I am a recent Oklahoma State University graduate with my degree in Early Childhood Education and am a 3rd grade teacher at Discovery School of Tulsa. Two of my passions in life are: being an educator and being a runner. I am making my two passions work together to be able to make a difference in students’ lives. I am the creator of Endurance for Education which is a campaign where money is raised for math manipulatives through sponsorships for the races I am participating in.

You may be asking why math things instead of reading or even science. I believe math is a subject that is important since it is all around us as we continue through life. Math is a subject that is often taught in a mode of memorization. Research indicates that students of all ages can benefit by first being introduced to mathematical concepts through physical exploration. When teachers present material in a manner that appeals to all senses, there is a greater chance for the students to grasp the material. Math is also a subject that a large number of students’ struggle with. If we can help math come to the students easier with manipulatives we can foster the love for math at a young age, which they will receive the benefits for a life time.

You can find out more about why I decided to do a project like this, how it all got started and follow the project at www.EnduranceforEducation.org!

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