Counting Their Chickens

Math challenge keeps students from 'flying the coop'

They say "Don't count your chickens..." However, Mrs. Mary Anderson has found that encouraging her 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to add up their chickens is actually a perfect way to motivate them in math class.

While in her first year at Ursuline fourteen years ago, Mrs. Anderson recognized that many of her young pupils were not showing great enthusiasm in class, as math facts and figures can often be intimidating for young minds. "I had a particular ninth grade class at the time who I felt were unmotivated by the material," she said, "I asked them for ideas of ways to get them excited about learning number facts...they asked to do something fun!"

Mrs. Anderson quickly realized that incorporating a friendly challenge during class might offer the students an opportunity to see their progress beyond her grade book. "One student told me about an elementary school game called 'Chickens,' so we designed a grid and gave everyone a velcro chicken. If the student answers a math equation or word problem correctly, they move their chicken along the grid." These days, if a student answers enough questions correctly and gets her initials to the last square, she is awarded a "Chicken," which relates to one extra quiz point.

"Kids love games, and many will turn just about any activity into a contest, or in other words, something to get good at," educational writer Richard Rusczyk says on his "Art of Problem Solving" blog. "Math contests thus inspire them to become good at mathematics just like sports encourage physical fitness. Eventually, students put aside the games. By then, hopefully an interest in the underlying activity has developed."

While some researches argue that competition in the classroom causes undue stress, Mrs. Anderson has designed her chicken game to accommodate all learning styles. "I try to see that everyone gets one by the end of the year...every student in every class has enjoyed it so far," she says, smiling. She believes that the proof of the game's success is not reflected on the students' report cards, but rather in the excitement they feel when they win their first chicken.

"The game helps you to try harder in class, and then you end up doing better on the tests," says seventh grader Jenny Weston, as she points to her initials on the board. "The competition part is fun, because when you see that someone else is about win, you try even harder to do your best."

_____________________________

That's a wrap!

Michaela Chipman (Gr.8) and I headed to Kiss 108 to record a spot for Ursuline Academy's upcoming Open House on October 24. As you can see, we were excited to meet DJ Romeo, who is a favorite on Kiss. Click here to listen to the spot!