The computer lab instructor at O'Neal Elementary has been utilizing an online game to reinforce math concepts, rewarding top-performing students with such consistency that the spirit of competition has become embedded in the school culture.

And oh yeah, they’re learning.

Students are currently ranked fourth statewide with over 14,000 math problems answered correctly, and poised to qualify for the Prodigy National Cup in May—provided the school maintains its position within the top five for the month—earning a chance to win a share of over $200,000 in technology grants.

“The best part of using Prodigy is how excited the students are about it,” said Trish Carpenter, who has been teaching computer class for five years, following a 16-year career as a classroom aide in special education. “They truly don’t realize how much they are learning while playing!”

Prodigy Math is an interactive game on the web that allows students to compete against other schools across Missouri in the state challenge. Upon logging in, students create a wizard character and battle their classmates by answering math questions while entering different worlds, rescuing animals and gaining wardrobe accessories, Carpenter described.

Each week, Carpenter collaborates with grade-level instructors to determine what math skills students are working on in class, then she creates assignments covering topics such as measurements, time, fractions, and multiplication and division facts, all aligned with Missouri Learning Standards, Carpenter continued.

“Math is really fast-paced here,” she explained, noting that she uses Prodigy in order to supplement content material as a member of the Professional Learning Community, including when students are preparing for Missouri Assessment Program testing.

In addition to teaching keyboarding and eventually Project Lead the Way activities, Carpenter designates part of the specials class to facilitating educational games like Prodigy. She had been using the free software program with her students since before the ranking structure was established, she recalled. Last year, the statewide challenges were initiated.

“We would play, but never really got high enough on the ranking board to 'brag' about," she said. Nevertheless, Carpenter always awarded certificates for top classrooms and students. Eventually she was invited by Prodigy to be a ‘lead teacher,’ receiving perks such as Amazon gift cards, which she contributes toward prizes.

For the month of September, O’Neal placed 11th in the state, and Principal Shelly Ridens surprised the top classes with an ice cream party, stating that the best part of the movement is that “kids want to do math problems!”

“I love having students come up in the hallway asking who is in first place, or if their class moved up on the leaderboard,” Carpenter said. “There is never a day that goes by that a student doesn’t ask or tell me something about Prodigy!”

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Cutline: O'Neal instructor Trish Carpenter displays the Prodigy leaderboard that she updates daily in her classroom, while students have computer time on Monday, Oct. 20.