Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008

 Paul Sprague, who teaches sixth-grade math at Morton Middle School, has coached a team in every local MATHCOUNTS competition for the past 25 years.

  “It’s a barrel of laughs,” he said. “I love it.”

  Through the years, Sprague has dealt with various personalities – some students love head-to-head competition with their teacher, while others spend part of their MATHCOUNTS practice time playing chess.

  “It’s coaching of the mind,” said Sprague, who also has coached football, track, swimming, golf and other sports either at Morton or at the high school level. “It’s challenging as a coach. … You get a whole different child.”

  He also has seen various reactions to winning at MATHCOUNTS: from cheering to breaking down in tears.

  “When you get them up to state level when they start winning scholarships to college, it’s very exciting for an eighth-grader,” he said.

  Sprague helps students practice and prepare for both the quick-recall and the sit-down MATHCOUNTS tests.

  “Sometimes we come in and just let off steam,” he said, noting that students can be swamped with regular schoolwork. “You have to know when to push them and when to let up. You don’t want to burn the kid out.”

QUOTABLE:
“I’ve had kids that have just blown me out of the water, how intelligent they are.”
– Paul Sprague, a long-time MATHCOUNTS coach

FAQ:

What is MATHCOUNTS?  MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide program designed to improve math skills among U.S. middle school students. MATHCOUNTS also represents the Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers’ ongoing commitment to encourage sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders to strengthen their skills in math, science, leadership and teamwork.

How does it work?  Students compete individually and as teams in written and fast-paced oral matches designed to stimulate their exposure to a wide range of mathematics. There are four types of competition, including quick-recall rounds with buzzers and problem-solving with pencil and paper.

When do the students compete next?  The state competition, conducted by the Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers, starts at 9 a.m. Saturday March 8 at the Holiday Inn Airport South in Louisville. 

Who will participate?   About 150 students are expected, including 14 from FCPS: six individuals (from Bryan Station, Morton and Winburn middle schools) and teams from Lexington Traditional Magnet and Beaumont middle schools.

What’s at stake?   Besides trophies, T-shirts and certificates, the top four students will win four-year, full-tuition scholarships to either the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville and an expense-paid trip to the Lockheed Martin MATHCOUNTS national competition May 8-11 in Denver. There they will represent Kentucky for the national title and individually compete for scholarships, a trip to U.S. Space Camp, medals and more.
  Students who place 5th through 10th on March 8 will receive an annual tuition scholarship of $1,500 per year for four years at UK or U of L.

Who can tell me more?  For more details about the Kentucky MATHCOUNTS program, contact Natalee Feese, mathematics K-12 district coordinator, at (859) 381-4238 or natalee.feese@fayette.kyschools.us or reach Marcie Fisher, MATHCOUNTS state coordinator, at (800) 455-5573 or marcie@kyengcenter.org.