HOPEWELL, VA—Hopewell City Public School board officials are singing the praises of a group of fourth-graders at Dupont Elementary School who have excelled in the First In Math Online Program.
Patricia Howell’s 4th Grade Class at Dupont Elementary. Photo courtesy Hopewell City Public Schools
Team Luxor83va currently ranks #1 in Virginia and #3 nationally among all 4th grade Teams. They also rank #48 nationally among all grades! Teacher and Team Leader, Patricia Howell, is currently ranked seventh among all educators playing in Virginia.
“The students are very driven now that they have excelled in the state rankings. Their next goal is to get into the top 25,” says Howell. “It is fun to see such an excited and motivated group of young people. They are bright, articulate and passionate about improving their standings and are genuinely excited about math!”
According to Howell, FIM provides her students with intense practice and works because they are rewarded and are constantly challenged. “The kids buy into it. It’s a mindset. Once they get into the game they find they can make a real connection with math. It is exciting. I am so proud of them.”
First In Math Virginia-area representative, Brock Estes, offers perspective on the performance of Team luxor83va so far. “They are competing against 1,500 other teams in Virginia of all grade levels. Nationwide, there are about 8,000 4th grade Teams competing, so that #48 ranking is quite impressive.”
“Kudos to Principal Carla Fizer, and Supervisor of Math, Science & Instructional Technology Dr. Tina Barringer for their great support of the program. I will be excited to see Dupont students add to their sticker-count over the remainder of the current competition year,” adds Estes. (Official competition ends on April 30, 2014)
“Our educators support the intellectual and personal development of their students by looking beyond the textbook and using technology, such as the First In Math program, to enhance and interact with the student,” explains Fizer.
Hopewell schools began using the FIM program in 2008, and in 2009 were on the elite list of schools to solve more than one-million math problems. For 13 years, the district has also hosted an annual 24 Challenge® Tournament. “Carter G. Woodson Middle School hosts our division tournament. The competition is open to all three of our elementary schools and middle school and involves math loving students from grades 3 to 8,” says Dupont Elementary School’s Math Specialist Mary Beth Hull.
Does your school have a FIM success story? “We definitely want to share experiences with our FIM family—these are the kind of accomplishments we love to celebrate,” says Suntex Communications Director, Deborah Schapiro. Email information to deborah@firstinmath.com