Becoming Math Masters

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

I teach third grade in a high-need and low-income school, with nineteen students, ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade in academic ability.

In the third grade, my students are required to master their multiplication facts 0-12. However, as the case may be, they have yet to even learn or master their basic addition and subtraction facts. Without sufficient supplies, and facing a 20,000 dollar school budget cut, they lack and will continue to lose the supplies that allow other student, in other schools, to quickly master these important facts. The request for fraction manipulatives addresses the same concern, as my lack of classroom supplies spreads throughout all facets of mathematics. Much of math is abstract and thus difficult for students to learn. Without the proper materials, in this case the manipulatives, my students will be unable to grasp the concepts necessary to be successful with fractions.

In order to overcome this situation, I am asking for addition, subtraction, and multiplication flash cards for each student. Providing them with their own set will expose them to all of the important math facts and give them the opportunity and the means to repeatedly practice them, both at school and at home. This constant and continual contact with these facts, and the ability to have their own set, will give them ample practice time, a sense of ownership over the information, and lead to eventual mastery of the facts they should have learned in second grade and must learn in third. And with this strong knowledge of addition, subtraction, and multiplication, they will be set on a path of success within mathematics, as future classes revolve around a these basic facts. Similarly, the fraction manipulatives will assist my students as they tackle the difficult concept of comparing fractional amounts. Considering many students are visual and tactile learners, they need such manipulatives to understand the content. Being able to physically move the pieces will help the information resonate within them. Without them, they will struggle to grasp the idea of fractions.

You have the chance to help overcome some of the obstacles that sit between my students and academic success. The receipt of these math resources will provide my students with the tools they need to feel successful in mathematics this year and in years to come.