Hilliard and Holly Lane Elementary School students participated in their first 24 Challenge, a national competition to get students thinking creatively about number relationships.
There are no tournaments in Cuyahoga County, so Gifted Intervention Specialize Erin Vanek organized one in Westlake. About 40 third and fourth graders from each building worked over the past two months after school to prepare.
The one-day tournament featured students making the number 24 from four numbers on a game card. Students can add, subtract, multiply and divide, but they have to use all four numbers on the card, and each number can only be used once. Knowing the answer is always 24 alleviates math anxiety of “getting the right answer,” and instead places the emphasis on the process and patterns.
Holly Lane winners were: William Bierfeldt, fourth grade, first place; Aidyn Blackburn, fourth grade, second place; Brady Dacek, third grade, third place; Adam Dacek, third grade, fourth place
Hilliard Elementary winners were: Magalie Kherbouche, fourth grade, first place; JT Kelsheimer, fourth grade, second place; Ryan Camden, third grade, third place; Nathan Arkwright, third grade, fourth place