Learning how to add and subtract decimals can be a challenging and frustrating feat for any student, but two fifth grade teachers at Upland Heights found a way to make it fun for everyone.  

Laura Carter and Wendy Reeves transformed their classrooms into Diagon Alley last week to create an engaging environment for students to work on their adding and subtracting decimals skills. In a previous class, the students received their acceptance letters to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They then walked around the room to purchase their wizarding supplies, having to add and subtract the cost at each station.  

All of the supplies for the Harry Potter activity were purchased through a teacher grant awarded to Carter and Reeves from the Frenship Foundation for Leadership. Last year, Carter and Reeves were surprised with the grant at the annual Prize Patrol event, where Foundation members and sponsors surprised teachers with checks in their classrooms. 

“We would like to thank the Foundation and United Supermarkets for funding this grant,” said Carter, “We received supplies for five different thematic activities/units that will be used throughout the year, including coffee shop, football, candy/cookie shop, and glow day themes.” 

Both Carter and Reeves utilize days like Harry Potter Day to reinforce lessons from the classroom. They believe that the more fun the students are having, the more they are learning. Both teachers have more exciting themes to engage the students coming later in the year.  

The teachers have been using these theme days for numerous years, and state that it truly adds a memorable experience to learning math content. Every year the students are so excited when they first walk into the transformed classrooms.  

“Our intent is not only to teach the content, but also to create math students for life,” said Carter.  

By creating an engaging environment, Carter and Reeves aim to make a lasting impression on the students and increase the learning and retention of math concepts.