What’s Right With Our Schools: Bearfacts test strengthens students’ math skills

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Learning math can be difficult for some students, but Monroe County has a district wide test to help strengthen those skills.

T.G. Scott Elementary wanted to come up with a way to strengthen students’ math skills.

“We wanted to come up with some way to motivate them and get them encouraged about facts testing,” says fourth grade teacher Charyl Woods.

The program is a county-wide test called Bearfacts, named after the school’s mascot, “bears”.  Students are given extra help in class. Then, they take a practice test.

“It starts off with adding and subtract and then it multiplication and then it’s division. And they have three minutes to answer 30 problems,” Woods says.

This helps students identify the areas they are struggling with, so they’re ready for the main test. The main test requires the students to answer 100 questions in five minutes.

Once those math skills are mastered, students are rewarded.

“It shows that you are really good at math and makes you want to do better in math,” says fourth grader Michaela Perry.

Students are motivated about the incentives they receive after taking the Bearfacts test. Students who score a 90 or higher receive a lanyard and bear claw each year.

“They get so excited when they can see something, you know, with their success,” Woods continues.

“I got 96 out of 100. And I got this and a claw,” says fourth grader Jackson Sapp.

Fourth grader Gracie Mabry has received two bear claws in a row.

“I earned it by doing 95 problems and I missed 5,” said Mabry.

Gracie says she’s going to try to get her third bear claw after next year’s test.

The teachers say they’ve seen noticeable improvements in the Bearfacts scores.