[Member Intro] Trying to bring cubing to my students

[Irotholoro]

I am integrating solving cubes into my middle school curriculum. While I am a beginner myself it has been a lot of fun and I have had several students get really excited. We will hold an informal school competition in May and I hope to have some impressive times (to them, not y'all) by then. I can solve 2x2-4x4 using beginner methods.

 

[cuberswoop]

Welcome to the forums! What do you average on 2x2-4x4?

 

[Irotholoro]

Welcome to the forums! What do you average on 2x2-4x4?

2x2 is about 45 seconds, 3x3 is 1:50, and 4x4 is like.... 10 minutes because I am still trying to memorize how to flip the last pairs and edges.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

Great idea! I believe you should be able to get some sponsorship for discounted rates for student cubes and may be help like information, or even demos and visits. This reminds of Apple's programme of support for schools, which no doubt helped it become so successful, as a computer company. (Message for the cube company and stores. Apple was just an also-ran in the 80s.)

 

[abunickabhi]

Hello there and welcome!

 

[AJT17]

Nice, I hope your students learn as much as I have when I first learned at school, they should have so much fun with it.

 

[cuber314159]

Welcome, always nice when teachers are supportive of cubing! I ran cubing club pretty much throughout secondary school!

 

[Dex]

I am integrating solving cubes into my middle school curriculum. While I am a beginner myself it has been a lot of fun and I have had several students get really excited. We will hold an informal school competition in May and I hope to have some impressive times (to them, not y'all) by then. I can solve 2x2-4x4 using beginner methods.

Sorry but it seems a little unclear. You need help getting faster at 2x2 and 4x4 right? If so you should learn the Ortega method for 2x2 or at least the PBL algorithms along with generally lots of practice. I'm not sure about 4x4 though cause its not my strong suit. Also make sure to use fingertricks. Check out this video:

 

[Irotholoro]

Yes, I have just started and am using the beginner methods. I am working on learning algorithms but don't know enough to actually integrate them into solves yet. I know there are lots of resources out there and Jperm is one of my favorites. I plan to use Ortega for 2x2 as I never want to be faster than that and CFOP for 3x3 as my understanding is that will give a good base to work with on other puzzles.

 

[Dex]

For your times I think it'll really help to practice finger tricks and turn speed. The algorithms help a lot but you should make sure you're good at the fundementals.

 

[Puzzlerr]

that's really cool, I wish I could have been taught that in school!

 

[Irotholoro]

For your times I think it'll really help to practice finger tricks and turn speed. The algorithms help a lot but you should make sure you're good at the fundementals.

I was stuck at the 2:00 mark on 3x3 for about three weeks until I started looking ahead. Got 59 last night! I'm planning on working on just a few algorithms at a time while I work basic skills like finger tricks, inspection, and look ahead. I'm having a lot of fun and seeing a lot of improvement already.

 

[Garf]

I was stuck at the 2:00 mark on 3x3 for about three weeks until I started looking ahead. Got 59 last night! I'm planning on working on just a few algorithms at a time while I work basic skills like finger tricks, inspection, and look ahead. I'm having a lot of fun and seeing a lot of improvement already.

Don't focus on look ahead, and just focus on the speed.

 

[Irotholoro]

Don't focus on look ahead, and just focus on the speed.

Can you give justification for this? It seems odd to actively discourage working on a basic skill.

 

[AJT17]

Can you give justification for this? It seems odd to actively discourage working on a basic skill.

There are many parts of look ahead, so don't really try to focus on that until you are faster, and you should just focus on turning faster, and maybe finger-tricks as well. JPerm also has a video on look ahead.

 

[Irotholoro]

There are many parts of look ahead, so don't really try to focus on that until you are faster, and you should just focus on turning faster, and maybe finger-tricks as well. JPerm also has a video on look ahead.

Thanks for the video, if it explains what you are talking about then I am exactly on the right track doing the look ahead that I am as I am still doing the beginner method which I have completely memorized and don't have to think about the algorithms. Sounds like maybe we were just talking about two different things.

 

[OtterCuber]

If students approach you to start a club, you can learn and teach other methods like Roux, CFOP, and ZZ. It will be a lot of fun.