Third graders learn math skills during week-long ‘boot camp’
Caleb M. Soptelean
Guest speaker Shawn Burland, a former Army National Guard sergeant, takes questions from third graders after speaking to them about discipline during wrap-up activities for the school’s week-long math “boot camp.”
Caleb M. Soptelean
Parent volunteer Chris Dubuque puts whipped cream on ice cream for students.
Caleb M. Soptelean
Third-grader Cameron Buxton stands up among his peers to answer the question, “What is discipline?”
Caleb M. Soptelean
Caleb M. Soptelean
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POLSON — Linderman Elementary students love boot camp.
For the second consecutive year, the school’s third-graders completed a week-long math boot camp focused on learning multiplication.
“It’s a week of interactive multiplication games and practicing multiplication facts in the form of Army drills,” said third-grade teacher Jon Gustafson. “They love it.”
Camo, sweat and ninja days were just some of the days observed during the boot camp.
Teacher Darcie Laud said it is a way to make math skills more interesting.
“It’s a fun opportunity to practice and learn what we learned by drill memorization as kids,” said teacher Stephanie St. Clair, referring to the way most learned math in years gone by.
If the students learned 12 multiplication skills during the week, they got to add a step to their “brag tags.” Each step was applied toward ice cream sundaes, including up to two scoops of ice cream and multiple toppings.
Former Army National Guard Sgt. Shawn Burland spoke to the students about discipline just prior to the celebration on Friday afternoon.
“There’s always going to be someone telling you what to do. Get used to it,” he said.
Burland, who served 27 years in the National Guard including two tours in Iraq, said he enjoys coming to speak. “I get to put the uniform on again so it’s alright,” he said.
