Math Night: Math Madness

Math Night at Diggs-Latham was an engaging night of learning for the whole family. Students and their families completed a “math madness bracket” as they played games, visited the book fair as well as had some fun with our mascot, Taz the Tiger.

Student volunteers from Reagan High School and Reynolds High School painted symbols of math, basketball, and tigers on our students faces in between games.

“Students were really excited about math night. As they played the games with their children, from Fraction Free Throws to a Human Game Board for Addition and Subtraction, students shared what they are learning in math with their families,” shared Principal, Dr. Cassandra Dobson. “Our daily focus is our students and their academic growth through rigorous, engaging lessons. Math night was an example of just that.”

Annually, Diggs-Latham holds curriculum nights that invite parents to visit the school and discuss curriculum with the teachers. This year, the Instructional Leadership Team focused on engagement and rigor to plan evenings that would be enjoyable while academically focused for the whole family.

As families arrived to a lobby decorated with basketball accessories and our school colors, they signed in and received a “math madness bracket” that led them to games around the school. Points of interest on the map included the Book fair, grade level games, an activity with Specialists, and face painting.

“It’s that “basketball time of year,” explained Magnet Coordinator, Amanda Gordon, “and in our true A+ Schools/Magnet Schools style, we incorporated dressing in sports attire as well as interactive, fun activities that would keep our students and their families excited about learning.”

Grade levels and teams set up games and activities in the lobby, gym, on stage, and in the cafeteria. Students multiplied and divided while bowling. They reviewed time with a basketball competition. Other games, especially for younger students, reviewed addition facts with a “trashketball” activity. Another grade level created an estimation competition and a race to the finish with number sense.

Everyone who completed a “math madness bracket” entered a raffle to win miniature basketball hoops and sets of math card games.

“It was fun to see the number of kids that came out and how excited they were to play the games,” explained Assistant Principal, Ms. Traci Latta. “I enjoyed watching the students actively engaged in an academic activity and often not realizing what they were doing. They realized that math can be fun.”

Fourth grader, Alfredo said, “Math Night was so much fun. I liked the book fair and the grade level games. I was surprised that we were playing so many games and still doing math, especially bowling. I can’t wait for the next math night.”