Author: Alison Weaverdyck

I am the Creative Director and Webmaster for US Academic Triathlon. I write the curriculum for Meets, as well as the enrichment activities and articles for this site. Peggy Sheldon, the Founder of USAT, is my mother so I have been living and breathing the program since it was founded over 30 years ago.
SCAMPER Technique

In Case You Missed It: SCAMPER Technique

Alison Weaverdyck

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SCAMPER is a valuable technique for students as they approach USAT challenges. Mind Sprints often are centered on brain-storming activities, or at least have a bonus round that requires quick thinking and fast answers. SCAMPER is a great way to come up with new uses for old ideas and objects.

S is for Substitute

C is for Combine

A is for Adapt

M is for Magnify/Minify

P is for Put to Another Use

E is for Eliminate

R is for Rearrange

P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box

In Case You Missed It: P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box Tips

Alison Weaverdyck

Help your students get off to a great start this year with our tips for making P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box performances the best they can be.

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Theater Etiquette

Getting students prepared to be attentive audience members and think about what it means to perform for others.

Front and Center

Performing skits is super fun, but it is easy for kids to get distracted and forget that they need to be seen and heard to get the most points.

Make it Memorable

If a skit sticks out in the judges’ mind they are going to get a higher score. Here are some ideas that triathletes can employ to add some extra zing to their shows.

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Backdrops Set the Scene

Every Meet the teams get a back drop holder and large swaths of paper to help tell their story. Get some advice about effective backdrops and time management.

Costumes make the Character

How do you know if your hero is a fire fighter or a bull fighter? The costume of course!

Props add Pop

The materials in a P.A.R.T.Y. prep are often the same, so there’s no reason students can’t practice making all sorts of things before the day of the Meet.

Close Reading

Skits aren’t just for fun, they are also a chance to earn points. Triathletes must read and interpret the prompts and scoring rubric without help from their coaches.

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Announcements

Don’t Miss a Thing – This Season’s Important Deadlines

Alison Weaverdyck

2016-2017 Season Deadlines

Registration: Nov. 4, 2016

Please visit the Registration Page to download this year’s materials.

E-mail your registration to Sarah@usacademictriathlon.com or mail to:

United States Academic Triathlon
204 7th St. West #123
Northfield MN, 55057

Get more info about Setting up the Program, Coaching a Team, and Recruiting Students

 

Fees Due: Dec. 2, 2016

The cost per team is $225. Please make checks out to US Academic Triathlon and mail to:

United States Academic Triathlon
204 7th St. West #123
Northfield MN, 55057

Round Robin Competitions:

December 9, January 13, February 10

Schedules will be posted after Registration has closed.

Snow/Make up date: February 17

 

Regional Competition: March 10

State Competition: April 22

For Coaches and Teachers, For Hosts and Facilitators, For Parents

It Takes a Village…

Alison Weaverdyck

Yes, US Academic Triathlon is a program for middle-school students, but it wouldn’t be possible without dedicated teachers and parents who volunteer their time so their students can learn and grow.

There are a few ways to manage a USAT program at your school – if you plan to have more than one team, a Head Coach/Program Coordinator is recommended. Most importantly, this person manages registration and liaises with the national office, while ensuring the school’s program is run with fair play, civility, and good sportsmanship. The head coach can then recruit additional coaches to help with team practices and help staff Meets (each team is required to provide two experienced coaches/parents for each Meet to help the competition run smoothly).

Who makes a good USAT coach or volunteer? Anyone 16 or older (yes, high school students can help coach teams – and often former USAT competitors make the best volunteers!) who is dedicated to helping students gain leadership, creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking skills.

While specific details regarding coach duties can be found in the Program Manual and our Coaching a Team page, there a few MUST’s USAT requires of its coaches:

  1. Coaches must set high standards of sportsmanship and fairness during and surrounding competitions. Students look to you as examples – show them what it means to be a leader and a good teammate.
  2. Coaches must reward good ideas and positive attitudes as they see them displayed by students of all participating schools (speaking specifically when at Meets). USAT isn’t ultimately about being “the best,” but growing as an individual. Encourage and reward any student when you see them exemplifying this ideal.

Parents, guardians, teachers, older siblings, high school volunteers, college students, and grandparents – anyone willing to give their time to the growth and education of a student can be a USAT volunteer coach. Our students – and our staff – appreciate your time and efforts!

Uncategorized

10 Types of Students who Benefit from USAT

Alison Weaverdyck

Maybe you’re a parent who is wondering if USAT is right for your child, or you’re a teacher who is thinking about recruiting students but you’re having trouble deciding who to ask. US Academic Triathlon is all about fostering curiosity and creativity in the next generation of leaders, and we offer a broad range of opportunities for students to flex their creative problem-solving and practice the skills they will need for future success both inside and outside of the classroom.

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Students will benefit from USAT if they…

  1. …don’t get enough of a chance to be creative in their everyday lives.
    • Tablets, cell phones, televisions, video games, homework, chores, sports—these are all competing for the attention of today’s student. At a USAT Meet, kids get a chance to set aside time to focus on stretching themselves creatively free of these sorts of distractions.
  2. …feel shy in a large classroom setting.
    • Schools don’t always have the resources to keep their class sizes small, and sometimes the kids who don’t speak up don’t get a chance to shine. USAT teams are small for a reason; we want every voice to be heard and every idea considered.usat_picks9
  3. …work well with others.
    • Each Meet is a competition, but we also create challenges that emphasize and reward teams who work well together. Our events are timed and every second counts!
  4. …don’t work well with others.
    • Whether it is in school or at work, sooner or later we all have to work in a group. USAT creates a supportive and positive risk-taking environment to help students figure out how to navigate group work, share responsibility, parse out responsibilities, and play to the strengths of each team member.
  5. …like to perform and excel at public speaking.
    • USAT teams are guaranteed at least four chances to compete each season (and a fifth if they go on to State in the spring), which means four chances to perform in front of an audience. Students who love to sing, do cart wheels, bust a move, or show off some other sort of special skill will love the opportunity to stand up and be counted during A.R.T.Y. in a Box challenges!
  6. …would benefit from a chance to practice their public speaking skills.
    • We can’t all be born for the stage, so students who aren’t already strong communicators get a chance to practice. The skits at the end of every Meet aren’t the only chance for students to speak up. Face-Off! and Mind Sprints offer a chance to share knowledge and ideas, especially if they are outside the box.img_8672
  7. …enjoy building things.
    • Do you know someone who can make a knight out of plastic cups? A witch out of a paper bag? Got a student in your life that can visualize how things fit together and enjoys figuring out how things work? They’ll love this program!
  8. …have good reading comprehension and listening skills.
    • Classes might have names like “Social Studies” or “Earth Sciences,” but students learn a lot more during formal and informal educational situations than just information about the three branches of government or types of rocks. USAT asks team members to think critically about actions and reactions, and kids who can interpret what they hear or read will enjoy solving our puzzles.
  9. img_8671…have difficulty following instructions.
    • Being able to understand a worksheet or follow the instructions a teacher gives for a lab is vital for students to succeed, but it doesn’t necessarily come easily to everyone. The competitive nature of USAT gives students a fun incentive to gain as many points as possible by paying close attention, thinking about what they hear, and asking the right questions to aid comprehension.
  10. …are good at telling stories.
    • Humans are story-tellers, it’s in our blood. We learn and share through narratives all the time, and USAT is no exception. We challenge students to express their views and solutions through stories and approach the art of problem-solving from a new but accessible angle.

 

Learn more about bringing USAT to your school

Check out the season dates

Find out more about the three events that make up a Meet