Lincoln Elementary School has been working towards helping students learn their basic math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division through fun and engaging activities.
For the past six weeks, students were given the opportunity to stay an hour after school on Tuesdays or Thursdays for extra practice with Ms. Love, a student teacher in Ms. Sullivan’s and Mrs. Lippen’s classroom.
According to Ms. Love, the main learning objective for this club was, “For students to gain a better understanding of their math facts through engaging activities in order to help them achieve success in their math classrooms.”
Some of the students’ favorite games and activities included: Even Steven’s Odd, making multiplication fact bracelets, a Chutes and Ladders board game for subtraction and division, and dice games where students could roll dice to achieve the highest answer for any operation.
A 5th grade student stated, “Math can be challenging but it’s easier when it’s fun!” Many students expressed how the club was a fun way to learn math facts with their friends.
Students exemplified leadership qualities by assisting and collaborating with others in order to find solutions while working through frustrations. Ms. Love noted that students would teach others multiplication tricks or help guide them to the correct answers.
Lincoln Elementary is the first Leader In Me school in Wisconsin. The school district focuses on encouraging students to exemplify the Seven Habits of Highly Efficient Students on a daily basis.
This month’s habit is “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Students are taught to listen to other’s ideas and feelings and understand alternative perspectives.
The math facts club helped students prioritize and set goals. Students decided that they would work first before going home and relaxing or playing outside with friends. Many students would also receive help on their homework before participating in the math games.
Students were proactive by taking the time to meet after school and by coming up with new ideas on their own. During the last few meetings, students were encouraged to work together to create their own board games focusing on math.
The time spent in the math facts club was highly beneficial for the students.