Maths circle vs Maths club

At present, KidMathClub offers two educational tracks based on the concept of a Maths circle : the Maths Circle and the Maths Club. First, we will explain what a Math Circle is, and then we will delve into the differences between these two approaches within KidMathClub.

What are the Maths Circle?

A maths circle is an extracurricular activity intended to enrich students' understanding of mathematics. The concept of a maths circle with its emphasis on convening professional mathematicians and secondary school students regularly to solve problems, appeared in the U.S. in 1994 with Robert and Ellen Kaplan at Harvard University. This form of mathematical outreach made its way to the U.S. most directly from the former Soviet Union and present-day Russia and Bulgaria. They first appeared in the Soviet Union during the 1930s; they have existed in Bulgaria since sometime before 1907. The tradition arrived in the U.S. with émigrés who had received their inspiration from maths circles as teenagers. Many of them successfully climbed the academic ladder to secure positions within universities, and a few pioneers among them decided to initiate math circles within their communities to preserve the tradition which had been so pivotal in their own formation as mathematicians

Primarily, preparation based on the concept of a maths circle begins in grade 7-8 (13 years. In KidMathClub a maths circle is available to students in grades 3-13 as well.

What are the Maths Circle for Y3-Y5?

A particularly pressing issue is the challenge of finding a suitable form for maths circle in primary school students, when a child demonstrates clear mathematical aptitude, yet the school lacks specialized tracks and it is unclear how and where to nurture these abilities. Here, our experience demonstrates that there are no universally right or wrong solutions; everything is highly individualized. Much depends on the child, whether the teaching style and the personality of the tutor resonate with them, as well as their preference for learning formats—some students thrive in online settings, while others benefit more from offline activities. Therefore, our platform offers both online and offline classes, ensuring the utmost convenience for primary students.o, what exactly do students engage in at these mathematics clubs? A deeper immersion in mathematics does not mean that Year3 study division and multiplication and tackle the basics of calculus, Year5 delve into logarithms and integrals.

The program does not advance ahead of the school curriculum but rather moves sideways, increasing in complexity. Primary school students explore what can be described as "recreational mathematics.

What are the Maths Circle for Y6 and UP?

For secondary and high school students, these maths circle offer engaging problems, participation in competitions, and the opportunity to interact with like-minded peers. By tackling Olympiad problems, students develop the ability to solve "open" and "unsolvable" challenges, a skill that proves invaluable in life. They spend less time on homework as they gain confidence in their abilities and are afforded the opportunity to prepare for exams, ultimately positioning themselves for entry into more prestigious schools. This represents a significant step forward for any adolescent with a passion for mathematics. The knowledge acquired in these lessons can be applied almost immediately. The preparation provided by KidMathClub effectively compensates for the absence of purely mathematical secondary schools in the UK.

The program does not advance ahead of the school curriculum but rather moves sideways, increasing in complexity. Secondary and high school students solve problem sets from mathematical Olympiads.

The approaches of the Math Circle and the Math Club differ in several key aspects

The Maths Circle is an online and off-line program following the traditional structure of a mathematical circle from Y3 and above.

What sets KidMathClub apart are several factors:

1) We work with younger children, starting from Y3-Y5.

2) Unlike other math circles, we do not adhere to a selective approach; we accept all children and tailor an appropriate individual academic workload for each.

The Maths Club, primarily, off-line sessions from Y6 and above. The Maths Club is also based on the classic maths circle system but places a stronger emphasis on the practical application of mathematics, focusing on its real-world uses. In the Math Circle, experiments are conducted, and aspects of programming are explored.