Puzzled about how to make math fun and exciting for K-5 learners? Need a free program that can be used in the classroom or move online at a moment’s notice?
Bedtime Math, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing upbeat instructional materials to schools, announced July 14 that it is offering Fun Factor for free to all New Jersey K-5 teachers for the 2020-2021 school year. Any New Jersey teacher can participate in free, live professional development online and receive a classroom’s worth of materials to enjoy with their students.
The math program aligns with New Jersey standards and features activities for students paired with online teacher training, co-developed by Columbia Teacher’s College.
“In this unprecedented time, we want to help teachers and students be ready for anything,” said Laura Overdeck, founder of Bedtime Math. “In response to the pandemic, we’ve retooled our hands-on math games to work for hybrid instruction, so any mix of students at home or in school can have equal access to effective learning. We’re proud to offer our home state these free resources to reengage our students and address the massive learning losses. No matter where our teachers and students are this fall, they can learn.”
Fun Factor activities are modeled after Bedtime Math’s popular Crazy 8s after-school club for elementary school-age kids. Games like the fraction adventure Face-Off or the division-demystifying Divide and Conquer are aligned to K-5 standards, allowing teachers to serve a wide range of students’ achievement levels. Bedtime Math will lead free live training webinars multiple times each week, with each session featuring a new activity tapping common-sense, research-backed practices.
For more information about Fun Factor, or to speak to Bedtime Math founder Overdeck, contact Sandy LoPiccolo at (908) 444-4532 or sandy@bedtimemath.org. To register for the Fun Factor program, click here.