PINE BLUFF, AR—Proud father Brandon Kearney enjoys telling other parents about his children's success—all of them hold a perfect 4.0 GPA—but he also tells them something else: hurry up and get your kids on the First In Math program.
Left to right: Jillian Kearney currently ranked #10, Jude Kearney currently ranked #2, and Josilyn Kearney currently ranked #7 in the National Individual Player Rankings.
Three of Kearney’s four children participate in First In Math program at home. “My wife Lisa and I purchased First In Math to give our kids a leg up on competition; we wanted to see them tested at home so that we could assist them in trouble areas, if found. We did not want to wait on a low score at school to alert us to issue with understanding in a particular area. FIM is our ‘litmus test’ on their understanding of difficult math concepts.”
Nine-year-old Josilyn is a third grader at 34th Elementary and aspiring teacher. Ten-year old Jillian is currently a fourth grader at the same school, but wants to be a lawyer like her grandfather. Jude is 11, and currently a fifth grader at Belair Middle School. He likes economics and hopes to work for the Federal Reserve one day.
According to Kearney, they all like FIM, Jillian citing the fun games and activities, while Josilyn and Jude like that the games help them improve their math skills and stay ahead of the core materials for their classes.
Though the First In Math program is not part of the curriculum in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Kearney says that teachers there encourage his children to use the program, and allow them to log on in class. “Josilyn has learned so many advanced topics while doing the program that she has gotten ahead of her third grade math curriculum,” explains Kearney. “Her teacher, Ms. Claret, allows her to get on the class computer to do FIM when she has completed her other work ahead of time.”
“On occasion, both Josilyn and Jude have been asked to teach fellow students advanced concepts that they mastered through First In Math,” explains Kearney. “Last year while Jude was in fourth grade, a teacher borrowed him to lead discussion in her 5th grade class on a math topic. They have also shown other kids the program at their weekly Gifted & Talented classes, which are held among students from different schools.”
Kearney says that he found First In Math on the Internet while searching for a comprehensive program that would allow the children to gauge their performance on a national scale. “We actually wanted a program where they could set a goal for themselves against their peers nationally and strive to meet it, and that was First In Math!” All three are currently ranked in the Top 10 nationally in the at-home competition.
“I want to have the #1 Ranking,” says Jude.
“Our kids are competitive, and often try to see who will have 100 bonus stickers first each day,” says Kearney. “They are also competitive in other areas— Jillian and Jude have each won the Jefferson County level spelling Bee twice, while Josilyn is seeking her second county level win this year—but they do help each other. If one learns a topic first, they will sass each other for needing assistance, but give it all the same.”
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