‘Go Math!’ Program Still A Go For Ohio County Schools

WHEELING - The "Go Math!" program put forth to elementary students by Ohio County Schools has been deemed successful, and the school district is going to continue it for another five years.

Board of education members this week approved the continuation of "Go Math!," a program for students in grades K-6, as it considered the adoption of math textbooks and online resources this week.

There were even hints during this week's meeting that standardized test scores in math for Ohio County Schools may have improved this year.

"I'm told we’re going to be happy with the math scores this year," board member Erik Schramm said.

Saunders reminded the board the scores are presently embargoed and won't be released until fall.

"We are happy with them this year, and next year we'll be even more happy," Saunders replied.

Raquel McLeod, director of student services, spoke of the decision to continue with "Go Math!" in Ohio County.

"They have worked with us for our concerns and anything we wanted to improve. And as of this time they've done everything we've asked," she said.

"We can't release scores, but we're pretty proud of where we are and what we're doing.... I had to put away the confetti. But we're seeing great gains, and we're going to continue with the series we are working with."

The "Go Math!" program implements what its parent company HMH calls the "5E" instructional model - engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate. It focuses on students constructing knowledge from experiences.

Woodsdale Elementary School math teacher Brandy LaFlam, a member of the math textbook adoption committee, further explained the decision to continue with "Go Math!".

"I am a 'Go Math!' cheerleader," LaFlam said. "I believe if you teach it with vitality, it will show you the results you want to see."

Initially, teachers in the younger grades were afraid to use "Go Math!". Then the COVID-19 pandemic came, and they had no choice, according to LaFlam.

"They had to use the online components, dive in and really get to know it and teach it well," she explained. "We noticed the (teachers in) younger grades started to teach it with vitality. Then guess what? When we tried with vitality our scores soared."

She noted the online platform for "Go Math!" was "very friendly" to students and teachers. The learning of skills through repetition is an important part of the component and serves as an added tool for teachers.

"We have a tool belt. And we are going to use the tools given to us if they help us," LaFlam explained. "But if they don't help us, we're going to drop them."

The series has the ability to be adaptable to each student, she said.

"A lot of kids - even if they are not super great in math - enjoy it ("Go Math!")," LaFlam continued. "I'm excited we're keeping it, and I think you'll be excited about the math scores. I know I was."

Board president Andy Garber shared a story of his own granddaughter, who has been a student in LaFlam's math class.

"I was the designated math tutor for my granddaughter. She has a difficult time with math," he said. "She was a student in Ms. LaFlam's math class. Not only did Ms. LaFlam and the 'Go Math!' series help my granddaughter, it helped her to have a love of math.

"Not only is she performing better, but she enjoyed it. That is the key component in learning. When you are doing something you enjoy, obviously it is going to boost your want to do better and learn."