Math Is More Than a Workbook at South Seneca Elementary Second Grade this Fall

Second graders moving as sleepy trees, jaguars, cats and the zero monster:  little do they know they’re learning their multiplication tables already!  South Seneca Elementary second grade is the recipient of a grant to have Suzy Koontz in residence for two months.  Her goal is “to keep kids feeling good about math.  No more saying ‘I don’t like math’, or ‘I’m not good at numbers.”  Suzy’s proven activities are fun for math learners as evidenced by the kids’ excitement when she visits.  Built on extensive brain research together with practical field testing, the activities incorporate body movement reaching across lateral sides of the body to trigger neuro-transmitters that help kids learn in a different way.  The focus is repeated addition, skip counting and basic multiplication facts.  It includes such activities as the multiplication dance that uses movements such as sleepy trees, jaguars and cats to show that factors of a certain number have the same movements.  During the number three jaguar multiplication dance, students whisper the number one and two as they cross their left and right ‘paws’, then clap and yell ‘3’ and for all multiples of 3 thereafter.  Other activities include ‘tapping at the table and sit-down math which engages students in imaginative, stretching exercises while practicing the whisper/loud counting technique.  Math n’ Yoga and the skip counting train round out the many activities taught that promotes equity, encourages wellness and strengthens one-to-one correspondence.  The students become easily engaged and easily learn the movement activities. 

A family night on Thursday, December 17^th was well attended, followed by desserts in the cafeteria.  Hosted by Suzy Koontz, second grade students demonstrated their new skills and the varied math and movement counting techniques.