Archive: Around Town

How frequently do you read in the news that American students are falling behind in math and science?  Lansing teachers have been doing something about that with three math programs in the elementary and middle schools.  These programs have had measurably positive results showing a sometimes dramatic rise in student math literacy.

A fact fluency initiative was begun about a year and a half ago at the elementary school.  3rd Grade teacher Rhody O'Donnell says that teachers have been collecting data on Lansing 3rd and 4th graders' math fluency since the program began in January of last year, and the results have been remarkable.

"Based on community outreach, families participating, a rewards system in the classroom, and additional time spent on fact fluency we've been able to increase our mastery level," says O'Donnell.  "The kids were not fluent in their addition facts, so me did a big push and saw incredible growth."


From January to October of last year students jumped from a 23% fluency rate to 68%.  O'Donnell says that the program is being continued based on its initial success, but that the faculty is tweaking and adjusting the program to try to push the results higher for students.

A problem of the month math challenge was instituted in September of 2009 to try to get kids excited about math.  AIS middle school math teacher Brenda Mead says that kids are excited about the program, often asking whether they got the question right.  Correct answers are revealed on the first of each month.  In September of this school year 101 students answer the question correctly.

7th Grade math teacher Francesca Crannell says that another math literacy program in the middle school has students playing sumdog online.  Crannell says kids are excited about the game in which they practice their math facts.  Kids can play individually or against other kids, from their own school or from others.  Teachers can set up the games for individual needs.

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