On Thursday, May 23, students gathered in the library for a special celebration. Certain pupils from Mrs. Drenda Brown’s second-grade math classes volunteered their time all school year, serving as “Math Mentors.” Those students were given recognition and a special surprise lunch from Chick-Fil-A, as well as a fine medal engraved with “Student Math Mentor 2018-19.”
Ms. Toni Fisher, the campus director, also attended the luncheon and applauded students and teachers alike for their hard work and dedication.
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Mrs. Brown began utilizing students who had proven mastery of a given topic to help other students who were struggling with the same topic early in the school year. When asked, “What does a math mentor do?” one student mentor, age 7, responded, “Mentors help other students. We have good behavior, good grades and make the right choices. We help them solve a problem if they don’t know it by giving them clues.”
Another mentor added, “We would help them get their supplies. We helped them use their strategies. We helped them, but we were not allowed to tell them the answer.”
Plan is to expand program to all grade levels
"Most students can learn to compute easily," Mrs. Brown said. "However, student math mentors must be able to explain their work using the correct academic vocabulary, and consistently demonstrate an ability to be patient and empathetic toward another classmate. I am developing academic leaders here."
As a veteran teacher, Mrs. Brown is no stranger to implementing such effective pedagogical methods. Ms. Fisher added that she wants this group of student mentors to serve as the founding members of a larger, broader student mentorship program at Varnett Northeast. She hopes to expand the program to include all grade levels and all subject areas. By implementing this kind of proactive teaching strategy, Mrs. Brown serves as an excellent example and a mentor teacher to her colleagues.
Congratulations to all who were involved! They continue to exemplify Varnett Excellence.