The San Francisco Math Circle (SFMC) is an enrichment program specifically aimed at enthusiastic young beginners and their teachers.
   In many enrichment programs, the students are self-selected, or encouraged by their parents to attend. This generally means that most students come from an "already enriched" socioeconomic level.
   In contrast, the SFMC is teacher-driven: we entrust the teachers to find students from varied backgrounds who may otherwise not know of such opportunities. We also expect these teachers to encourage the students to attend the program, and possibly drive them, or accompany them on public transit. In return, we will compensate teachers with a $75 weekly honorarium, along with a tuition-free, for-credit math course.

   The SFMC consists of 4 blocks that meet weekly (Mondays from 4:30-5:30PM, with snacks served from 4:15-4:30) at the San Francisco State University. Each block ranges from 4 to 7 weeks in length.

Here is a tentative schedule (note that there are no classes on 02/16/09).

   Classess for teachers will be offered simultaneously, covering material that very loosely parallels the topics for students, but in a pace and style more suited for grown-ups!
   The classes are held at the San Francisco State University. For exact location, directions, and parking information, click here.
   The block topics are deliberately vague: "Mathematical Games" could mean practically anything, for example. Our courses are not based on rigid curricula, but instead foster very flexible environments that will meet the students where they are intellectually, and take them as far as their potential allows. The instructors will gently engage the students at the start with captivating problems. The pace will speed up or slow down depending on the need of the group. The class size will be small enough so that each student will be able to work at his or her pace. The instructors are experienced and can digress and ad-lib whenever needed. Thus a class may begin with a discussion about parity (evenness and oddness), but then suddenly, the focus may turn to winning strategies of games, and then to methods of mathematical proof and argument.
   Mathematical problems and problem-solving techniques are at the heart of most math circles. Problems, unlike "exercises," are defined to be interesting mathematical questions that one initially does not know how to answer. Of course, what constitutes a problem for one person may be an exercise for another! For examples of "math circle style" problems, [Click Here to See Sample Problems (Adobe PDF)]