Below is our interview with Maggie Hershey-Mason – an elementary school teacher and a long-time user of our program! Maggie teachers at Davidson Elementary School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, located in Davidson, NC.
I have been a teacher for 12 years. I have taught mostly 2nd and 3rd grade, and one year of 1st grade, at Davidson Elementary School.
I learned about Math & Movement in 2012 when I was writing a curriculum unit titled, “Move, Play and Read Through Algebra in First Grade” as a member of the Charlotte Teacher’s Institute. I was researching information online for the unit and came across Math & Movement.
I have been using Math & Movement in the classroom since 2012. I also plan and facilitate Math & Movement summer camps for student sin our area through the local Parks and Recreation Department.
I’ve seen many positive changes and results in students when using Math & Movement.
First, this program allows students who are uncomfortable with math, or who have not typically been successful through traditional teaching methods, feel more confident and less stressed as they move and enjoy the visual and kinesthetic materials.
Second, students are more collaborative and engaged in academic conversations with one another. They use the large numbers and appealing materials to initiate talking points about number patterns, problem solving strategies, to prove their conjectures, and to teach one another.
Third, they are more engaged mentally because they are moving during class. Their brain is receiving more oxygen which helps improve learning and focus in class. In turn, students understand the foundational math concepts and number sense needed for future success in upper grades.
Last, I enjoy seeing the excitement and curiosity in my students when I roll out a new floor mat, or when they make their own connections or discover something mathematical while using the program.
My favorite floor mat is the Multiplication Hop Mat! I use it to teach multiplication, division, equivalent fractions, square numbers, prime numbers, composite numbers, properties of multiplication, factors and multiples, number patterns, doubling, and much more. However, I could probably list a bunch of reasons why I like all of the floor mats and wall banners.
This colorful mat is a fun way to show the times table, including numbers all the way from 1×1 to 10×10! Available in two sizes. 10×10 ft mats come in two parts and are held together by heavy-duty Velcro.
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