Mathematicians and mathematics education researchers recognize the importance of mathematical preparation for teaching grades K-12. Mathematics is often taught in elementary school as a set of algorithms bypassing the conceptual understanding needed to advance to higher levels. The need for teachers to have good procedural understanding of the arithmetic of integers, fractions and decimals, as well as sound conceptual understanding of the fundamentals is essential, as they must provide their students with this needed understanding for reaching higher levels of mathematical thinking.

Our Teacher’s Institute aims to show participants that deep understanding of elementary ideas is attainable in elementary classrooms, and one way to cultivate this understanding is through irresistible problems. The Institute's philosophy is that learning mathematics can be motivated by interesting problems. The idea is to come up with problems whose solutions require, or strongly motivate, the development of the area of mathematics to be learned.           

Participants of the Teacher’s Institute are expected to attend two 3-hour classes each day and spend an hour each night in a study hall. The tuition including room and board, and a stipend of $500 per week paid to the participant is same as the amount of the students' rate. Please see our summer camp page for details. You may fund your tuition through different means.

(1) Apply for a professional development grant from your school district.
(2) Bring 4 or more paid students.
(3) Apply for a scholarship from the Zoom Education Foundation and Resources.
(4) Apply for a work-study position at the camp to carry out camp counselor duties.
(5) Seek outside grants or sponsors.