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Goal

To increase mathematical fluency across grade levels while having a good time. 

What will be done with my students

Mental math, being able to think of math facts quickly and accurately, is an essential skill for every student, person for that matter. There has a been a steady decline with students being able to recall math facts that hinders their ability to work efficiently and effectively. Many errors made in math are not due to students not understanding the process, but because they make mistakes with their math facts. Our school recognized the importance of this and decided to ban together, and not just the math department.
An initiative that we started last year and would like to continue, while also stepping it up, is Math Facts Friday. Every week, faculty and staff worked as a team to promote the importance of mental math by asking students math facts in the morning before school, while they transitioned to classes, during lunch and any other time it was possible. Each time the students got the math fact correct, they were given a special coupon to enter in to a monthly drawing. Two students from each grade level, including our MC classes, got a chance to spin the 'Wheel of Fun' for a prize.
In addition to the coupons given out individually, this year we would like to add a new component to Math Facts Friday where grade levels compete. Students will have the opportunity to show what they know by taking a quick fluency test during lunch or before school (not just on Friday's). Each student who gets the answers correct in the allotted time (accommodations are taken into consideration for this), will earn a point for their grade level. We will post the ongoing results in the cafeteria for all to see. The grade level with the most points at the end of each quarter will win a grade level reward, contingent upon funding for this grant.
Math Facts Friday, both the coupons and grade level competition, is something that we would like to start as soon as possible and continue until state testing in May. 

Benefits to my students

The best part about this initiative is that the entire school participates. All teachers and staff are given coupons and a set of math facts (in case they need a little help). Every time a student answers a math fact correctly they are given a coupon that has the teacher or staff members name on it. When the student turns it in for the drawing they are also submitting the names of the teachers/staff who participated. Not only do the students get a chance to spin the WHEEL OF FUN, but so do two lucky teachers and/or staff (and the prizes for the them are catered to adults). The more everyone participates, the better the chance they can win.
The expected outcomes are: community within the school, showing our students that EVERYONE cares about their education, that EVERYONE cares about their success, not just individual teachers based on what they teach, fluency with mental math which translates into the math classroom and real life.
Last year, students would swarm around faculty and staff to get a chance to do a math fact and earn a coupon. Doing math was fun! Friday became a day everyone looked forward to for many reasons, we would like to continue this tradition. 

Budget Narrative

Colored paper is needed for the math fact coupons and for the fluency tests.
Monthly prizes for both students and staff/faculty will vary in price. The more exciting the prizes, the more people will participate.
The vinyl dots will be used to display the status of the grade level fluency competition in the cafeteria. The dots will be a good visual for students to keep track of points for each grade level, and hopefully this will also motivate students to participate. 

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