“The primary vision and goal for our mathematics instruction is to provide opportunities for all students to develop their mathematical potential,” said Lamb, who stepped into the newly created math specialist position last year.

“In today’s world, whether or not a student opts to attend college after high school graduation, mathematics is essential to success in both the world of work and the academic setting of a four-year college,” Lamb said.

For the 2008-09 school year, each school will concentrate on a new focus, she said.

At Northumberland Elementary School, all teachers will implement new activities devoted to helping young children develop number sense, which is the foundation for success in understanding mathematics, Lamb said.

Additionally, the Kindergarten Kapers after-school program will now include a math component. Debra Parker, Jamie Sabia, Donna Thompson, Michelle Jackson and Sharon Basey will be working with this program.

Talented fifth-grade math students will be the first to experience the new Chesapeake Champions math enrichment program. This after-school program will be under the direction of Lamb and Bess Price. Chesapeake Champions will provide students integrated math and marine science activities.

Northumberland Middle School will implement the Algebra Readiness Curriculum in a formal program with 10 students participating at each grade level in a small group setting. These students will have access to the Virginia Algebra Readiness curriculum and testing materials in an effort to help them be successful algebra students as ninth graders, Lamb said.

Additionally, Northumberland Middle School will be host this year to the STARS program, which won a 2008 Excellence in Education Award from Virginia Tech. Three groups of students will meet after school to investigate mathematical activities designed to increase algebra readiness.

Northumberland High School will offer ninth graders algebra I in one year for the first time. Normally the class is taught over a period of two years. This course, algebra concepts, will be under the direction of Mike Meyers, principal of Northumberland High School, and Lamb.

Algebra concepts is a series of two periods of instruction; one period with all 50 students in a large class setting with an emphasis on visual, hands-on instruction with technology incorporation, said Lamb. The second period of instruction will be in a small group with an algebra instructor who will provide additional activities to help students understand the concepts of algebra, she said.

“Our staff is very excited to provide this opportunity to all ninth graders who need algebra so that they can have the chance to take four years of mathematics during high school,” Lamb said.