March is almost here, and that means March Mathness is tipping off! Across the country, ST Math classrooms are taking on this bracket-style challenge, solving puzzles, building problem-solving skills, and making math more exciting than ever.
This annual competition has become a favorite among educators and students alike—turning math into an exciting challenge that motivates students, deepens mathematical thinking, and builds problem-solving skills all while having fun! Whether you’re returning to the challenge or joining for the first time, March Mathness is a powerful way to spark engagement, accelerate learning, and celebrate every math victory!
How March Mathness Works
Your class will compete each week to solve the most puzzles and advance in the bracket! Here’s how to set it up:
- Set up your challenge with the Usage Challenge Toolkit – Follow the six easy steps in this toolkit to set up your March Mathness challenge. Choose who will participate (a class, grade level, or school-wide), set the timeline, define success metrics, promote the challenge, track progress, and celebrate your winners.
- Download Your Bracket – Get started by printing the March Mathness bracket. Fill in your participating classes or groups.
- Advance and Celebrate! – Each week, the class that solves the most puzzles moves forward in the bracket. Share progress, photos, and victories on social media using #MarchMathness #STMath and tag @MINDEduOrg!
Ideas for Metrics to Track
Looking for more ways to measure success beyond total puzzles solved? Don’t forget to visit the Usage Challenge Toolkit for more great ideas! Here are some key metrics you can use to drive engagement:
✅ Total Puzzles Solved – The classic March Mathness metric! Track total puzzles completed by your class or individual students.
✅ Average Minutes per Week – Monitor how much time students are spending actively problem-solving.
✅ Syllabus Progress – Measure how far students advance in their ST Math journey during the challenge.
✅ Effort & Persistence– Recognize students who stick with tough puzzles and complete them!
Find all of this data in the Reports Tab in ST Math—making it easy to check progress and celebrate milestones!
Shoutout to Our ST Math Champions!
Each year, our amazing educators bring March Mathness to life in creative ways. Here are just a few of the inspiring stories from classrooms across the country from last year:
Warner Elementary School emerged as champions out of 58 schools in their district! Their students powered through puzzles and showcased the power of effortful learning. See it on X.
Cisneros Cubbies celebrated their March Mathness championship, proving that every puzzle solved is a step toward success. Check it out on Instagram
Central Elementary turned March Mathness into a school-wide celebration of math, blending friendly competition with meaningful learning. See their story
How it Started
MIND would also like to thank Damien Hazel, Mathematics Instructional Coach at Sunita L. Williams Elementary School in Massachusetts, and the creator of March Mathness. Damien began this friendly competition to encourage teacher and student participation during their first year of implementation back in 2020-21. In the four years since, March Mathness has spread nationwide, where students engage in ST Math games and accelerate their math achievement.
Ready to Play?
March Mathness is more than a competition—it’s an opportunity to ignite a passion for problem-solving, celebrate perseverance, and make math learning more engaging than ever.
- Explore the Usage Toolkit: Usage Challenge Toolkit
- Download your bracket: March Mathness Bracket
- Then, share your journey with us! Tag @MINDEduOrg and use #MarchMathness #STMath on social media so we can celebrate with you!
Game on, mathletes—let’s make this the best March Mathness yet!
