Greenville Elementary is filled with third and fourth graders saying catchy phrases to assist them in remembering multiplication (times) facts. For example, walking down the hallway, you may hear “To drive a 4x4 you have to be 16, or 7 in a row, 7 in a line, the answer must be 49.” Mrs. Barga, Mrs. Britsch, Mrs. Borders, Mrs. Duncan, Mrs. Walling, and Mr. Westfall are in the process of ensuring all third and fourth graders know the multiplication facts through 10. State testing does not permit students to use a multiplication chart so having the facts memorized allows students to feel more confident when solving mathematical problems. Students are practicing multiplication facts at home, during inside recess, and at Empowering Darke County Youth (an afterschool tutoring program). Parents may want to investigate two of the more popular on-line programs that assist in mastering multiplication facts- Gynzy and XtraMath. Both programs have free trials to utilize at home.
Once students have mastered the facts, their teacher notifies the principal. Students then visit the office and are “quizzed” with flash cards. Successful students receive a t-shirt imprinted with the slogan, “I’ve had the TIMES of my life in third and fourth grade at Greenville Elementary School” to commemorate this special achievement in their mathematical learning. Mrs. Duncan and Mrs. Holm’s homeroom classes have taken the honor of having the first students to have facts memorized. In Mrs. Duncan’s room, Landen Bryant, Tucker Cox, Brooklyn Crampton, Cael Cromwell, Mielah Garber, Brenden Goewert, Travis Hines, Alia Hunt, Lindsey Hoff, Tessa Leensvaart, Cole Marshall, Dev Valera, Caitlyn Warner, and Julia Yohey earned t-shirts for their efforts in learning the facts. Aubrey Baumgardener, Allison Bolin, Avery Brown, Braylon Byers, Braydon Comer, Haven Marker, Maria Schmitmeyer, Clyde Slayback, Audrey Swiger, and Landen Unger in Mrs. Holm’s room are also having the “times” of their lives as they successfully know their multiplication facts.
Article written by Kitty Davis, Greenville Elementary Principal