It’s 10 a.m. on a Saturday at Cal State Fullerton and students are revved up.
It’s Math Circle time.
Math Circle is a Saturday program for students in second through 12th grade, most of whom are studying the subject at an advanced level. Through Math Circle, they get a chance to learn material beyond a typical school curriculum.
“Here, everything has a real-world application,” said Raj Ganesh, father of 13-year-old Abhinav Ganesh, who wanted more of a challenge from his math education.
“These are kids who want to be here, said Bogdan Suceava, CSUF professor and leader of the Fullerton Math Circle.
Some of the kids who participate in the enrichment program are barely in middle school, but are already publishing research posters.
Suceava is an advocate of math circle programs, which he said have existed for more than a century throughout Europe.
CSUF’s Math Circle has been around for four years.
The Math Circle’s key to fostering involvement and retaining students is teaching participants what they want to learn.
“It’s about creating work around their interests, not mine,” Suceava said. “You have to have problems that interest them.”
Students are given challenging work in small chunks. Homework is given, but isn’t mandatory.
In addition to Suceava, several CSUF math students teach. The program is funded through an annual $6,000 to $7,000 grant.
“We take them outside the classroom while they’re still in a classroom. We make it fun for them,” said Peter Tran, a CSUF teaching associate. “I teach two other classes here, but I look forward to this one the most.”
Melissa Riddle, a 21-year-old CSUF math major, is prepping young students for the American Math Competition.
She sees the Math Circle as a training ground for her future career as a junior high math teacher.
“Nothing prepares you for students like students,” Riddle said.
Contact the writer: bhanson@ocregister.com
