Online math program a hit with Lynn Woods students

LYNN – Lynn Woods teacher Christine Kennedy gave her fifth-graders five minutes of free computer time recently, telling students they could do whatever they wanted and at least half chose to play First in Math, an online math program.”It’s like a craze,” said the elementary school’s principal Ellen Fritz.But two years into the online math program, the craze has yet to wear off, which is even more surprising when Fritz notes that the program is typically not used in school; students play it on their own time at home.Designed to help students in K-5 become immersed in progression-based, interactive math the program was piloted in six schools last year including Fritz’s. Students play the “games” by solving math problems and win points or stickers for every section completed, at home on their own time.”Last year there was more of a need for this program,” Fritz said. “I needed my (MCAS) scores to improve.”Ranked at Level 3 Fritz said her scores were suffering in both math and English Language Arts. This year the school jumped to a Level 1 and she credits First in Math at least in part for bringing up the math scores.”We also have really great, dedicated teachers,” she said.To motivate students last year Fritz said she offered incentives, ice cream parties, additional computer time and for the number one student, lunch from the sandwich shop up the street.”Best $10 I ever spent,” she quipped.This year the students needed little incentive because they simply like the program.Fifth-grader Devin Monaco holds the highest ranking in the school, with 2,451 stickers. He said math has always been his favorite subject but now he’s better at it.”I’m getting multiplication tables faster,” he said. “It will come to me faster in my head.”Monaco purposely answers a question wrong to show what happens and he loses a point, but he’s not worried about the setback.”You have to keep trying to get the right answer,” he said. “It won’t give it to you.”Fritz said she’s not sure how many of the kids use paper and pencil to figure out the answers they can’t do in their heads but she hopes at least some are.Jack Anderson said he does.Anderson holds the number one spot for the fourth grade with 2,391 stickers. He plays football and other video games, but First in Math is his go-to game. He said he likes the competition of trying to beat his classmates, and he likes math.Fritz admits the program has also generated some healthy competition among elementary schools as well. She can track her school’s ranking against other schools in the nation, the state and the district. A few keystrokes brought up local statistics that showed Lynn Woods ranked number one among Lynn’s elementary schools but, the Drewicz School is right on her tail and Lincoln-Thomas isn’t far off.Fritz tapped a few more computer keys, and the state statistics popped up, showing that of all the participating schools in the state, Lynn Woods is ranked third.”Drewicz is right there, too, in fifth place and Lincoln-Thomas in sixth,” she said. “I have to give them credit.”Kennedy said she believes the program has definitely helped students improve their math skills.”It’s just another avenue for learning,” Fritz added. “If you have a teacher teaching in the traditional style and the student isn’t getting it but you give them an interactive program ? it’s this generation, this is what they know, technology. Doesn’t it make sense to give them what they know?”