Fall 2024

For students in Grades K-5*:

Kids are introduced to topics from number theory, geometry, combinatorics, probability, and more. 

We employ games, hands-on activities, and magic tricks to demonstrate and explore math concepts. Kids are encouraged to ask questions, present arguments, and reason. Students acquire problem-solving and logical thinking skills while building a solid foundation and understanding of mathematics.

At our math classes we show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun.

We offer small class sizes (no more than 10!), experienced and enthusiastic teachers, and an individual approach according to each student’s needs. 

For elementary division, click HERE to register.

For intermediate division, click HERE to register.

*  Kindergarten students need to have prerequisites. Please call (510) 488-4556 or email info@FirecrackerMath.org to request more information. 

For students in Grades 6-9:

Students are introduced to topics from number theory, geometry, combinatorics, probability, and more.

We focus on an in-depth understanding of math concepts and mathematical proofs. Kids learn problem solving techniques and logical reasoning skills.

Theoretical instruction is combined with practical exercises that employ chess, games, and logical puzzles to demonstrate mathematical concepts. Kids are encouraged to explore, discuss ideas, and work together as a team.

At our math classes, we show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun.

We offer small class sizes (no more than 12), experienced and enthusiastic teachers, and an individual approach according to each student’s needs.

Click HERE to register

Algebra 1A Early Access:

This 11-week course for middle schoolers covers the first term of a full-year Algebra 1 course in depth. The full Algebra 1 course is completed over two or three 11-week sessions, depending upon your student’s dedication and progress rate. To accommodate different student rates, the course will use the self-paced computer adaptive platform, Math Academy (MathAcademy.com), with a workshop component to allow students to work on problems at their own pace, under instructor guidance. Each class meeting will include a common lesson component that is centered around a key algebra topic, with all students working on the same content, before breaking for self-paced supervised workshop time. Each student is required to bring their own internet-enabled device.

• The class is for 7th and 8th grade students (6th graders are allowed on a case-by-case basis).  Students are expected to complete pre-Algebra prerequisites or equivalent;
• The class meets once a week for 90 min in-person on Wednesdays, and once a week for 60 min online (for homework help) over Zoom on Mondays;
• Requires subscription to Math Academy, $49 per month;
• Additional time of at least 1 hour per week of homework will be expected;
• Cost: $580 per one term. 

• Click HERE to register

AMC 8 Preparation:

This 10 week-long course is designed to prepare students for AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) exam.
Students develop skills in problem solving, logical reasoning and creative approach to math challenges. They explore a variety of topics from number theory, algebra, geometry, combinatorics, probability and more. Students learn to apply various problem-solving strategies while working on AMC-style problems.]

• The class is for 6-8th grade students.
• Dates: October 25 (new start date was October 18) – January 10 (Breaks 11/22, 12/20, 12/27).
• It is a 10-week-long class that meets on Wednesdays in person (In-person canceled) or online from 4:30pm to 6:00pm  once a week.
• $480 for in-person class, or $405 for online class, $55 drop-in fee. 
• For those students who will be taking the exam: you must register for on or before Oct 17 – Dec 18, 2023 via AMC site to take the test on January 18: https://amc-reg.maa.org/
• Students CAN participate in class but opt out of the AMC exam.

• click HERE to register.

These weekly workshops will offer preparation and coaching for students participating in Math Kangaroo, a fun, introductory math competition in the United States and worldwide, on the third Thursday in March. The workshop will include preparation, coaching, and sampling real test problems.

• The class is for 1-7th grade students divided into different level groups.
• Dates: Mondays, January 8 – March 11, in-person in Oakland/Piedmont.

• 3:45pm-4:40pm, Grades 1-2

  4:45pm-5:45pm, Grades 3-4

  5:50pm-6:50pm, Grades 5-7

• Dates: Fridays, January 5 – March 15.

3:15pm-4:10pm, Grades 1-2

4:20pm-5:20pm, Grades 3-4

5:30pm-6:30pm, Grades 5-7

• Students who want to participate in the actual competition need to register for the Math Kangaroo 2024 competition on March 21st, 2024. Registration for the competition is from September 15, 2023 till December 15, 2023 at www.mathkangaroo.org (late registration is through December 31 – subject to availability).  
• Students CAN participate in the class but opt out from taking the exam.

Click HERE to register

Coding for Math Problems:

We will explore fun and interesting math problems and write computer code to solve them. Students with no prior knowledge of computer programming are welcome as they will learn the coding skills they need as we go. Topics include Sierpinski’s triangle (a fractal), ciphers to send secret messages, logic, sorting algorithms, and more. Students must bring their own tablet or laptop (let us know if your child doesn’t have one).

The teacher is Dr. Eli Lebow who did his undergraduate work at Harvard University in mathematics and physics, and his Ph.D. at Cal in mathematics. Among other places, he taught middle school students at the Academic Talent Development Program in Berkeley. 

• The class is for 5th to 9th grade students.  No previous computer programming experience is required. 
• It is a semester-long class that meets at the Berkeley site once a week on Thursdays, in-person for 1.5 hours from 5:00pm to 6:30pm.
• Cost: $585 for one semester.  

• click HERE to register.

Math in Motion: Introduction to Calculus:

Can an arrow reach its destination if it must first pass through an infinite number of points in between? How fast is a ball you throw going at the peak of its path? Is it possible to add up infinitely many numbers? What does it mean for a car to have a certain speed at a certain instant if it doesn’t really travel any distance in that instant? These and other questions and paradoxes are the focus of calculus, and we will investigate them in this course. Students will explore and understand the concept of slope, limit, and derivative, and how they are connected. Even though it is called calculus, there won’t be much calculation, but a lot of mental experiments, concept discussions, and fun working together as a group.

The teacher is Dr. Eli Lebow who did his undergraduate work at Harvard University in mathematics and physics, and his Ph.D. at Cal in mathematics. Among other places, he taught middle school students at the Academic Talent Development Program in Berkeley.

Contact us at info@firecrackermath.org for information on dates and times. 

• The class is for 7-11th grade students. 7th graders who have already taken Algebra 1 or Pre-Algebra course or Common Core 7th grade at school are accepted.
• It is a semester-long class that meets once a week for 1 hour.  

AMC 10/12 Preparation:

This 9 week-long course is designed to prepare students for AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) exam.
Students develop skills in problem solving, logical reasoning and creative approach to math challenges. They explore a variety of topics from number theory, algebra, geometry, combinatorics, probability and more. Students learn to apply various problem-solving strategies while working on AMC-style problems. 

• The class is for 8-12th grade students.
• It is a 9-week-long class that meets once a week for 1 hour. 
• For those students who will be taking the exam: you must register for the test via AMC site: https://amc-reg.maa.org/
• Students CAN participate in class but opt out from taking the exam.

Algebra Games (Online Class):

In this class, students learn algebra concepts through puzzles, games, and activities. Playing a game called the Game of Nim leads to a new operation on numbers, which allows us to examine the commutative and associative properties. Figuring out who wins at interplanetary soccer is all about determinants. We will learn vector addition, talk about permutations and their properties, learn and explore binary numbers, and much more.

The class does not replace any school algebra class. The focus is on the conceptual foundation and building mental muscles.

• The class is for 5-8th grade students.
• It is a term-long class that meets once a week for 1 hour. )
• Algebra Games Class Sample

• click HERE to register.

* This class is not offered in Fall 2020. Contact us at hello@FirecrackerMath.org to be wait listed for Fall 2020.

Mathematics of Symmetry*:

Symmetry is found everywhere in nature, as well as in art, architecture, and design.

We see it in the left-right symmetry of our bodies and the bodies of many animals, but there is also the five-fold symmetry of a starfish. Symmetry is found in buildings and in beautiful paintings, such as in this work of M.C. Escher.

Understanding symmetry has been key to uncovering the fundamental laws of nature, and describing them in a systematic way. For example, modern particle physics would not exist without group theory, which is the study of symmetries.

Symmetry is one of the most powerful and important concepts in modern mathematics.

In this course, we will investigate mathematical objects and explore different ways of finding and describing symmetries of these objects. We will show how two symmetries may be combined to produce a third, and we will explore the patterns that result.

Students will learn to think of good questions and how to tackle them. Conceptual and analytical approach will be combined with hands-on activities and group discussions.

The teacher is Dr. Eli Lebow who did his undergraduate work at Harvard University in mathematics and physics, and his Ph.D. at Cal in mathematics. Among other places, he taught middle school students at the Academic Talent Development Program in Berkeley, and undergraduate students at UC Berkeley.

• The class is for 8 – 11th grade students.
• It is a term long class that meets once a week for 1 hour.

Math for Families:

Have you ever thought of going back to school? And not only that, but being in the same classroom as your kid, working together on a teacher’s assignment? We have decided to open one of the Firecracker’s classrooms to parents!

Why:

1.  Parents like to be involved in their kids’ activities and studies. But often this involvement means supervising your kids, or mentoring them, or just asking them questions. We are giving you the opportunity to be involved by SHARING the classroom experience with your kids.

2.  In most activities that parents share with their kids, parents are the ones who are more experienced, more skillful, or more advanced. At our math program, math topics are extra-curricular, so most parents are as new to them as the kids. This would allow you to be on “equal” footing with your child. Sometimes, you will be the one to help your child to solve a problem, but sometimes it may be the case your child will give you an idea that you haven’t thought of before.

3.   In many families math is associated with a difficult, boring, and not-so-cool subject – something that you would never do at home just for fun. We want to show you and your child that it doesn’t have to be so! When you leave our lessons,  you won’t be able to stop talking about the problems you just worked on in class! You’ll be dying to uncover that mathematical explanation to the magic tricks you learnt at the lessons. Or you’ll simply want to look up some curious math facts online!

4.  How much will it cost to a parent to attend the lessons?

It’s free! You only pay the regular fee for your child.

Just make sure you put off your other chores and responsibilities, and come to immerse yourself and your child in the wonderful world of mathematics.

• The class is for 4-6th grade students.
• It is a semester-long class that meets once a week for 1 hour.

Click HERE to Register

* This class is not offered in the Fall 2020. Contact us at hello@FirecrackerMath.org to be wait listed for Spring 2021.