For many fourth graders across the United States, proficiency in math remains a significant hurdle. However, a transformation in teaching strategies at a rural school in Wisconsin has led to a notable improvement in students’ math skills.
Revolutionizing Math Education in Wisconsin
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, only 39% of fourth graders nationwide are proficient in math. Winskill Elementary was once in line with this statistic. However, after overhauling its math teaching approach, the school now boasts nearly 80% of students performing at or above grade level. Corrinne Hess of Wisconsin Public Radio visited the school to uncover how this remarkable turnaround was achieved.
Interactive Learning in Action
On a typical Tuesday morning, fifth-grade teacher Missy Sperle engages her students with a practical math problem. “Does everybody know what a budget is?” she asks, prompting a real-world scenario where students calculate if teachers stayed within a $60 budget during a shopping and lunch trip.
As students delve into this exercise, they grapple with the concept of decimals, collaborating around towering whiteboards. The interactive setting encourages discussion and problem-solving, moving away from traditional worksheet-based learning.
The Shift in Teaching Philosophy
A decade ago, Sperle taught math through rote learning and memorization, a method she now feels was inadequate. “And then as I started learning more, I started realizing how there’s just better ways of doing things,” she reflects. Principal Brad Sturmer, who joined the school nearly ten years ago, notes that less than half of the students were proficient in math at that time, mirroring national trends.
Sturmer emphasizes, “The research will tell you that kids that struggle at mathematics after third grade are likely going to struggle in mathematics for the long haul.” Thus, he spearheaded a change in teaching methodology that focused on understanding the ‘why’ behind mathematical concepts rather than memorizing tricks.
A Simple Yet Effective Approach
By illustrating mathematical principles through practical examples—such as slicing a pizza to teach fractions or managing a budget to explain decimals—students achieve a deeper understanding of math. While this approach may be time-consuming, it has proven effective and could be implemented elsewhere, according to Sturmer, a former math teacher himself.
Collaborative Classrooms
In Sperle’s classroom, collaboration is key. “I do a lot of collaboration. The kids – I don’t do a lot of talking in my math class just because the kids learn so well from each other,” she says. This strategy is consistent across Winskill Elementary, where math teachers emphasize conceptual understanding from grade to grade, building a solid foundation for each student.
Sperle’s innovative teaching methods have earned her accolades, including being named a finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
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