Middle School Math - Problem Solving & Discovery
Grade 6-8

This three-week course is designed to develop the foundational problem-solving skills essential for middle school students to succeed in high school mathematics. Rather than emphasizing memorization or routine procedures, the course focuses on critical thinking, logical reasoning, and perseverance when approaching unfamiliar problems. Students will learn and apply core problem-solving strategies, including identifying patterns, drawing diagrams, making organized lists, working backward, and using logical reasoning. These strategies form the basis of success in algebra, geometry, and higher-level mathematics. Students practice these skills through engaging puzzles, collaborative challenges, mathematical modeling tasks, and age-appropriate AMC/CAML-style problems that emphasize reasoning over speed.
A key component of the course is hands-on exploration with Hanayama cast metal puzzles, which develop spatial reasoning, structured thinking, and persistence. Additional activities
include logic puzzles, Sudoku, and Calcudoku, vexing variable challenges, and a math escape room. Through reflection and discussion, students learn to explain their thinking clearly and
approach complex problems with confidence—skills that directly support long-term success in mathematics.