--- title: Challenge Your Kids to Try Something New this Summer description: Global Math Project's James Tanton urges everyone to step outside their comfort zone and change their relationship with math. image: https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog%20header-%20GAT-FGMP--Resized.png --- [![](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MIND-logo-2018.jpg?width=1701&height=623&name=MIND-logo-2018.jpg)](http://www.mindresearch.org/) [![mind logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-color2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) [![mind white logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-white2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) - [Our Approach](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-approach) - [Why MIND?](https://2024.mindresearch.org/why-math-education) - [Our Research](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-research) - [Our Patents](https://2024.mindresearch.org/patents) - [Our Impact](https://2024.mindresearch.org/impact) - [Our Partners](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partners) - [Partner Stories](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partner-stories) - Our Programs - [ST Math](http://www.stmath.com/) - [InsightMath](http://www.insightmath.com/) - [MathMINDs](https://www.mindresearch.org/mathminds) - [Life at MIND](https://2024.mindresearch.org/careers) - Resources - [Blog](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog) - [Math Discourse](https://2024.mindresearch.org/puzzletalks) - [Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) - [News](https://2024.mindresearch.org/news) - [Activities](https://2024.mindresearch.org/stem-resources) - [Donate](https://store.mindresearch.org/pages/donate) **Student privacy****:** learn more about our commitment to keeping students safe [Read More](https://www.mindresearch.org/privacy-policy) ![MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/graphics/headers/_blog-headers/MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png?width=2000&height=667&name=MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png "MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5") Category Community Teaching & Learning Technology & Games Research & Outcomes Neuroscience Celebrations & Successes [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70) [Community](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/community) # Challenge Your Kids to Try Something New this Summer By [Brian LeTendre](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/author/brian-letendre) - - - - - [mailto:?subject=Challenge%20Your%20Kids%20to%20Try%20Something%20New%20this%20Summer&body=Challenge%20Your%20Kids%20to%20Try%20Something%20New%20this%20Summer%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/challenge-your-kids-this-summer](mailto:?subject=Challenge%20Your%20Kids%20to%20Try%20Something%20New%20this%20Summer&body=Challenge%20Your%20Kids%20to%20Try%20Something%20New%20this%20Summer%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/challenge-your-kids-this-summer) - In a [recent blog post](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://medium.com/q-e-d/james-tanton-is-a-hypocrite-and-i-am-james-tanton-by-the-way-98556c325273&sa=D&ust=1525289704108000&usg=AFQjCNFxRVgM8tBvDWswujJAJC8TckxaYg), math ambassador and [Global Math Project](https://www.theglobalmathproject.org/) co-founder James Tanton talked about the preconceived negativity many people have toward math, and his ongoing mission to change it. James also admitted that he himself is not immune to such things, especially when it comes to the subject of sports. He realized that by describing himself as “not a sports person,” he was falling into the same dismissive belief many people often have about math. > 'I am not a math person.' ...can we let go of these culturally expected utterances? ...and then I realized I am a bit of a hypocrite. So James decided to do something about it. James has challenged himself to change his relationship with sports, by offering to teach his wonderful Exploding Dots game to any sports organization that will teach him about their sport. Through this challenge, James also encouraged everyone out there to let go of their preconceived notions and try something new. We couldn’t agree more with James, as we share his passion for improving everyone’s relationship with math, especially students. So we’re issuing our own challenge to students across the country with the following questions: - Have you ever designed your own math game before? - Have you ever taught someone a math concept? - Have you ever thought of yourself as a designer, a play-tester, an artist, or a mathematician? ## Join the K-12 Game-a-thon this Summer MIND recently launched the 2018 edition of our [K-12 Game-a-thon](https://www.mindresearch.org/gameathon), which challenges students to think critically and creatively to design a game that solves a mathematical problem. Teams of one or more students, along with a teacher or parent in a coordinator role, can invent card games, board games, apps, outdoor games or something entirely different.   There’s still plenty of time to sign up for the K-12 Game-a-thon, as the deadline for entries is not until July 16, 2018. You can find more information, including submission guidelines and more videos from past winners at the [official Game-a-Thon website](https://www.mindresearch.org/gameathon)! To learn more about the Global Math Project, head over to [theglobalmathproject.org](https://www.theglobalmathproject.org/). #### **Additional Resources:** - [Inside Our MIND Podcast: K-12 Game-a-thon](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/podcast-k-12-game-a-thon) - [Global Math Project](https://www.theglobalmathproject.org/) - [Game-a-thon Game Design Webinar](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/trsresources/videos/trs/gat_webinar_orig_new.mp4) ![Brian LeTendre](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/brian-letendre-headshot-305761-edited.png) ### About the Author Brian LeTendre was the Director of Impact Advancement at MIND Research Institute. In addition to building thought leadership and brand awareness for MIND, Brian worked cross-functionally internally and externally to amplify MIND's social impact and accelerate our mission. He is an author, podcaster and avid gamer. ### Comment #### [Students See the Math on JiJi Day](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/students-see-the-math-on-jiji-day) [Webinar Highlights: Repeatable Results at Scale for Math Programs](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/edtech-evaluation-repeatable-results) ### Search Result By: ![feature image](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog/Images/Inside-our-Minds-logo-teal-800x800.png) [Featured Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/featured-podcast) ### [Rethinking Attendance in Edtech](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) [Listen Now](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) ##### LATEST PODCAST EPISODES ###### BY MIND RESEARCH INSTITUTE - [Rethinking Attendance in Edtech](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) - [People, Process, and Penguins: Designing Math Experiences](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/people-process-penguins) - [Bridging STEM Gaps with STEMconnector CEO Jo Webber](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/bridging-stem-gaps-with-stemconnector-ceo-jo-webber) - [The EdTech Genome Project: Talking Implementation with Elizabeth Birie](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/edtech-genome-project) - [From Meeting the Moment to Foundational Change](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/from-meeting-the-moment-to-foundational-change) ##### [See all podcasts](https://www.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) ## Interested in Contributing? 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