By THOMAS LUCKIE III

OGDENSBURG -- The Ogdensburg City School District will host Math & Movement Family Fun Nights in the gymnasiums of John F. Kennedy and Grant C. Madill Elementary Schools next week.

The Madill event will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, while the Kennedy event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Math & Movement is a nationally recognized program based out of Ithaca developed for pre-schoolers through third graders. The program seeks to harness the natural kinesthetic learning style of children to foster positive feelings towards their approaches to learning math as well as reading.

During the Family Fun Night, children and their guardians will move from station to station, learning the math activities while completing a Math & Movement activity guide. Activities will include specially designed floor mats and banners that enable students to hop, walk, crawl or dance their way through math and reading concepts. Older students will provide guidance at the stations with the goal of further increasing their own math skills through helping younger students.

The program is based on research that shows that moving during learning increases muscle memory, which can be an important factor with younger children whose abstract thinking skills are not fully developed.

Math & Movement was founded by educational consultant, actuary, math teacher and author Suzy Koontz.

More information: www.mathandmovement.com.