A Mathematics Curriculum and Intervention Specialist at a middle school in Columbus City Schools, Ohio knew that middle school students not knowing their math facts was a serious problem–and far too common. She started using Reflex last year because she felt that the program would give her students the tools they needed to be successful.
She continues to find ways to use Reflex regularly and to help students to succeed. Teachers at her school inform students of their current fluency percentage each week. “Students log their scores in a data notebook or add them to an ongoing bar or line graph in order to see the overall progress. This reinforces the value of their efforts from the previous week and spurs them on to go the distance.” Students are also awarded a Reflex achievement certificate each time they reach a new milestone, and they are excited to receive the recognition.
But a special prize is reserved for when the students achieve 100% fluency. The school ordered wristbands in bulk with “100% Math Fact Fluency” printed on one side. The wristbands are blue/green for multiplication and division and purple/green for addition and subtraction. The school also created a “Reflex Wall of Fame” where they display students’ 100% certificates. And then, twice a year, they celebrate everyone’s math fact fluency with a pizza and ice cream party.
Congratulations to all the “mathletes” at the school on their success!
