First In Math News & Notes

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Ingenuity, Teamwork and Dedication Help
New Jersey School Claim the Top Spot

TRENTON, NJÑFifth-grade team "isotope6NJ" from Parker Annex Elementary School in Trenton astonished many when they grabbed the top spot in the First In Math¨ Online Program during the second week of the new year. The team is ranked #1 nationally among all grades, and currently holds a slim lead over #2 team "cabinet2PA" from Philadelphia's Pollock Elementary.

Number One Team "isotope6NJ" from Parker Annex School in Trenton.

"Their level of success is astounding, especially when you consider that the team didn't start playing until late OctoberÑmany schools begin in August," says FIM National Director Mark Losey. The Mercer County school received three teams through the Trenton Board of Education in the Fall of 2006, and have maintained 100% participation ever since. "With the commitment of our Team LeadersÑMr. Butler, Mrs. Cook and Mr. Alverado, and to First In Math, the Parker Annex fifth grade students have become proficient in mathematics. I am so proud that many students have used their evenings to commit to this mathematics program," says Vice Principal Deborah Giddens-Green.

"This is our first year in the program, but some of our students are among the highest scoring students in New Jersey!" exclaims fifth-grade teacher and "isotope6NJ" Team Leader Ed Butler. "This is not the case of a team where one player is out there with 20,000 stickersÑALL students are doing well on our teams, and I am so proud of them," adds Butler. Aside from the thrill of being the top team in the nation, Butler says he sees big improvements in his students' math skills. "They definitely are better at relationships with numbers after using FIM, and they all of a sudden realize, 'hey, I CAN do this'."

Parker Annex teams "ember31NJ" (top photo) and "music22NJ" are currently ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in New Jersey.

"When we began the program, the students and I had a meeting, and they decided to come up with a plan as to where they could play in addition to their limited time at school," says Butler. "These are motivated students with caring parents, but the reality is that we are located in an inner-city neighborhood, and none of them have computers at home. The kids went home that Friday night, and when we met on Monday, they had all of these great ideas!" says Butler. "Now our students play at Trenton Recreation Department Centers, at the Boy's and Girls' Clubs of Mercer CountyÑwherever they can." The team worked up schedules for Monday through Friday, weekend and holiday hours. Sometimes parents take groups of students; sometimes Butler drives them himself. "We realized early-on from studying other teams that we could catch up by continuing to hit the site hard when they took time off, such as holidays," says Butler. "Our theory paid off, because over the November Thanksgiving vacation, Parker Annex teams posted more than 8,000 stickers!"

"Once we started earning stickers like crazy, they kids were so excited. At that point, we all made the decision to take it really seriously," explains Bultler. The team set goalsÑfirst to be #1 in the school. Then to be #1 in the district. Then to be the #1 5th-grade team in New Jersey, then #1 for ALL grades. "You get the picture," smiles Butler. "We kept on setting goalsÑright up until we were aiming for #1 ALL GRADES in the entire nation!"

Players sometimes discuss strategy for scoring the maximum number of stickers on games such as "Ten Wheels."

"We keep our eye on the other top schools, Like Northmont in California and Pollock in PhiladelphiaÑit helps keep us on our toes," says Butler. Team Leaders at Parker Annex also constantly recognize students for their achievement, whether it is a pizza party sponsored by a local fraternity house, prizes donated by local stores, or in-school awards handed out for 'Max Points' or the 'Daily Top 8 Scorers'. "I believe it is really important to offer recognition to the studentsÑit motivates them to achieve," says Giddens-Green. The school also held mid-year awards, and was featured on local radio station WIMG, where they were recognized for having the top three FIM teams in the state of New Jersey.

Robert Sun, creator of the First In Math program, will travel to the school in February for a special FIM Awards Ceremony.

Photos © 2007 Parker Annex

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