Patricia Manns, from Knox Middle School in the San Diego Public School District, has been using Wowzers in her classes for three years. She has been teaching K-8 math for twenty years and is an Education Specialist in Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development.

Pat uses Wowzers in her support classes as a means to close the gap in conceptual understanding and to develop personalized learning plans for her students. She integrates Wowzers using a blended learning approach with a rotation schedule. The data Wowzers provides helps her to develop Individual Learning Plans (IEPs) for students who are 3-4 years below grade level.

When Pat was asked what she likes most about Wowzers, she responded:

I like that I can meet my students where they are. Students can work at their own pace and the program adapts and gives them hints, not just answers. The format of Wowzers is ideal for students to take ownership of their learning. I set aside time to meet with students individually to review their personalized learning plan and in groups where I teach growth mindset ideas to strengthen their problem solving skills. The extended response questions built into Wowzers offer students the opportunity to practice writing in mathematics, showing their knowledge of the content. At conferences this year, the parents raved about the successes their students were having and love it! It’s easy for teachers to use, and the Wowzers support team is excellent. They give real-time responses to questions that teachers have. The students in our school are all at different levels: low, medium, high. Wowzers reaches all levels of students. That’s what teachers can’t do. I love it, and I wish my whole district would purchase and use Wowzers.

Pat’s tips for teachers include:

Using a blended learning format is best. I conference with students and we work on the areas in the curriculum path where they are having the most difficulty. This allows me to get to know my students and we create a relationship around their mathematics improvement and growth, removing the stigma of failing quizzes and tests.

Pat was also asked why she chose Wowzers over other programs:

I tried other programs, but they lacked the communication piece and the flexibility Wowzers offers. I’m able to truly meet my students where their needs are; I can adjust each student’s level. The pre- and post-test, and other assessments in the Wowzers program, are essential to measure growth. This is an area that standardized tests and chapter tests cannot measure for students who are below grade level. As an educator I know how important it is to see growth. I want my students to be successful in mathematics and be prepared to take higher-level math in high school and college, and use their mathematical skills in their careers.

“My students LOVE Wowzers! They are excited to see their understanding of math grow.”