EASTON, PA—As of October 12, 2010, students and Team Leaders in the First In Math® Online Program solved more than 300 MILLION math problems on the FIM site. "That’s one-third of a BILLION math problems solved in just 10 weeks," according to FIM Implementation Specialist Monica Patel.
This achievement obviously points to the popularity of First In Math with students, but Patel believes it also indicates that teachers have a growing respect for FIM as an unparalleled curriculum supplement and powerful Deep Practice tool. "In theory, if teachers abandoned the old-fashioned 'worksheet' approach to fact practice and pre-test/post-test scenarios in favor of the FIM approach, they would have saved the equivalent of 30 million worksheets—and approximately 352,000 teacher-hours—during this 10-week period," says Patel.
"This is the first time we've made it to the 100,000,000-sticker mark so early in the school year, but if you look at the increase in annual stickers earned over the past seven years, this year's growth is not a surprise," says FIM creator Robert Sun, adding that every year FIM students have surpassed his expectations. (see graph)
Sun believes that technology plays a crucial role in providing students with the immediate feedback they need to stay engaged and eager to practice math, but is also quick to recognize the role teachers, principals, superintendents and parents play in creating mathematics success by providing access to programs like First In Math. "The next time you see a math teacher, remember to thank THEM for all they do to help create a new generation of thinkers," says Sun.