Lori Miller has been coordinating Crazy 8s clubs for the Middletown School District in Pennsylvania since 2023, making it possible for three schools to host 55 clubs in just 2.5 years! Currently there are 24 coaches at Fink, Kunkel, and Reid Elementary Schools. Lori shared our Coach Spotlight questions with her team and we’ve collected some of their responses below. If you’d like to start your own district-wide Crazy 8s math club, please contact us here.
What inspired your district to launch Crazy 8s?
The Crazy 8s math program was designed to make math fun and engaging for young learners, especially in a way that appeals to children who might find math intimidating or boring. We wanted our students to foster a love of math early on and to build foundational math skills through hands-on, interactive activities.
What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had with your club so far?
The most memorable moment I have had was teaching the kids about runways and having them create their own runways using the understanding of patterns. Most students never rode on a plane, so it was a cool experience for them.
What’s the funniest or most creative thing a student has said or done during a club activity?
During my favorite activity, Pixel-palooza: The students made a giant Minecraft cat… but the students corrected me that it wasn’t a cat—“It’s an ocelot!!!”
What’s the kids' favorite Crazy 8s activity?
The kids love anything where they work as a whole group, but recently Epic Air was especially popular with its light-up planes!
How have you seen your students grow or change through Crazy 8s?
One of the really exciting things about programs like Crazy 8s is that they can have a significant impact on students’ math confidence, which often carries over into the classroom. By making math fun and interactive, students tend to build a positive association with the subject, which can boost their willingness to tackle more challenging problems later on.
Teachers have reported noticing increased enthusiasm for math, especially among students who previously struggled or didn’t enjoy the subject. As students grow in confidence, they tend to ask more questions, engage in class discussions more often, and become more comfortable making mistakes—an important aspect of learning.
And parents tell us kids love the hands-on activities, and come home bursting with what they’ve learned that week. The kids can’t wait to come back!
If you could describe Crazy 8s in one word, what would it be?
Relatable. Engaging. Interactive.
What’s a tip you’d share with new coaches starting their clubs?
Spend time talking about the real world connections and use visuals within the lessons. They love seeing how they could use concepts in real life.
The students will get out of it what you put into it. One great tip for new coaches starting their Crazy 8s math clubs—or any after-school program—is to focus on creating a fun, positive, and low-pressure environment. Math, for some kids, can feel like a high-stakes subject, so it’s important to make sure the club feels like a place where they can explore, make mistakes, and still have a good time.
What’s something surprising or unexpected you’ve learned as a coach?
This was my first time doing Crazy 8s and I was so impressed with the program. It is truly higher learning education that is fun! At the end of the school day, we are all tired and yet, the students were excited about our next project. I liked that the grades were mixed (I had 3rd-5th graders) and they worked well together.
