Local News

Adding sports to math class equals big win

ELKINS -- Shouting "Go Senators" and munching on popcorn, students from North Elementary School were treated to a basketball game at Davis & Elkins College Friday afternoon.

The outing was more than just a special trip outside the school, however, as it was a way for the youngsters to see math in action as part of a pilot project between the college and the elementary school. Called "It All Adds Up," the project is a spinoff of an initiative by the NCAA that encourages student-athlete community involvement.

"This is something they can really get excited about," said D&E Athletic Director Jamie Joss about the fourth- and fifth-grade students.

"Any time you can blend education with something like this, it's a win-win."

Joss said students have worked in groups to study players' box scores and convert numbers into percentages. Then, as a math celebration, they got to see the women's team in action as they took on Salem International University at D&E's McDonnell Center. During the game's halftime, the students each got to meet members of the men's basketball team, and they received team photos of both the men's and women's teams to be autographed.

He said he heard the kids all talking about different players that they recognized from the project, especially the leading scorers. Joss noted that for many, this was their first type of sporting event out in the community.

Fourth-grader Kayden Maddy called Friday's trip "a really extraordinary experience" because they got to see the basketball game during school hours and meet the players.

Other fourth-graders agreed this math project was better than anything else they learned in class.

Tyler Arbogast called it "awesome."

Rhyleiegh Arbogast said it was "cool."

Madison Taylor said, "It's fun solving all the problems."

Paige Poe added, "It's really fun because we got to work as a group on the multiplication."

North Elementary School Principal Cynthia Bodkin, a longtime educator as well as an avid basketball fan, said the project helps the students see how math can be applied outside the classroom. Plus, it's exciting for them to see the players in person.

Bodkin was leading the group in cheering loudly for the women's team, and encouraging them to watch for free throws and rebounds.

"I don't think some of (the students) understand a lot about basketball, but to actually be here and see it -- that helps them," she said.

Fifth-grader Alanta Davis said she learned about total points, free throws attempted and made, fouls, turnovers and rebounds, along with other aspects of the game.

"I've actually learned a lot. I like to play basketball, but I never knew about the offense and defense," Davis said. "I didn't really understand the rules. I know how to play better now."

She noted doing the multiplication work was fun, and they even discovered a few mistakes.

In addition to Bodkin, the students were accompanied by math teachers Lorrie Demotto and Audrey Fulmer and other NES teachers.

The college supplied T-shirts, popcorn and bottled water, as well as two tickets for each child to any future sporting event of their choice. Since children ages 13 and under have free admission, the children can bring two adults.

Joss said he hopes all the elementary schools will take part in "It All Adds Up" in coming years, especially since the children enjoy it so much and it's part of the college's goal to reach out to the community.

D&E student athletes have racked up about 1,500 community service hours this semester, he added, and volunteering is part of D&E's new mission statement -- "Developing excellence through education, engagement, character, and competition."