World Math Day Multiplies Fun
If anyone doesn't believe that young people can get excited about school and learning they should seriously reconsider. Woodhull Intermediate School's World Math Day observance showed what an effective spark can ignite.
Woodhull students competed live against their peers from across the country and world in real-time arithmetic battles via computer. Competitors logged on from Brazil, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Kuwait, Cayman Islands, South Africa, Pakistan, France, Croatia, Mexico, Romania and dozens of other countries.
Math teachers Colleen Mahoney and Christine Barresi spearheaded Woodhull's participation in the massive event. The teachers organized practice rounds in the period leading up to the worldwide battle.
"From the students' practice score results, the top students were chosen to participate during the school day," Mrs. Mahoney explained. "All other students were encouraged to participate outside of the school day.
The top Woodhull students were chosen from three categories; the most correctly answered problems, the most problems answered in a 60-second game and the top "improvers." The practice rounds narrowed the field of Woodhull's participants to 23.
Woodhull fifth graders invited to participate included Timothy Earle, Sebastian Stamatatos, Jose Herrera, Ethan Garcia, Eleana Canas-Rivas, Nicholas Earle, Sana Aiman, Anthony Christy and Nolan Piccola.
Sixth grade participants included David Sonin, Tory Armstrong, Dominic Cataldo, Zaivar Butts, William Newtown, Ashleigh Katigbak, Justin Knowles, Gabriella Bartley, Edgar Guervara, Rachel Roday, Douglas Villalta-Vilorio, Amanda Loscalzo, Donald Stewart and Alexandra Haughwout.
As the 23 students reported to compete during first and second periods, sixth graders Matthew Montefusco and Keegan Dunne were on hand to monitor worldwide participation and place thumb tacks on a map indicating the students' countries of origin.
"During those two periods, we connected with students from 64 countries,"
Mrs. Mahoney said. "We had some great conversations about time zones and geography!"
Woodhull's final results included:
Most problems answered correctly in a 60-second game…
- 1st place: Douglas Villalta-Vilorio 65 correct answers per minute (faster than 1 per second!)
- 2nd place: Justin Knowles with 53 correct answers per minute.
- 3rd place: Anthony Christy with 52 correct answers per minute.
Most total correct answers:
- 1st place: Gabriella Bartley answered a total of 3,905 math problems correctly.
- 2nd place: Rachel Roday answered a total of 3,008 math problems correctly.
- 3rd place: Nicholas Earle answered a total of 2,918 math problems correctly.