More than
100 elementary and middle school students in the Red Clay
Consolidated School District gave up Saturday morning cartoons and
sleep to solve math problems.
And they were rewarded for their efforts.
The students took part in the first Numerix Bee, a Web-based math
contest at Conrad Middle School that challenged third- through
eighth-graders to work problems in a timed setting. The Numerix
computer program offers a solution and several mathematical symbols
to a problem and asks students to reach that solution using
addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.
The program is set up for varying levels of difficulty, depending
on grade level. Numerix creators Sakthi and Kamatchi Vel of
Hockessin said they hope to spread the Numerix Bee nationwide.
The Vels have been working with the Red Clay district for the
last three years to implement the Numerix program. Kamatchi Vel said
the development of the interactive math program was guided by input
from Red Clay parents, teachers and students.
The Vels helped coordinate the start and finish of each timed
five-minute contest in classrooms Saturday at Conrad. Students also
had a chance to go online from their homes and compete against each
other. Students competed for first-, second- and third-place
trophies at each grade level.
Dominique Powell, 8, a third-grader at Shortlidge Academy, said
the competition was challenging.
"It was fun," she said after finishing a game. "I think I did
pretty good."
Barak Jabali-Jolly, 14, an eighth-grader at Conrad, said the
program tested his ability to solve math problems under pressure.
"You see the time go down as you're doing the problem, and it
makes you nervous," Jabali-Jolly said.
The Numerix program, which was introduced to all elementary and
middle schools in the district last fall, gives teachers an extra
tool.
"It is excellent at developing mental math skills," said Mike
Ruth, a sixth-grade teacher at Skyline Middle School.
Ruth said he even gets students to come after school to use the
program.
"Kids are playing the game on their free time, just for fun," he
said.
Reach Murali Balaji at 324-2553 or mailto:mbalaji@delawareonline.com
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