All “Yays” in Math Club

BY SHANNON HOLBROOK

Mention “Math Club” at Sand Gap Elementary School and kids cheer. Students barrel down the hall toward the computer lab, eager for the start of their club time.

“It quickly became the place to be at the end of the day,” said Principal Barbara Masters. “Other students ask how they can “join” all the time,” added Kristin Baker, the school’s third and fourth grade teacher.

It’s a small club of six children from each third, fourth, and fifth grade class who must be invited to join by their teachers. Leading them is Emily Dumont, a community educator with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) and former Camp AJ volunteer and AmeriCorps member. Dumont holds degrees in mathematics and religious studies. When school is out, she and other CAP staff and volunteers host campers at Camp AJ. During the school year, Dumont’s primary assignment is down the road at McKee Elementary, but she also assists at Sand Gap when she is able.

She has a passion for math and serving others, and her philosophy is simple. “If they get it in their head that math is fun, then it will be fun,” Dumont said. Her job is to deliver the fun while incorporating strategies from their math classes.

According to Dumont, being part of her students’ lives is a critical factor in their success. “For me, the biggest part of my faith is about serving others,” she explained. “I believe that children need as many positive adult role models in their lives as possible.” The club meets once a week for 30 minutes per grade level. Dumont plays games like BINGO, Jeopardy, and homemade games to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom by Baker. “If they’re stuck on something, we can take a step back,” Dumont said.

“Students that needed a boost in mathematic but didn’t necessarily qualify for intervention services are selected to be part of the group,” according to Baker. Students like fifth grader Gracie Powell received an invite and now has been in the Math Club for one year. “It helps me be more prepared, and I like Miss Emily,” Powell said. “I wasn’t very good at division but now division is easy.”

Gracie’s mom, Beckie Powell, shared that Gracie struggled in math, making Cs and Ds and was discouraged. Now she’s earning all As and Bs and is excited to show her parents her graded tests.

“When she has homework, she will choose to do math first,” Powell’s mother stated. “She has so much more confidence in herself. Math Club has truly been a blessing for our family.”

It all started with an idea. In 2015, Principal Masters and the math teachers brainstormed ideas to help third through fifth grade students who scored below proficient on diagnostic assessments. They chose Dumont because she had a rapport with the students, knew the math strategies, and was available at the needed time. Most of all, they knew she would make it fun. Dumont, who at the time was in her first year as a CAP volunteer, said yes, and Math Club was born.

I love math, and I think math education is important, but I think the relationship building and confidence building that happens during Math Club is what is really important.

--EMILY DUMONT

Emily Dumont was selected by Sand Gap Elementary School Principal Barbara Masters to start a Math Club. Dumont’s love of math and rapport with the students made her the ideal person to create a program that makes math fun.

“The hope was that a little more practice and a little more small group time would help these students improve their understanding and therefore their test scores,” Dumont said.

The results have been outstanding. “The Math Club students have a phenomenal track record at meeting proficiency of the standards based on the end of the year testing,” Baker added. “They show some of the largest growth numbers on diagnostic testing throughout the year.”

Principal Masters agreed, “Overall, there was an increase in K-PREP math scores across the board at Sand Gap Elementary.” The increase from the 2017-2018 school year to the 2018-2019 school year was 13.79 percent.

Beyond the numbers, Dumont has seen her students grow. “What I have noticed is an increase in confidence,” she noted. “Many of them have the knowledge and the skills to do well, they just don’t believe in themselves enough and they are afraid of being incorrect. I love math, and I think math education is important, but I think the relationship building and confidence building that happens during Math Club is what is really important.”

Baker agreed, “Emily’s service work is such an asset to our school. She provides opportunities for our students that otherwise they would not have access to.”

Masters agreed. “Emily’s support is indispensable. We don’t hesitate to include Camp AJ in our initiatives like the Math Club. They help us to provide a high quality of instruction and help us to keep our culture positive, warm, and always in the best interest of our students, staff, and community. As an administrator, I can always rest in the knowledge that everything Camp AJ does with and for our Tigers is done well and with great expertise.”