Mighty Mathematicians

Students at Hometown Elementary School are adding up the fun thanks to our Monthly Math Challenge, a program designed by our MSTs (Math Support Teachers) Mrs. Finnegan and Mrs. Malone.  Each month, the MSTs present a unique challenge aimed at sharpening problem-solving skills and encouraging a love for math. The program has already gained widespread support from students, parents, and teachers alike.  "The idea behind the Monthly Math Challenge is to make math more engaging and enjoyable," said Mrs. Malone, one of the organizers of the challenge. "We wanted to give students a chance to work on different math skills at home with their families."  The challenges are designed to engage all learners of different skill levels, ensuring that every student can participate and feel accomplished. Past problems have included simple puzzles for younger grades, like solving basic addition and subtraction riddles, as well as more complex logic games and word problems for the older grades.  “We are focusing on critical thinking and creativity,” Ms. Finnegan explained. “We want students to think outside the box and find different ways to approach problems.”  The challenges are open to all grade levels and each month all students can participate. For each challenge, they are given math money that they can use to purchase items from the math shop.  "We’ve seen a lot of participation,” said Mrs. Finnegan. “It’s great to see how excited the students are to solve problems and work with their families. It is amazing to see these kids learning and growing together.”