Math & Super Bowl are a winning combination
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer

ERIC SUCAR staff Ardena School, Howell, second-grader Carlee Daniel (r) gets some help from her father, Charlie, as she ponders a question during the Super Bowl Math Challenge held Feb. 1. For story, see page 6.

HOWELL - Teachers at the oldest school in Howell have come up with a new way to reinforce the math curriculum.

Several Ardena School teachers recently combined the idea of mathematics and football in order to create a trivia game they called Super Bowl Math. In an effort to connect classroom lessons to real life, the teachers found a unique method of combining current affairs with good old fashioned arithmetic.

The National Football League's Super Bowl was played in Arizona on Feb. 3 and saw the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots, 17-14, to end the Patriots' bid for a perfect 19-0 season.

According to second grade teacher Carly Bruno, the exercise "enhances the math curriculum and encourages active participation."

In addition to football and math, the second-graders received help from special people. Fathers, grandfathers and uncles were invited to help the children calculate the problems and to serve as cheerleaders.

Bruno, who worked with her fellow second grade teachers Rebecca Intrabartolo and Renee Schmetz to bring this event to students for the second consecutive year, said, "This event gave the fathers an opportunity to see their students in action."

Schmetz said, "The nicest part of this event is the dads come in and get involved. This was an event that everyone was interested in and I have definitely seen growth in the students' math skills. Any time you bring math and home together it reinforces the subject mater. Super Bowl Math combines home and school in a realistic fashion."

Intrabartolo said, "It is great to see the dads here. Usually the moms are more available, but it is nice to have the guys take part."

Student teacher Dawn Levine was involved in planning the activity. She said Super Bowl Math "made learning fun and that was the key component to holding the children's interest."

Ardena School Principal Deborah Pennell said the event put the "conversation about math into the context of real life. By targeting dads, the students are able to see that their dads, grandfathers, uncles and any other male figures in their lives see school as important. It reinforces education."

About 65 second-graders and their male role models participated in the competition.

Questions such as "If Eli Manning throws a 32-yard pass, how many feet are in 32 yards?" were asked. With the assistance of their teammate, the students responded to the question.

The winning team received a Super Bowl basket that included a football, pom poms, a football calculator and popcorn.

A.J. Calabro, 8, whose favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, said he loves football and he loves math. During the trivia game A.J.'s grandfather helped him with the questions. The two football fanatics were planning to watch the Super Bowl together.