Laura Zabel – 9-12th Grade Math Teacher, Hastings High School, 12 years

"Give us more math homework!" Laura Zabel could not believe her ears when she taught summer school. Working with students who have learning disabilities or who are so far behind that they might not graduate on time, Laura was astonished to see them smiling and asking for another worksheet of problems.

These 25 students were the first group to benefit from a new software program purchased in June 2005 to give failing math students a leg up and gifted students new challenges. With a grant from the HPSF, both the high school and middle school have site licenses and access to a future library of math software – from basic skills to pre-algebra to calculus.

"It's inherently motivating because they get a report every time they do a test, with the percentage they got, and the objectives they've mastered," Zabel explains. "They can see their own progress compared to the class, and they get immediate feedback. For teachers, it helps us give that one-on-one attention they're craving, and I can't believe the difference in the students!"

Applicable, computer-based tools are among the things teachers dream about when attending professional conferences, Zabel says. "You want the feeling of not being trapped in what you've always done, and to address the needs of those students who are totally unmotivated," she says. "This program will affect every student. It gives the most motivated students a challenge and it really helps those who need it."

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