WESTON, FL—After a period of close competition among more than six thousand U.S. schools, Manatee Bay Elementary emerged as National Champion in the First In Math Online Program for the 2012-2013 school year. Participating Manatee Bay students secured the top spot by solving approximately 18,000 math problems each.
Left: Manatee Bay students pose with their FIM National Champions banner. Right: Robert Sun poses with Principal Heather Hedman-Devaughn and Zoe Meszaro.
Robin McClain, fifth-grade teacher and FIM School Anchor, coordinates the program at Manatee Bay. She estimates that many students put in more than 400 hours during the online competition, and each participating student earned an average of more than 5,800 FIM stickers.
In an article that appeared on the Wall Street Journal’s website, McClain said that the school is very proud of the progress students have made this year in math education and in confidence about their skills. “First in Math has played an instrumental role in challenging our students to practice math and improve their skills. We’re equipping students with the skills needed for high school, college, and beyond.”
McClain says that students become involved easily, and many push forward on their own. “It starts out very simple with basic skill sets such as multiplication facts, but then it quickly escalates where they are solving addition with fractions, subtraction with fractions, decimals, integers, and measurement. It just keeps going up, up, up, up, up.”
Program creator Robert Sun traveled from Pennsylvania to congratulate students personally. Dr. Mark Strauss, Director of BCPS Office of School Performance and Accountability for Cadre 5 Schools, and Broward County Mathematics Curriculum Specialist Guy Barmoha were also among the attendants at a June 3 celebration.
Sun says that he is very proud of the transformation he has seen at Manatee Bay. “Many schools who embrace our program see a dramatic improvement in math proficiency, and the students show more overall confidence and desire to achieve in other areas of life, as well” explains Sun.
Sun expressed his admiration for Principal Heather Hedman-Devaughn and her staff. “Launching a new program can be a lot of work, but when we see the impact it makes on these kids it makes me certain that they’re going to make a positive impact on the world, because in addition to improved math skills they have developed another very important skill—persistence.”
Perhaps fifth-grader Zoe Meszaro offers the best testimony about the program. She recently told reporters from CBS Miami that she stays up hours on the weekends doing First in Math. “I feel really proud of myself.”