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Innovative Educator: West Ada middle schoolers get 'glowing review' in math class

Teacher Jackie Maupin says blacklight plus glow bracelets, glasses, hats and highlighters can add up to student math success

MERIDIAN, Idaho — Editor's note: This content is sponsored by CapEd Credit Union.

When sixth-graders at Lowell Scott Middle School in Meridian came into Jackie Maupin's math class on January 10, they knew right away something was different that day.

"When they came in, it was pretty exciting to watch that," Maupin said.

They entered a room bathed in black light, and found glow bracelets, necklaces, glasses, hats and highlighters.

"The first time we did it they thought it was absolutely amazing that the highlighters glowed so much under the light," Maupin said.

That first time was an arithmetic activity Maupin called a "Glowing Review."

"We were doing problems that were reviewing items that were going to be on a test that they were taking the next day," Maupin said.

The next time was for the recent Twosday, 2/22/22..

"We were just doing a fun activity to celebrate 2s for February 22," Maupin said.

Maupin says having fun with figures plus the change of scenery equals success.

"There's so many of them that feel like they don't like math because they have this underlying feeling that they're not good at it, but by making it fun, they realize that they can do the math," Maupin said.

It must be adding up for the students. On that recent Twosday, a few of them hand-made a heart-shaped card that says "Mrs. Maupin, definition: funny, kind, caring and an amazing teacher."

"It's nice to know that the students care as much as you do," Maupin said.

What's her ultimate goal for her kids?

"Just learning to love math and know that they can do hard things," Maupin said.

Maupin says her students' parents really helped make the glow days possible by providing some of the supplies, keeping the first glow day a secret and by making sure their kids wore light-colored clothing that would glow in the blacklight.

If you would like to nominate an Innovative Educator who is going above and beyond, send us an email to innovativeeducator@ktvb.com.

Educators, for information on submitting an application for a classroom grant through the Idaho CapEd Foundation, visit www.capedfoundation.org.

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