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About our Curriculum

Engaging Math Circles offers a full year math program for grades K-8. Our curriculum covers all aspects of math in depth with an emphasis on building nonstandard problem-solving skills. EMC students will learn, practice and master everything that is needed for their current grade level.

Students will explore math by using fun, engaging problems from math competitions like Math Kangaroo, Noetic and Math Olympiad. Our core curriculum follows popular books like Beast Academy, Art of Problem Solving, Math Mammoth and others.

About our Levels

Students are grouped by knowledge and skill level, rather than current grade level in school. Our long-term students usually advance to learning material 1-2 grade levels above their current school grade level. If you are just joining us, we recommend contacting us so we can help you place your student(s) appropriately.

Most of our Circle numbers do not match grade level. We have plenty of Grade 3s taking Circle 2, for example. These levels simply are how students will progress through their time at Engaging Math Circles.

Classes

Core Circles

Our Core Circle curriculum is designed to supplement and enrich in school math programs. From basic arithmetic to developing strategies for challenging, non-standard problems, EMC's Core Circles offer something for every math student.

Returning students to EMC will feel right at home in our Core Circles as these are our normal classes. We simply renamed them to add clarity when talking about our Skill Circles.

You should join a Core Circle if your student wants to grow in both skill and appreciation for Math.

For this school year, 2020-2021, all of our classes will be held virtually the entire year. We did not want you or your family to have to reschedule in the middle of the year.

Class Descriptions and Schedules

Click on a Circle below for class times and more information!

Circle 0

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 0
+ Mondays 5:30pm - 6:25pm (Conducted in Russian)
+ Tuesdays 12:30pm - 1:25pm
+ Tuesdays 4:30pm - 5:25pm
+ Wednesdays 3:30pm - 4:25pm

Core Circle 0

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 5 to 7 who have little to no formal introduction to the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Kindergarten in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be building number sense, learning quantitative and abstract reasoning, and learning problem solving techniques to work on the following topics:
+ Number Lines
+ Count forward and backward
+ Compare numbers and recognize patterns
+ Representing and comparing whole numbers
+ Describing shapes and space
+ Addition and subtraction of one-and two-digit numbers to 100
+ Ordinal numbers and naming position
+ Basic measurements in length, time, and currency
+ Logic
+ Problem solving strategies
+ Visual models and diagrams

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Counting to 10
+ The number zero and what it represents
+ Addition as putting together
+ Subtraction as taking away

Circle 1

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 1
+ Wednesdays 5:30pm - 6:25pm
+ Fridays 2:30pm - 3:25pm
+ Fridays 3:30pm - 4:25pm
+ Saturdays 10:00am - 10:55pm

Core Circle 1

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 5 to 8 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Kindergarten in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ Addition and subtraction of one- and two-digit numbers to 1,000
+ Regrouping
+ Basic measurements in length, weight, money, time, and capacity
+ Estimation
+ Making and interpreting graphs
+ Basic geometry
+ Multiplication and division of one- and two-digit numbers
+ Mental calculation strategies
+ Logic
+ Problem solving strategies
+ Visual models and diagrams

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Arithmetic with 2-digit numbers
+ Arithmetic with 2- and 3-step equations
+ Skip counting by 1 through 10
+ Comparing numbers and size
+ Place value to hundreds

Circle 2

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 2
+ Mondays and Wednesdays 1:40pm - 2:35pm
+ Mondays and Wednesdays 2:30pm - 3:25pm
+ Mondays and Wednesdays 4:30pm - 5:25pm
+ Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30pm - 6:25pm
+ Sundays 10:00am - 11:25am

Core Circle 2

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 6 to 8 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 1 in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ Place Value
+ Comparing Numbers
+ Addition and Subtraction
+ Expressions
+ Measurement
+ Odds & Evens
+ Big Numbers (larger than 1,000)

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Adding and subtracting with 3-digit numbers
+ Distinguish between ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands
+ Solving for unknown numbers in a simple addition/subtraction equation
+ Using a ruler
+ Understanding what halves represent

Circle 3

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 3
+ Mondays and Wednesdays 12:30pm - 1:25pm
+ Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30pm - 4:25pm
+ Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30pm - 5:25pm
+ Fridays 4:30pm-5:55pm
+ Saturdays 10:00am - 11:25am

Core Circle 3

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 7 to 10 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 2 in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ Geometry, including naming shapes, perimeter, and area
+ Multiplication, including perfect squares
+ Distributive Property
+ Variables
+ Division
+ Measurement
+ Fractions
+ Estimation

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Arithmetic with 2- and 3-digit numbers
+ Skip counting by up to 10
+ Basic shapes
+ Using a ruler
+ Solving for more than one unknown number in a set of addition or subtraction equations

Circle 4

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 4
+ Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30pm - 3:25pm
+ Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30pm - 4:25pm
+ Wednesdays and Fridays 4:30pm - 5:25pm
+ Saturdays 11:30am - 12:55pm
+ Sundays 11:30am - 12:55pm

Core Circle 4

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 7 to 11 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 3 in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ Shapes
+ Multiplication and Exponents
+ Counting
+ Division
+ Logic
+ Factors
+ Fractions
+ Integers
+ Decimals
+ Probability

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Identifying numbers up to 1,000
+ Comfortable with arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, simple multiplication, simple division
+ Arithmetic with at least 2-digit numbers
+ Fractions with up to 1-digit numbers

Circle 5

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 5
+ Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:40pm - 2:35pm
+ Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30pm - 7:25pm
+ Wednesdays and Fridays 5:30pm - 6:25pm
+ Saturdays 11:30am - 12:55pm

Core Circle 5

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 8 to 12 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 4 in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ 3D Solids
+ Integers, Expressions and Equations
+ Statistics
+ Factors, Multiples
+ Fractions, Decimals and Percents
+ Sequences
+ Rates and Ratios
+ Exponents and Roots

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Identifying numbers up to 1 million
+ Comfortable with arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
+ Arithmetic with at least 4-digit numbers
+ Squaring numbers
+ Fractions with up to 2-digit numbers

Circle 6

Circle 6 (Pre-Algebra)

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 6
+ Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30pm - 7:25pm
+ Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30pm - 6:25pm

Core Circle 6

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 9 to 13 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 5 in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ Properties of Arithmetic
+ Exponents
+ Number Theory
+ Fractions
+ Equations and Inequalities
+ Decimals
+ Ratios, Conversions and Rates
+ Percents
+ Square Roots
+ Angles
+ Perimeter and Area
+ Right Triangles and Quadrilaterals
+ Data and Statistics
+ Counting
+ Problem-Solving Strategies

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Identifying numbers up to 1 billion
+ Comfortable with arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
+ Arithmetic with at least 4-digit numbers
+ Fractions with up to 3-digit numbers
+ Drawing and labeling a Cartesian plane

Circle 7

Circle 7 (Algebra)

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 7
+ Tuesday and Thursdays 3:30pm - 4:25pm

Core Circle 7

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 9 to 13 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 5 in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ Rules of Algebra
+ Variables
+ Linear Equations
+ Ratios Proportion and Percents
+ Graphing Lines and Functions
+ Inequalities
+ Quadratic Equations
+ Factorization
+ Complex Numbers
+ Functions
+ Polynomials
+ Exponents and Logarithms
+ Sequences and Series
+ Algebra Tricks

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Pre-Algebra or equivalent
+ Identifying numbers up to 1 billion
+ Comfortable with arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
+ Arithmetic with at least 6-digit numbers
+ Fractions with up to 3-digit numbers
+ Drawing and graphing points on a Cartesian plane

Circle 8

Circle 8 (Geometry)

2020-21 Course Times:

Core Circle 8
+ Mondays and Fridays 3:30pm - 4:25pm

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 9 to 13 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 5 in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ Geometric Definitions
+ Angles
+ Congruence and Similarity
+ Perimeter and Area
+ Parts of Triangles
+ Quadrilaterals
+ Polygons
+ Circles
+ Planes
+ 3D Shapes and Surfaces
+ Transformations

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Pre-Algebra or equivalent
+ Identifying positive and negative numbers up to 1 billion and down to 1 billionth
+ Comfortable with arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponents
+ Solving for missing variables in 2-step equations
+ Arithmetic by hand with at least 6-digit numbers
+ Fractions with up to 3-digit numbers
+ Drawing and graphing points on a Cartesian plane

Circles 9 and up - 8th Grade to High School

While we have a focus on K-7 at EMC, we can form classes for Grades 9 through 12 on demand. Use our Contact form to find out more!

We can offer the classic courses: Pre-Algebra, Algebra I and II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability, and Statistics. Our courses prepare students for SAT and AP exams, as well as various math competitions.

These courses can be taken at any grade level if the student is able to demonstrate the required prerequisite knowledge for the course.