WWU plans math fair for local fourth-graders

3/27/2012 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

Children are often admonished not to play with matches. This week, they will learn to "Fight Fires With Math," a William Woods University program to help them prepare for the MAP test next month.

Pre-service teachers enrolled in the course "Teaching Elementary Mathematics" will host the event from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 30, in the Multipurpose Room of the Helen Stephens Sports Complex on WWU campus. 
 
Local fourth-grade students from public and private schools have been invited to participate in nine different centers that are designed to help them review fourth-grade math concepts prior to the administration of the MAP test in April.   
 
All of the centers include activities based on the Missouri Grade Level Expectations and are tied to the fire-fighting theme. 
 
"Students will complete activities such as completing an obstacle course and using their times to find mean, median and mode; building creative fire trucks with two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes, and create angles with fire hoses; as well as several other engaging activities,"  Shari Means, assistant professor of education and director of student teaching and clinical experiences, said. 
 
In addition, local fire fighters will engage in the activities with the students.
 
Pre-service teachers have studied the Grade Level Expectations and designed activities to review these concepts and will complete their activities 25-30 times with different groups of students throughout the day. 
 
"This gives them an opportunity to practice teaching skills, such as checking for background knowledge; differentiation, motivation, classroom management, reflection, flexibility, creating engaging activities, and assessment," Means said.
 
She added, "Pre-service teachers are excited to build the confidence levels of the local fourth-graders and motivate them to want to excel on the MAP test."
 
For more information, contact Means at 573-592-1697 or smeans@williamwoods.edu.