AUSTINTOWN, OH—Educators are known to do some exotic things to encourage math achievement. Past First In Math News & Notes stories have focused on student/teacher basketball games, teachers kissing pigs and even jumping out of airplanes, but Austintown Intermediate School students had a wild recess when third-grade principal Tim Kelty and fifth-grade principal Jeff Swavel agreed to sumo wrestle!
Austintown Intermediate School fifth-grade principal Jeff Swavel (left) and third-grade principal Tim Kelty are suited up to sumo wrestle. Photo © Austintown Neighbors
The creative pair challenged their students to earn 200,000 electronic stickers in the First In Math Online Program. A story written by Abby Slanker that appeared on the Austintown Neighbors website reported on their effort to encourage students to use First In Math. Read full story here.
Before the match, AIS fourth-grade principal Angel Owens handed out awards to top students. “We are here today because of First in Math. That is what has brought us all together. You all did an excellent job getting online and earning First in Math stickers,” Owens told the students gathered in the gym.
Owens laid down one important ground rule for the dueling principals. “Show your Falcon Pride,” Owens said. Then it was time for the two principals to live up to their end of the bargain. Students cheered loudly for their favorite during the match, and even did the wave.
“Both principals were more than happy to do it’” Owens told Slanker. “We wanted to get the students excited about First in Math and encourage them to continue doing their math problems online over the [holiday] break.”
How is your school encouraging math achievement? Is your school or classroom involved in an exciting project or activity that is creating math excitement and adding to your total sticker count? Please let us know by sending a note to deborah@firstinmath.com with a few details and your contact information. You may be featured in the First In Math News!