When Ms. Rebecca L. Rose returned to the classroom after being a high school principal, she noticed “that many students entering 4th grade were still struggling with basic math facts. I wanted to decrease the amount of math anxiety in my classroom by increasing my students’ knowledge of basic math facts. When students do not have to focus on remembering their facts, they can concentrate their efforts on learning process-using the facts that they know.”
To help her students learn their math facts, she started using Reflex in her classroom. “I am very impressed with Reflex. It encourages students to learn and practice in a fun way. My students love working with Reflex. First thing every morning, students grab their computers, and ‘work to the green.'” She also charts class milestones and posts them on “our wall of celebration.”
Two weeks after her class began using Reflex, “I began seeing an increase in math confidence with daily classwork.” Several months later, about 92% of her students were 100% fluent with their multiplication and division math facts. “The more fluent a student becomes in their basic math facts, the more able they are to complete math at more difficult level.”
“At the beginning of the year, I had a student who would refuse to come to school because she hated math. Her mother would drop her off at the front office and she would cry, scream, and refuse to come to the room until after math finished. In September when we began using Reflex, she knew exactly 1 multiplication math fact. Using Reflex daily, she began experiencing success in a fun nonthreatening way. As she began to learn her basic multiplication and division facts, her math confidence began to grow. By December, she had achieved a 92% fluency rate for multiplication and division. She is no longer refusing to come to school. As a matter of fact, she now says math is her favorite class.”
To keep her students “hooked” on Reflex after many had achieved 100% fluency in multiplication and division facts, Ms. Rose reset her class and began “an addition and subtraction challenge. The ‘race’ was on. Before winter break, all of the students had finished the initial assessment. Since December 1st, my class has achieved a 90% fluency in addition/subtraction facts. Over 80% of my students have achieved 100% fluency. When students achieve 100% fluency, they get their name on the fluency wall, and receive a mathemagician reward bracelet.”
Ms. Rose really likes the individual progress reports in Reflex. “I have used the report at conference time to show parents their child’s growth since using the program. The individual pyramid is also a valuable tool when showing parents exact data of fluency. I have used this tool during Individualized Education Plans, to establish remediation plans for Response to Intervention planning, and to chart growth and understanding. Parents have commented on how much their child enjoys working with Reflex. They enjoy the fact that it has a limit on time, and gives their child the right amount of practice keeping their child engaged, yet still challenged.”
She says, “throughout my 30 years in education, I have experienced many different changes in education. I am a firm believer that a child can achieve if they have the right support, tools, and attitude. When a child begins to believe they can do math, anything is possible. My job is to encourage and celebrate success no matter how small, and help all students recognize the patterns in everyday math around us.”
Ms. Rose adds, “Since my students have been using Reflex, they love math. Because they now know their math facts, they can stop struggling to remember facts and focus on the learning process. Without hesitation, I would recommend Reflex to any educator who has students struggling with basic math facts. I would also recommend it to all teachers in grades 2-5 as a tool for reinforcing basic skills necessary for foundational growth and understanding of mathematics.”
Rebecca L. Rose is a 4th grade teacher and math specialist at Las Sendas Elementary in Mesa Public Schools, Arizona. She has worked in education for 30 years. She served as a high school principal for 10 years before returning to the classroom. She has taught math at all grade levels in Japan, New Zealand, Hawaii, California, and Arizona.