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Wissahickon middle schoolers and teachers demonstrate small-group math work and MathCounts success
Summary
Teachers and students from Wissahickon Middle School presented classroom strategies — including differentiated instruction and vertical nonpermanent workspaces — and MathCounts students described club routines and recent regional competition performance.
Wissahickon Middle School teachers and students presented samples of in-class math strategies and student-run competition work to the Wissahickon School Board on Feb. 24, describing how small-group instruction and hands-on problem solving are used to deepen understanding.
The presentation featured Helen Lee, the math department chair and an eighth-grade teacher, who framed the department’s emphasis on differentiated instruction, and Karen Dungan, math specialist, who described professional development around Building Thinking Classrooms and the use of vertical nonpermanent workspaces to support group problem solving. "Using vertical thinking space allows students to collaborate, move around, stay engaged, take ownership, and deepen understanding," student Lizzie Hossa said during a classroom demonstration.
The nut graf: Board members heard both instructional rationale and student reflections, and also a report from the school’s MathCounts coach about competitive outcomes — information the board said highlights how classroom practices link to extracurricular math achievement.
Teachers described specific classroom practices. Lee said the math department has pursued ongoing professional development in differentiated instruction; Dungan and teacher Minh Felix described use of vertical whiteboards and mixed-ability groupings so students can try multiple solution methods and erase and correct work in real time. Students described small-group activities such as a “round the room” station exercise and a three-column worksheet that lets learners choose difficulty levels. "Working in a small group for me, it helps me a lot because it's slower paced and helps me improve my progress and understanding," student Fabrice Sam said.
Coach Troy Decabach summarized the MathCounts program structure: fall club meetings that identify contestants, weekly preparation for chapter competitions, and an intensive practice period before regionals. He recognized eight students who competed at the regional contest and named Gavin Bishop as a student headed to the state competition in Harrisburg next month. Seventh-grade student Maya Chang described club projects that qualify a team for "Gold Level" recognition; the student presentation said the school has earned that Gold Level status in Pennsylvania for multiple consecutive years.
Board members asked a few follow-ups about classroom activities and praised teachers and students. Several trustees noted the value of seeing both instructional strategies and student outcomes in the same presentation.
The presentation closed with board appreciation for the teachers, the MathCounts coach and the students who spoke and demonstrated activities.
