Math program helps Liberty students improve scores

With major focus in the past placed on reading and test scores, Liberty Elementary began its first school-wide math program last year. Now, in its second year, students have made strides in the PAWS math program by studying math facts at home, Liberty Elementary Title I Coordinator Shamae Sabin said.

“It covers basic math facts and skills that all grades K-6 need to be successful in other areas in their math studies,” Sabin said. “If students study these at home, when they come to school, their memorization will help make everything they learn here come much easier.”

Sabin designed the program with the help of teachers based on the state core curriculum. For example, kindergartners work on counting, writing and recognizing numbers from zero to 30, while first-graders may practice addition of numbers 0 to 10. In the upper grades, fifth-graders may practice the order of operations while sixth-grade students learn comparing fractions, decimals and percentages.

“We have about 75 percent of our students participating, but if we can get more parents to support it at home, then we’ll reach more students. Many of our parents think about the reading at home, but now we want them to enforce practicing math facts with their children,” she said.

The program, named for their school mascot leopard’s paws and the idea to “pause” for math, allows nearly 400 students to work at their pace.

There are about 30 school goal sheets for students to progress from kindergarten to sixth-grade. Sabin and others track each student to see the progress made each year. The goal is for students to pass four goals each year, although Sabin admits some students are so excited, they work ahead.

When students complete four goals, they receive a token for a small prize, and also have their name randomly placed on one line of the principal’s 200 Club. When a row is completed, those students get to have a party with the principal and the process begins again.

In November, Sabin said that those who pass a couple goals this year will be treated with popsicles and an extra 10 minutes of recess.

“The principal motivates and supports this as much as the teachers. And the students love it,” Sabin said.

Sabin also said the program supports the weekly math computation tests as well as other standardized tests, such as math adequate yearly progression.

“Our math scores have gone up and we’ve seen a good-sized improvement of growth. I think it’s a combination of things we’re doing and this is part of it. Our priority is to practice math more at home, to make improvements in the class and on tests,” she said.

Sabin hopes that students will become more excited about learning math.

“Through this program, we’re already seeing many parents involved in their students’ studies, and it’s allowing teachers to be able to work on higher math skills,” Sabin said. “We’re seeing progress on the part of students’ abilities, and they’re enjoying the challenge.”