LANCASTER, PA—Lancaster County's Sacred Heart Catholic School is home to one of the top First In Math Teams in the nation. Team "Ocean89pa" is ranked #2 in the country among all second-grade teams with an average of 1,758 stickers per student, and is also Ranked #1 All Grades in the Harrisburg Diocese with a total of 26,384 stickers.
"This is an awesome achievement for second-graders," says First In Math National Director Mark Losey, adding that he occasionally speaks with school representatives who have the impression that First In Math is not appropriate for first or second grade. "That is certainly not the case," explains Losey. "FIM offers plenty of content for young learners, or those students who may be performing at a remedial level."
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Left: Sister Georgiana Connell (back) and Team "Ocean89pa." Right: Second-grade students enjoy helping their first-grade counterparts navigate the First In Math site.
"I spoke with Mr. Losey while attending the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo & Conference, and told him how much our students and faculty were excited by the First In Math program," says Jessica Drago, Instructional Technology Support Specialist at Sacred Heart. "We have eight teams using the program, and we are very proud of all of our students."
Sister Georgiana Connell, Team Leader of "Ocean89pa" has earned more than 7,000 stickers as a Team-Leader-Player, good enough for a #28 national ranking. "I am so proud of my second graders here at Sacred Heart School. From the beginning, my students and I have worked as a team. I decided that if I wanted the second graders to participate, then I needed to do so as well!" Sister also says that she is amazed at how eager students are to help one another use FIM. "We have the second-graders help teach the first-graders—they are very patient, and love to help the students that may be struggling. Several times they have helped me learn a new game!"
Sister Georgiana's class is now ready to study multiplication, but several students began multiplication and division on their own as their thirst to advance through the program grew. "It has been a joy watching the students blossom as they discover new skills and ideas. The advanced students are never bored and love to work on Know and Show and the other games. We do a math drill each day, and have definitely improved in accuracy and speed thanks to First In Math. We share our progress daily and cheer everyone onward! I think First in Math is a wonderful program."