Incoming sixth graders arrived this fall at middle school below grade level in math and lacking confidence.
To address this challenge, six district middle schools created math intervention classes during WIN (What I Need) classes, aiming to plug foundational gaps in students’ understanding in a supportive environment. BEF funds provided classroom supplies for hands-on learning activities and interactive math games so that students could more easily grasp abstract concepts through engaging, tactile learning experiences.
At Conestoga Middle School, this investment helped launch the school’s first-ever dedicated math intervention class, called the Math Workshop. It serves students across all grades during WIN class period. BEF funds delivered essential materials for interactive learning, like individual whiteboards, calculators, and math games. As a result, students who have not historically experienced success in math are now actively participating and, for many, feeling successful for the first time. An example of an interactive game that supports math proficiency is “equivalence” dominoes which reinforces concepts of fractions, decimals, and percentage, helping students grasp abstract concepts through tactile learning experiences.
The new supplies also foster a collaborative environment where students share pride in their progress. Using whiteboards and wipe books, students can share their thinking with classmates as they work out solutions to math problems, increasing more understanding and teamwork.
