UPPER DARBY, PA—Three students at Bywood Elementary School in Upper Darby are currently ranked 1-2-3 among all students in the district's ten elementary schools—and 21st, 34th and 39th in the state rankings!
Third-grader Ahmed Alamin and fifth-graders Gelan Balcha and Mohammed Fahim are also among the top 100 students nationally.
Bywood ES Response to Instruction and Intervention specialist Tim McEntee watches Gelan Balcha and Mohammed Fahim, who are mesmerized by math games on the First in Math website. (Photo from Daily Education Times Staff / JULIA WILKINSON)
During an interview for an article that appeared on the Daily Education Times website, Alamin enthusiastically shared one of the secrets that brought him to the #1 rank in the district. “I play every night and on weekends."
Mirroring his student's enthusiasm, Bywood Principal Ed Marshaleck commented, "I think it's fantastic and I think the kids love it. It's great for them."
According to Response to Instruction and Intervention Specialist Tim McEntee, First In Math uses practice techniques that increase math computation, problem solving and critical thinking skills. “The kids view it as a game and they really enjoy it.”
Bywood students have already completed more than 1.3 million problems so far this year, and have earned more than 440,000 FIM stickers.
To read more about First In Math at Bywood Elementary School, check out this story written By Linda Reilly, Daily Education Times Correspondent. Bywood students top of class in First In Math.