OGDENSBURG -- The Ogdensburg City School District hosted Math & Movement Family Fun Nights in the Grant C. Madill and John F. Kennedy Elementary gyms on the evenings of Tuesday, Jan. 10 and Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Math & Movement is a 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 toward their approaches to learning math as well as reading.

Activities include specially designed floor mats and banners that enable students to hop, walk, crawl or dance their way through math, reading and other concepts.

A two-day intensive Math & Movement training symposium for elementary teachers was also hosted at Ogdensburg Free Academy. Elementary math, special education, academic intervention services (AIS) and other teachers from Massena, Clifton-Fine and Edwards-Knox trained alongside teachers from the Ogdensburg district at the symposium.

A group of 22 students from Kennedy teacher Renee Tebo's third grade class also attended a segment of the symposium at OFA.

Kennedy kindergarten teacher Kira Hammond pointed out that the third grade students showed growth and progress immediately after participating in the activities.

Hammond special education teacher Chelsea Cota agreed that the consensus among teachers at the symposium was that the Math & Movement approach would benefit their students.

"We were all brainstorming how to get funding or how to make the materials," Cota said.

The Family Fun Nights and symposium were funded through grants from Dryden Mutual Insurance Company, Creating Healthy Schools and Communities in St. Lawrence County, and the St. Lawrence Health Initiative.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Technology Kevin Kendall said that the district hopes to write more grants for support and offer another Math & Movement program in the fall. Kendall also noted that the district acquired some permanent activity materials through purchasing the program and symposium.

Although the program began with a focus purely on math, activities currently also feature the planets of the solar system, United States geography and the Spanish names of numbers.

Ben Pratt, a parent who attended the event with his daughters, spoke highly of the program.

"I think it's really good. It helps the kids learn and it's something to do in Ogdensburg," Pratt said.

Kendall and Kennedy grades 3-6 principal Susan Jacobs expressed appreciation for the numerous OFA middle and high school students who volunteered to guide younger children through the activities.

"We've always been very lucky in this district to have older students volunteering," Jacobs said.

Jacobs said that secondary students often volunteer at events throughout the school year, including a bingo night, sleigh ride, the Great Pumpkin Read-in and the upcoming Sled for Red sledding event at the St. Lawrence State Park Winter Recreation Area on Saturday, Feb. 12.

Student volunteers at the event were members of the OFA National Honor Society and Key Club.

Math & Movement consultant Ronica Lawrence, who is also an AIS teacher at Heuvelton Central School, emphasized the importance of parents learning along with their children.

"The parents also learn while they're here. It helps alleviate that common core stressor and reduces anxiety," Lawrence said.

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

More information: www.mathandmovement.com.