Academic Contests for Private Schools & Home Schools
www.psiaacademics.org
With 19 contest categories covering a wide range of disciplines, PSIA is an exciting opportunity for students to engage in academic competition with their peers throughout the state of Texas. PSIA contests span all levels from Grade 1 to Grade 8 —and PSIA is open to homeschoolers, too!
Extraordinary Education's group membership allows us to send up to 3 students per grade/age level per event to the local District 10A competition. Students who do well at the District level may go on to the State tournament. It is time to register students for these competition slots!
PSIA INFORMATION MEETING/TEAM REGISTRATION
Tuesday, January 15 @ 7:00pm
Extraordinary Education Campus
9522 Carraway, Magnolia, TX 77354
RSVP for the Information Meeting NOW!
REGISTER for the Team Here
PSIA DISTRICT 10A CONTEST
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Host site: San Jacinto College North
We are offering a PSIA Information Meeting for those who may need more details before signing up. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 15th at 7:00pm at the Extraordinary Education campus.
RSVP for the Information Meeting NOW!
Please check out the contest descriptions on the PSIA website and let us know ASAP if your student is interested in filling any slots on our team. There are a limited number of slots available for each event, and slots are filled on a first come basis.
REGISTER for the Team Here
NOTE: PSIA rules allow students to compete up to two grade levels above their current grade level but they can never compete below level. Also, a homeschooled student’s grade placement is determined according to their age on September 1st (the grade they would be in public school.) It can benefit an advanced student to compete with their age-mates in academic contests.
PSIA EVENTS OFFERED
LANGUAGE ARTS:
- Creative Writing (Grades 1-2)
Using a prompt of several pictures, students have 30 minutes to create an original story based on the pictures. - Ready Writing (Grades 3-8)
Students are given a choice between two prompts. Each prompt defines the audience and provides or implies the purpose for writing. Time limits vary by grade level. - Spelling (Grades 2-8)
As spelling words are pronounced contestants may either write or print each word. Test words come from the current PSIA Spelling List (80%) and from outside sources (20%). - Dictionary Skills (Grades 4-8)
Students use all elements of the dictionary as they learn practical techniques for extracting and applying resource information. - Vocabulary (Grades 5-8)
SAT preparation skills, including word usage, reading comprehension, and analogies, are honed through this challenging multiple choice, 30-minute contest. - Listening Skills (Grades 4-8)
Contestants may take notes as they listen to the contest script on CD, and then use these notes as they answer objective test questions in 10 minutes.
MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE:
- Mathematics (Grades 4-8)
In a multiple choice 30-minute math test students are challenged beyond their grade levels in a variety of general math questions including algebraic equations. - Number Sense (Grades 4-8)
Contestants find high-speed solutions to math problems in this exciting and challenging 10-minute contest in mental mathematics. - Calculator Applications (Grades 6-8)
This 30-minute contest develops mathematical reasoning and knowledge and requires application of problem solving skills toward realistic problems. - Maps, Graphs & Charts (Grades 4-8)
Students are challenged to obtain information from visual sources. Tests include maps, graphs & charts needed to answer multiple choice questions derived from the 2003 or newer editions of the Nystrom Desk Atlas. - Science (Grades 6-8)
Earth, Life and Physical Science information are tested in this 30-minute, multiple choice contest, which usually consists of 50 test questions.
FINE ARTS:
- Music Memory (Grades 3-8)
Students identify composers and selections from some of the world’s best known classics. Contestants write answers as they hear 15-second segments of the music and also take a 20-item test over information found in the current PSIA Music Memory Student Handbook. - Art Memory (Grades 4-5)
Students are challenged to identify the artist and the work and answer questions about the art and the artists found in the current Art Smart Bulletin (paintings are from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C. and museum in Texas.) - On-Site Drawing (Grades 6-8)
Using a display still life model consisting of from 4 to 7 objects, contestants produce a rendering on regular drawing paper using any drawing media. Contestants have 45 minutes at the contest site to produce their work of art.
SPEECH EVENTS:
- Storytelling (Grades 1-3)
Contestants hear a story that they retell before an audience. Contestants will have approximately 6 minutes to retell the story in their own words. - Prose Interpretation (Grades 4-8)
Students select, prepare and read a literary prose selection, with introduction, within a six-minute time limit. - Impromptu Speaking (Grades 6-8)
Students are challenged to organize their thoughts on a topic for three minutes, then speak for five or fewer minutes without notes. - Modern Oratory (Grades 6-8)
A challenge in writing and speaking, students prepare a short speech to examine the pros and cons of an issue (choice of 5) and defend their points of view. Contestants take a convincing stand on only one side of the issue.
For more details and rules about specific contests and events, please refer to the PSIA website links above.
Registration Information:
- Please plan to attend the Information Meeting on Tuesday, January 15th at 7:00 if you are considering registering for the team. If you cannot attend, please register online on the EE website to let us know the events in which you are interesting in competing.
- Registration with the EE Team is $20 per student per event.
- Registrations and fees must be received in the EE office at least 4 weeks prior to the contest date.
- There is a limit to the number of students we can enter. Students must be registered and PAID to fill a slot.
- We can enter up to 3 students per grade level per event. Some events have combined grade levels, and we may only enter 3 students in those grades combined.
- Students may only compete in non-conflicting events. There are special rules for double-entry that only apply to specific events. Please refer to the PSIA Conflict Pattern Schedule for more information.
- Families who participate are expected to fill judge/grader slots on the day of the contest.
Our group is required to provide one volunteer judge or grader for every 2.25 entries. Your family should plan to fill one slot for each 2.25 contests in which your own students compete. Volunteer slots may be filled by either or both parents, another family member, friend, neighbor or even a high school or college student. Our team will be penalized if we do not fill our assigned slots, so volunteers must be reliable.
Contest Preparation:
- Paid contestants are welcome to make use of the study materials available at EE. Study materials may not leave the EE campus, but parents are welcome to make copies for a small copy fee. We have invested many dollars in purchasing prior years' tests and other materials. We are thrilled to share them with our contestants!
- Parents will need to MAKE AN APPOINTMENT with the Director if they need to make copies or view PSIA materials.
- Please MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE on the EE website.
