Parents help Millbrook Elem. students learn science, math

Third-grader Jacki Gresham had a review on Millbrook Elementary School's parent-run "stations" from last Friday:

"I liked it when we talked about pumpkins," she said Friday. "We get to roll the dice and have fun and get candy. I'm learning a lot about science and stuff."

Each quarter the third-grade teachers provide rotating activity stations, all of them run by parent-volunteers. The latest session focused on science and math.

Teacher Laura Christenbury said the activities included a game that provided numbers' place-value skills. The kids got to shoot the dice, write numbers in proper place and compare them to determine who had the largest number.

The students also did graphic organizing, comparing corn to candy corn and writing down the attributes where the two food items are alike and different. Other activities concentrated on problem-solving, probability and directions, observation skills using leaves and making predictions in "The Great Pumpkin Caper."

That last activity "was about working on measurement," said Christenbury. "Some of our kids struggle with that. We asked them to make predictions with pumpkins on their circumference, height and weight."

Parent Rose Schroeder, mother of Sam, enjoys visiting the school for volunteer efforts. All of the kids feel a little more important when parents show up for events that are special to them, she said.

"It's great for me to know what's going on with them, so I can talk to them about it," Schroeder said.

Another teacher, Sunny Forker, spent nine years as a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher before moving to third grade this year, which she describes as the most pivotal year in elementary school. The state standards are far more rigorous than second grade, and students must move from concrete and pictorial learning to the abstract.

"Working corroboratively with parents is key in creating a supportive learning environment for our students, where they can find success in meaningful hands-on, manipulative activities," Forker said via e-mail. "'The Great Pumpkin Caper' is a perfect example of putting research-based theory into practice. And, besides, it's fun for all."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.