Olympics
The Math Olympics and Math"On the Go" Programs, are in part, underwritten by the
Sisler McFawn Foundation and The Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation.
The WINNERS: Product Game: 1st Place-Elijah Young, Crouse CLC; 2nd Place-Kassidy Bernard, Crouse CLC; Coordinate Grids Game: 1st Place-Kenneth Robinson, Schumacher Elementary; 2nd Place-Michael Connally, Rankin Elementary; The Fraction Game: 1st Place-Michael Connally, Rankin Elementary; 2nd Place Pierre Blash, Schumacher; Tangrams: 1st Place-Divad Sims, Crouse CLC; 2nd Place Eric Portis, Jr., Rankin Elementary
The First Annual Project GRAD Akron Math Olympics competition for elementary students was held on March 4, 2010 at Perkins Middle School. Participants were drawn from third, fourth, and fifth graders from CrouseCommunityLearningCenter, Rankin Elementary, and SchumacherElementary Schools. The goals of the program were to help promote a positive attitude about math among students, practice basic math concepts, and have fun learning math. Math tutors worked with students during the lunch periods three days per week, thirty (30) minutes per day, providing math practice in four areas: the product game, smart fractions, tangrams, and co-ordinate grids. Students also received parent help sheets to take home and continue practicing with adult support. Contact information was provided for parents to answer any questions they may have had concerning the practice activity.
The competition night included forty-seven (47) students. These students competed on stage in elimination rounds. The excitement escalated as the final two competitors in each category worked at a table with a document camera, providing the audience a birds-eye view of the competition as the students worked their problems. Winners in each category were awarded trophies. Each competition participant was awarded a medallion. In addition, all participating students were rewarded with a pizza party for their dedication and participation.
Over one hundred (100) students, parents, math teachers, and PGA staff attended the event to support and cheer on the participants.
Project GRAD Akron
Math "On the Go" Lending Library
Project GRAD Akron Math “On the Go” Lending Library was created for students to reinforce classroom learning and to build individual skills. Math On the Go is a math bag filled with hands-on learning aids. Activities available for loan include math fact cards, flash cards, money, snap cubes, fraction cakes, tangrams and more. Each item is coordinated to grade levels and the math curriculum. The bags are created with a variety of student performance levels in mind. Some bags focus only on addition skills, others focused on a combination of skills such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Each bag is designed to provide students multiple ways to practice and reinforce a math concept. Students may check out a bag for take home use or to use during their free time at school. Directions for the activities are included in each bag for parents/guardians to understand the activity and assist their child. Currently ninety (90) math bags have been checked out from the lending library, primarily by students in the third and fifth grades. This program will continue throughout the year.
Project GRAD AkronMath "On the Go" Party
Project GRAD Akron's Math "On the Go" Party is a fun, math-focused parent and child learning event. Parents and children spend time in the classroom engaged in hands-on, fun math activities. Having parents to "play" the math games increases the support children receive at home and reinforce classroom learning.
Schumacher Elementary School hosted their "Math on the Go" party on April 14, 2010 for parents and students in Kindergarten, first, and second grades. Parents and students were able to learn and experience four different math games. Participating parents received a "Math on the Go" bag filled with games and materials to use at home with their child. The participating classroom teachers were able to spend time talking with parents and demonstrating ways to help their child learn while having fun with math
Mrs. Gardella, a kindergarten teacher at Schumacher Elementary, invited older elementary students into her classroom to act as presenters for each activity. The older students had been trained to present the math activities and to help with the games. The students were excited to share their skills and parents enjoyed the time with their children.
Project GRAD Akron Scholarship Recipients
To date, over $1,000,000.00 in scholarships have been awarded!
Additionally, selected Project GRAD Akron scholars from each class also received
matching scholarships from Kent State University and the University of Akron.
