A New Approach to Math
- Michelle Drake
- Mar 7, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 8, 2022
With a passion for Christian education and for teaching, Mrs. Nifong has been a great addition to our middle school team this year! Mrs. Nifong has been active in Christian education for close to 30 years, serving as an English teacher, Math teacher, Librarian, and elementary school teacher. She joined the Salem family in August, teaching middle school Math.
Mrs. Nifong has enjoyed getting to know our students this year as she teaches them math. To help our middle school students succeed in Math, she has implemented new routines in her classroom. She has incorporated a learning program named IXL into her Math classes. This program provides additional practice, reinforcement, and enrichment by tailoring assignments to individual students and providing teachers with real-time data for how well students understand the material.
Our middle school Math classes are also using small groups, with station rotations. This approach gives students more individualized attention and direct instruction. According to Mrs. Nifong, using groups has given her more one-on-one time with students and improved the overall classroom dynamic. Additionally, Mrs. Nifong offers 30 minutes of free Math tutoring for her students after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Our middle school faculty have created a dynamic learning environment for our students this year, and have united as a team to best reach our students. We are thankful for their dedication and how they model our theme to “build each other up”. When asked what she has most enjoyed about Salem this year, Mrs. Nifong had a long list. She loves her coworkers and the uplifting atmosphere at Salem, getting to know the students, and the support of Campus Ministries. “Salem is doing so many things well, especially with the spiritual focus and using a biblical worldview.” (Mrs. Nifong).
We approach all subjects through the lens of God’s Word, and Math is no different. Math is taught from the perspective that God in His creation defined absolutes. In learning these absolutes, students acquire a greater appreciation for God and His design and a solid foundation in math for their future endeavors. The principles that Mrs. Nifong teaches show students the biblical truth that God is a God of order and rationality, not chaos or chance.
"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." - Romans 1:20.
It's fantastic to hear how Mrs. Nifong's implementation of small groups and station rotations is providing more individualized attention and improving classroom dynamics. This hands-on, differentiated approach is truly effective, especially in middle school where foundational understanding is so critical. When students are getting that individualized attention, it's the perfect opportunity to reinforce fundamental skills that build confidence for more complex topics. For instance, having accessible printable multiplication charts for practice can significantly aid students in solidifying those essential building blocks.
If you're searching for an interactive multiplication table to help your child practice, online tools offer some great options. Instead of just static charts, these can include features like highlighting rows and columns, fill-in-the-blank exercises, or even multiplication games. This active engagement can make learning times tables much more effective and less monotonous. It’s a great way to reinforce classroom learning at home and help kids build confidence in their math abilities through playful interaction and immediate feedback.
Using fun multiplication games and online tools can transform the way kids learn their times tables. Instead of rote memorization from a book, interactive charts, printable resources, and engaging games make the process more enjoyable and effective. These resources often provide immediate feedback and allow kids to practice at their own pace. Access to free math resources like these means parents and educators can easily supplement traditional teaching methods and help children build a solid, confident understanding of multiplication in a way that feels less like work and more like play.