Check out the 2008 MIST Academy Summer Math Camp for talented and gifted math students in the Birmingham area.
Interested in trying out a class to see if this is the right program? Visit one class for free before joining. Email us for details.
MIST Academy classes are aimed at students in grades 4 through 12 who are already doing well in their current school math curriculum. MIST Academy reserves the right to test and turn away students who do not fit the program.
The MIST Academy curriculum is a broader, more in-depth, more modern curriculum that emphasizes the kinds of problem solving challenges that help students succeed in a world of rapidly developing mathematical applications.
All Birmingham classes are currently held at the Vestavia Learning Center at 1360 Montgomery Highway. However, we are not affiliated with the Vestavia Learning Center, so please do not call their staff to inquire about classes or other inquiries into MIST Academy. Thank you.
All Huntsville classes are currently held UAI, Inc., which is located at 307 Wynn Drive. However, we are not affiliated with UAI, so please do not call their staff to inquire about classes or other inquiries into MIST Academy. Thank you.
MIST Academy is now taking students in the Birmingham area as well as in Huntsville to work in small groups. Please contact MIST Academy CEO Mathew Crawford with any questions you might have.
Please note that the grade levels for classes listed below are for the 2007-2008 school year. Also, these grade levels are not set in stone. MIST Academy will place students in classes where we believe students will thrive the most. Also, additional classes may be scheduled for the purposes of further differentiating student abilities. MIST Academy plans to open its doors in December, 2007 with the following classes:
- Math Explorers (grades 4-5). Gifted math students will learn problem solving skills primarily through a combination of working Math Olympiads for Elementary Schools (MOEMS) problems and playing games based in math and logic. Here is a sample of the kinds of problems Math Explorers students will work on during class.
- Introductory Problem Solving (grades 5-8). Students will learn the basics of algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, and probability. Much of the curriculum will be taken from the AMC, MOEMS, and MATHCOUNTS programs. Here is a sample of the kinds of problems that will be covered in this course. In order to meet the needs of every motivated student, MIST Academy currently holds three distinct levels of class for Introductory Problem Solving students (A, B, C).
- Intermediate Problem Solving (grades 7-10). Students with a complete algebra I background will study algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, and probability on the level of the AMC 10, AMC 12, Mandelbrot Competition, and Mu Alpha Theta. Here is a sample of the kinds of problems that will be covered in this course.
- Advanced Problem Solving (grades 9-12). The curriculum gets more advanced, with much of the material taken from the AIME, ARML, and similarly difficult competitions. Some class time will be devoted to learning rigor in mathematics, including basic proof writing. Here is a sample of the kinds of problems that will be covered in this course.
- Olympiad Problem Solving (grades 9-12). This course certainly isn't for the weak of heart. Students will focus on the harder problems from competitions such as the AMC 12, AIME, ARML, the Mandelbrot Competition, and various Olympiads such as the USA Mathematical Olympiad. About a third of class time will be spent learning how to write rigorous proofs. This course is not currently offered. It will be offered as current students work their way up to this level of instruction.
- The MIST Academy Summer Institute (upcoming grades 4-12) is a half-day math summer camp featuring courses at the levels described above.
Each class will bring together some of the brightest young minds in the Birmingham area for two hours, once a week, to explore new concepts and solve interesting problems.
A typical class might be broken into three parts:
- 40 minutes of discussion about the day's topics. The discussions are directed to facilitate student discovery of important mathematical principles.
- 40 minutes of working on problems that reinforce the day's topics.
- 40 minutes of a team-oriented game where students explain their solutions to the day's problems in an effort to win points for their team.
Not every class will revolve around that game format, but this format has proven exciting and valuable to the students.
MIST Academy students are sorted into classes not by age, but by ability. This allows MIST Academy instructors to constantly challenge each student at his or her own level.
MIST Academy students in middle and high school will build up the foundations of mathematics as much as possible through their own efforts. This constructionist approach is only possible with entire groups of high ability students.
Class Prices
MIST Academy understands the time constraint on seniors. Entering a new program during senior year can be taxing. Upon request, MIST Academy offers classes at 1/3 off the regular price to students graduating high school in 2009.
The MIST Academy program is very different from most classes, so it is important that parents read this FAQ.
- In which class should I enroll my child?
Most of the time, the MIST Academy staff can judge which class is best for a student according to that student's academic background. This may include math tournament results if they are old enough. MIST Academy will administer a diagnostic test to some students to help best place them in a class. Please contact us.
- How do we know these classes are effective?
Please read our testimonials page, and about our professional instructors. The MIST Academy curriculum is derived from the experience of educating hundreds of top students throughout the U.S. and worldwide. MIST Academy students are already recording major accomplishments, many of which are being tracked in Mathew Crawford's blog.
We highly encourage you to speak with parents of other MIST Academy students. To find some of those parents, just ask around at a math team event.
- My child says they can't solve many of the class problems, are they failing?!
No! If your child is not grasping much new material, we simply suggest moving them into a different class that is at their level of challenge. MIST Academy endeavors to work with students as close to their level of need as possible.
If your child can work all the class problems, that is the bigger problem. Let us know and we will move them to a more advanced class. The MIST Academy philosophy is to challenge students with some problems that teach mechanics and some problems that aim for depth of concepts. Students often struggle with the latter, and that is good for them. They should always have something more to think about.
Concepts are often repeated in the MIST Academy classroom, with the goal of gradually increasing the depth of each student. Some students get many concepts right away, but even gifted learners sometimes struggle the first time around.
- We can afford some of the classes. Is it okay to just take one class?
The MIST Academy program is designed to encourage long-term success and a culture of achievement. Continuity is key. If a student misses the ten weeks during which some concepts are taught, they will have a hard time keeping up when those concepts are used regularly at the next level.
MIST Academy prefers to offer financial aide to some families, emulating the philosophies of many universities, so that nearly all students can continue to take MIST Academy classes for as long as possible. We believe this best encourages the progress both of the individual students and of the community.
That said, it is often the case that students are able to take full benefit of just one course because of the level and subject matter. The MIST Academy staff can help you determine when any class is likely to meet a student's particular needs.
- My child has never been challenged in math class, but I don't know which class is best for him/her. How can I know?
Every student coming through our door is unique, and a sufficient history of achievement is not always available. In these cases MIST Academy is happy to consult with each family and administer diagnostic tests in order to place each student in the class that best meets their needs. Please contact us for additional details.
- My child comes home from class very happy and describes the classes as easy. Are they working hard?
We would call this question a "soft ball", except that many parents ask this question. MIST Academy aims to make math and science more interesting, enjoyable, and accessible to students in order to foster a culture of achievement. Games are often the best tool for helping to inspire young minds to solve difficult problems and develop key concepts.
Sometimes students do find even difficult concepts relatively easy after a well designed class. If a student describes some classes as easy, but does not test well on deeper concepts or harder problems, then the student may still be working at an appropriate level.
We do expect students to work hard. But our goal is to provide an environment that encourages work ethic fueled by curiosity or even a competitive nature. We like to think that we are cultivating good attitudes about education as opposed to teaching students fear and frustration.
- How are Huntsville Classes Different from the classes taught in Birmingham?
Currently there is more differentiation in the Birmingham classes than there is in the Huntsville classes, so there are only two Huntsville classes. One could be described as "Introductory" (mostly for middle school students) and the other as a combination of "Intermediate and Advanced" for high school students. However, demand for these classes seems high, so we may open a second day of MIST Academy classes in Huntsville during the 2008-2009 school year.
- Does MIST Academy give grades?