Abington School District Excels at First in Math® Online Program
First in Math to Conduct Award Ceremony for Students of Willow Hill to Celebrate Improved Math Skills and Student Math Achievement
EASTON, Pa., June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Suntex International, makers of First in Math, today announced Abington School District students have solved over 10 million math problems through the First in Math Online Program, a dynamic, self-paced, web-based mathematics practice program that has been proven to help students master math skills through the use of game-style activities that provide immediate feedback. To recognize students' achievements, First in Math will be conducting an awards ceremony at Willow Hill Elementary School in Willow Grove, PA.
The First in Math program encourages and motivates students throughout the school year to practice and improve their math skills both during their free time at school and at home. First in Math is a supplement to curriculum and is designed to provide the "deep practice" that accelerates mastering the concepts students learn in the classroom.
The program includes a friendly competition component, whereby Willow Hill's first grade through sixth grade students competed against their classmates, as well as other schools in the district, state and nation, for recognition.
PSBA Vice President Mark B Miller said, "We are pleased to partner with First in Math on behalf of our 500+ member entities. The instant feedback for students and their teachers combined with instant gratification for participants serves to motivate students to reach higher levels of achievement in an atmosphere of gaming skill."
The First in Math program has already helped millions of students achieve proficiency in basic and advanced math skills in thousands of schools across the country. Numerous school districts have seen test results in math improve dramatically as a result of using this program.
We will be recognizing two classes at Willow Hill Elementary School. Fifth grade teacher Mr. Christopher Tague motivated his students to a school high goal average of 87% by allowing the top performing students to decide how he would shape his beard. Ms. Jaclyn Miller's 4th grade class will be recognized for "Most Improved" for raising their goal average from 28% to 74.1% over a period of four months. Both achievements are significant.
Pennsylvania State Representative Madeleine Dean, whose district includes Willow Hill, was impressed but not surprised by the accomplishments. Rep Dean observed, "Willow Hill has always been a leader in getting students excited about learning and is proof that the investment in good teachers and programs is an investment in our children and our future."
The combination of "deep practice" and immediate feedback is the heart of the First in Math program. This methodology helps students grasp and understand difficult concepts by breaking them down into manageable segments and providing instant feedback to help them make adjustments to their technique to improve their skills, similar to the way students would receive feedback in the physical realm when playing sports, for example. First in Math provides this vital feedback loop that's missing from most curricula. The game-style format engages students so they willingly spend many more hours a week practicing math.
The program covers the six foundational skills required for advanced mathematics, including basic facts, fractions, decimals, integers, exponents and order of operations. Students play the wide variety of games—during free time at school and by logging in to play from home—earning virtual stickers that accrue like points to their individual, classroom, school and district-wide score. The friendly competition makes for a lively, motivating experience that not only engages students in math practice, but can actually further enhance the overall culture of success at the school.
"We've seen constant growth in the Abington School District, not only with dramatic improvement in math proficiency, but also in the overall confidence and desire to achieve in other areas of life," said Bob Sun, chairman, president and CEO of Suntex International, and creator of the First in Math program. "We're looking forward to what the future holds for the students who have mastered critical skills through First in Math. We hope this skill set opens doors to broader opportunities for achievement."
Damon Jordan, Willow Hill's Principal said, "We are extremely proud of this recognition and I thank Suntex International for recognizing our progress and collective efforts. We will use this celebration as motivation to continue to actively engage our students in learning opportunities that will pave the way for exceptional academic, social, and emotional outcomes."
First in Math is entirely web-based, which means that students can practice math skills from anywhere with an Internet connection. The small annual investment includes teacher tools to help students get started and keep them motivated throughout the school year.
For more information about the First in Math Online Program, visit www.firstinmath.com.
About First in Math
First in Math is a dynamic, self-paced online program that helps students in grades K-8 master basic through advanced math skills through the use of engaging, exciting game-based activities. Developed and distributed by Suntex International, First in Math uses deep practice techniques and instant feedback to supplement the classroom curriculum and motivate students to practice math in the same way they practice sports, music or other activities they enjoy. The program is sold to private and public schools and school districts on a per-student annual subscription basis. Suntex is a private company headquartered in Easton, PA. For more information, visit www.firstinmath.com.
SOURCE Suntex International
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