Mary Lynn Michalak, computer lab manager, says, "As everyone knows, the gap in their learning widens and if they are behind, that grows every year. So this is huge to get these kids who are lagging on board."
Fifth grader Eli Tomes is a fan. Eli says, "It's like a Sylvan Learning Center at your house, on your computer. If you do something good and if you get the answer right, it rewards you with graphics, like a little animation." Eli adds, "If you get something wrong it will discuss what you did wrong. It will help you fix your answer and you will advance on that."
The goal for these students is to be "Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" and their sights are on seventh grade. "It's really good for your learning. You can get smarter by no time and it's really fun," says Oakdale fifth grader Jarod Bunch. And Rosa Sanchez says, "It has the same stuff you can do in a video game, but you can learn with it."
This year it will fit into the summer life of hundreds of TPS students. And if you don't have a computer at home, school officials say the program can be accessed at the Toledo Lucas County Library.
