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About our Curriculum

Engaging Math Circles offers a full year math program for grades K-12. 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

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

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

For this school year, 2021-2022, all of our classes will be held virtually, online, the entire year. Please note that all class times listed below are in PST

Class Schedules - (updated Aug 17th, 2021)

Class Descriptions and PreRequisites

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

Please note that all class times listed below are in PST

Circle 0

Mondays 1:30pm

Tuesdays 4:30pm

Thursdays 2:30pm

Thursdays 5:30pm (RUS)

>> Click to expand information on 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.
Also available in Russian.

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

>> Click to expand information on Circle 1

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 6 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

>> Click to expand information on 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

>> Click to expand information on 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

>> Click to expand information on 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

Tue+Thur 3:30pm

Wed 4:30-6pm (once a week)

Wed+Fri 4:30PM

Sat 11:30am-1pm

Sun 11:30am-1pm

>> Click to expand information on 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

Pre-Algebra (formerly Circle 6)

>> Click to expand information on Prealgebra (formerly 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 and powers
+ Arithmetic with at least 4-digit numbers
+ Fractions and Decimals with up to 3-digit numbers
+ Drawing and labeling a Cartesian plane

Algebra 1-A (formerly Circle 7)

Mon+Wed 3:30PM

Mon+Wed 5:30PM

Tue+Thur 5:30PM

>> Click to expand information on Algebra 1A (formerly 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 6 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

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Pre-Algebra or equivalent
+ Operating with large and small decimal numbers, fractions and powers
+ Ratios, rates, percents
+ Solve 2-step algebraic equations with 1 variable
+ Drawing and graphing points on a Cartesian plane

Algebra 1-B (formerly Circle 7.5)

>> Click to expand information on Algebra 1B (formerly Circle 7.5)

Course Summary
This course is meant to continue the learning began in Algebra 1-A. It is for students ages 9 to 13 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 6 in the state of California.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ 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:
+ Algebra 1-A (Circle 7) or equivalent
+ Operating with large and small decimal numbers, fractions and powers
+ Ratios, rates, percents
+ Solve 2-step algebraic equations with 1 variable
+ Drawing and graphing points on a Cartesian plane

Geometry A (formerly Circle 8)

>> Click to expand information on Geometry A

Course Summary
This course is meant for students ages 9 to 13 who have completed the Common Core (or equivalent) curriculum for Grade 8 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

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

Geometry B

>> Click to expand information on Geometry B

Course Summary
This course is meant for students who have taken Geometry A with us already.

Topics
Students will be learning problem solving techniques and common algorithms to work on the following topics:
+ Polygons
+ Circles
+ Planes
+ 3D Shapes and Surfaces
+ Transformations

Pre-Requisites
Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math Topics:
+ Geometry A 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

Other High School Courses

We currently offer the classic courses: Pre-Algebra, Algebra I and Geometry.

If you are interested in Algebra 2, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability, and Statistics, we will be offering these once we have enough students of interest (as our students grow with us)! Contact us via our contact form for more information!