Marvelous Math Club is an after-school club that uses a unique model integrating math and psychology. The club centers the experiences of the students, parents, and guardians at Pisgah View Community Center and celebrates its elementary-age students, whom we call Math Leaders.
Join us for free on Mondays and Thursdays, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Pisgah View Apartments Community Center, 1 Granada St, Asheville, NC 28806
What We Do
Marvelous Math Club is a community after school club that uses a unique model for math learning that integrates math and psychology. A partnership of UNC Asheville, ACS, and HACA, requested by residents of PVA, MMC celebrates and centers the experiences of its elementary-age students (Math Leaders). Our Club creates a space at the PVA Community Center where Math Leaders feel safe, emotionally supported, and excited to engage in Math. Math Champions support the Math Leaders with homework completion, math games, and demonstrating math leadership. Become a Math Champion today! For more information, email us at mmc@unca.edu.
Become a Champion
Math Champions support elementary age Math Leaders in math practice and leadership through Homework completion, Math Games and Challenges, STEAM activities, and more. All Champions are required to attend a New Champion training session in persoon, a volunteer training with ACS (virtually), and to complete a background check. If you are a UNC Asheville student, you must complete UNC Asheville’s Protection of Minors training. Once you are trained, you are welcome to join any day Math Club is in session! To participate as a Champion please email mmc@unca.edu with your availability. Training sessions to become a math champion usually fall on Tuesdays between 10 A.M. and 12 P.M. If you are unable to attend during this time frame, please let us know, and we can arrange a date that best suits your schedule.
How We Think and Speak
We are excited to introduce you to the concept of Asset- and Justice-based Thinking, which is a mindset and approach that can be incredibly valuable in various aspects of life, and is applied throughout all areas of Marvelous Math Club. Asset-Based Thinking (ABT) is a perspective that focuses on identifying and leveraging the strengths, talents, and resources that are available to us and everyone around us. Instead of dwelling on what is missing or deficits, ABT encourages us to shift our attention to what is present and the positive assets we have at our disposal.
Understanding Asset-and-Justice-Based Thinking
● Strength-Based: ABT is centered on recognizing and utilizing your strengths, as well as each person or group. It involves identifying what you or your team do well and finding ways to build upon those strengths.
● Solution-Oriented: ABT encourages creative problem-solving and finding opportunities within challenges. Instead of getting stuck in the mindset of identifying problems, it emphasizes seeking solutions.
● Collaborative: ABT often involves working with people with different ideas and perspectives to combine strengths and resources. It fosters a sense of community and cooperation, as people come together to achieve common goals.
● Positive Framing: ABT promotes positive thinking and an optimistic outlook. It is shifting us in reframing situations in a more constructive light, which will lead to better outcomes and emotional well-being.
By adopting an Asset- and Justice-Based Thinking approach, math leaders and champions can tap into the individual’s full potential, foster innovation, and create a more positive and sense of belonging environment. When applied, Asset- and Justice-based thinking translates to real-life conversations. Asset-Based Language is a way of speaking and interacting that focuses on the positive qualities of individuals or groups, which is the opposite of deficit-based language, which tends to highlight what is missing or limitations. We invite the exploration of this concept further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Parents
Champions
Teachers
Visiting Champion presenters
Contributors of Resources
Join or Support Us
For more information, our newsletter, or to schedule Champion training, email mmc@unca.edu. Checks should be made out to the UNCA Foundation with “Marvelous Math Club” in the Memo. Contributions made to MMC will be used to directly benefit leaders by enhancing their experience through upgraded learning materials and experiential learning opportunities in the greater Asheville area. All contributions are tax deductible.
Contact Us
| UNC Asheville Advancement |
| CPO#3800 One University Heights Asheville, NC 28804 |
| Email: mmc@unca.edu |
| Phone: 828.251.6525 |
| Coordinator |
| Hannah Capps – UNC Asheville Mathematics and Statistics Alumna, ’16 |
| Directors |
| Marta Alcalá – Executive Director of Equity Asheville City Schools |
| Dr. Sam Kaplan – Department pf Mathematics and Statistics, UNC Asheville |
| Tatiana Matos – Communication Specialist |
