

1) Engaging with awesome problems

2) Perseverance

Finding awesome problems isn't always easy, but here is a treasure trove of amazing problems called "Problems of the Month." The structure of a Problem of the Month is a shallow floor and a high ceiling - there's an entry/accessibility point for all skill levels and, at the top end, the sky is the limit. This allows all students an opportunity to productively engage, struggle, and persevere. These are great problems that you can wrestle with as a family because they are challenging and yet accessible to everybody. Download some problems to try during your daily family math time! The AMS Math Department cannot be held liable if this activity becomes a family addiction!!

Problems of the Month