Semple Math - Simply Unforgettable

Tracy Aukes
Special Education Teacher

1. How many years have you taught?

2. What grade level are you currently teaching?

Special Ed K-2

3. What do you teach?

Special Ed

4. How many students have you enrolled in the Semple Math Challenge?

5. Have you executed the program in good faith, as written with no omissions or substitutions thus far in the Challenge?

So far!

6. Please comment on the math performance of each student as they entered the Challenge. Were they on or below grade level?

2 of my students are 2nd graders, performing on a beginning 1st grade level. Since implementing the program, they are now performing mid/late 1st grade.

My other 2 students have down syndrome and we have just started them in the program. They seem to be grasping the visual representation of the numbers so far!

Jan Semple (Author): Super! We have had many inquiries about the effectiveness of this program with developmentally delayed students including those with Down Syndrome.

I taught a course on Semple Math for twenty years at Providence College in Rhode Island. During that time I had the pleasure of working with several educators/parents who had learners with Down.

It is not an easy road, as I am sure you know. The standard programs do not work. The teachers become frustrated and skeptical. The students become discouraged and give up. I remember one teacher who had five male students with Down and a mother whose 14 year old son had virtually no math ability. They had heard good things about my program and took my course but, neither one truly expected significant results.

It really takes a month of faithful execution with any student to overcome the skepticism, the doubt and the fear of failure. In both cases the teacher and the mother used the program as written. At month's end they were shocked to see the students legitimately learning and demonstrating basic math skills. The mother wrote me this note on her final exam. “If you had told me we would succeed like this in September, I never would have believed you.”

Tracy, your reporting is right on target for the first 30 days. I can see that you are executing the program correctly. And I know those students are lucky to have you. Please keep us informed of the progress of all the students, especially the two with Down. One thing I believe you will find is that once a concept is grasped, a Down student's retention is second to none.

7. What progress have you seen in their math skills over the last 30 days? Are they on or below grade level?

They are still below grade level but are closing the gap quite quickly!

8. How do you rate the overall attitude, outlook and self-esteem of each student on a scale of 1 - 5, 1 being the lowest score? Comments are welcome.

Both of my 2nd graders dreaded math. Now they actually RUN into my room to do the math for the day. They are so excited, they wiggle in their seats and try to "beat" each other to the answer. It is great!

Jan Semple (Author): Perfect! Their enthusiasm will persist throughout all four levels for the simple reason that people like to succeed. Well done!

9. How does the portion of Semple Math you have now seen compare to any "non-Semple" learning materials you have used in the past? (Please do not identify and materials and programs by name.)

I find this material much better because it takes the concepts and makes it "real" for the kids. They love the stories about the numbers and this helps them to find a connection with the process.

10. Has any standardized or local testing been used as part of this Challenge? If so, please explain the means of assessment and share your findings with consideration for student privacy.

We are assessing the students using old TAKS tests and benchmarks.
I've completed the initial testing before putting them in this program. I will be doing a second mid-year test after we return from the holidays.

Jan Semple (Author): Great! We will welcome the results. Please note my program focuses on one operation in each of the four levels. You have started with addition in Level One. Any standardized testing must report scores by operation so that you can isolate and see the improvement.

Level One will help the student to achieve fifth grade competency in all of the skills related to addition. Each successive level will do the same for the corresponding operation. Your students will show significant improvement on the test this year. Their scores will continue to rise as they complete the program.

Thank you for employing a widely used test. We have had many people interested in seeing data.

11. Would you recommend this program to other educators? Why or why not?

Definitely! I'm also going to see about getting my other special ed teacher trained. It is a really great program!!

12. Should we sponsor a second round of the Challenge and for the purpose of sharing our Times Tables Kit?

I think it would be a great idea. I'd like to see what others think of the higher level concepts.

Bill Semple (President): The Times Tables Challenge will happen. We had tentatively looked at the Spring of 2007, however, the current Challenge event is moving at a pace that will likely require most of the school year to conclude. The Times Tables Challenge will probably be held in October/November of 2007 but, nothing has been formally scheduled at this time. Please check our website for announcements.

Jan Semple (Author): Tracy, thank you for all your work to make these feedback sessions a success. One resource I will offer is the info@semplemath.com email address. Chelle Wallis is a master of my program and a dear friend. If you have any questions or concerns as you continue with your students please write them down and send them to Chelle. Her knowledge is available to you for the asking.

Otherwise, please keep right on going just as you have done so far! I am looking forward to hearing more after the holidays.


Coppell, Texas, Round 1 Tracy Aukes Special Education Teacher 1. How many years have you taught? 4 2. What grade level are you currently teaching? Special Ed K-2 3. What do you teach? Special Ed 4. How many students have you enrolled in the Semple Math Challenge? 4 5. Have you executed the program in good faith, as written with no omissions or substitutions thus far in the Challenge? So far! 6. Please comment on the math performance of each student as they entered the Challenge. Were they on or below grade level? 2 of my students are 2nd graders, performing on a beginning 1st grade level. Since implementing the program, they are now performing mid/late 1st grade. My other 2 students have down syndrome and we have just started them in the program. They seem to be grasping the visual representation of the numbers so far! Jan Semple (Author): Super! We have had many inquiries about the effectiveness of this program with developmentally delayed students including those with Down Syndrome. I taught a course on Semple Math for twenty years at Providence College in Rhode Island. During that time I had the pleasure of working with several educators/parents who had learners with Down. It is not an easy road, as I am sure you know. The standard programs do not work. The teachers become frustrated and skeptical. The students become discouraged and give up. I remember one teacher who had five male students with Down and a mother whose 14 year old son had virtually no math ability. They had heard good things about my program and took my course but, neither one truly expected significant results. It really takes a month of faithful execution with any student to overcome the skepticism, the doubt and the fear of failure. In both cases the teacher and the mother used the program as written. At month's end they were shocked to see the students legitimately learning and demonstrating basic math skills. The mother wrote me this note on her final exam. “If you had told me we would succeed like this in September, I never would have believed you.” Tracy, your reporting is right on target for the first 30 days. I can see that you are executing the program correctly. And I know those students are lucky to have you. Please keep us informed of the progress of all the students, especially the two with Down. One thing I believe you will find is that once a concept is grasped, a Down student's retention is second to none. 7. What progress have you seen in their math skills over the last 30 days? Are they on or below grade level? They are still below grade level but are closing the gap quite quickly! 8. How do you rate the overall attitude, outlook and self-esteem of each student on a scale of 1 - 5, 1 being the lowest score? Comments are welcome. Both of my 2nd graders dreaded math. Now they actually RUN into my room to do the math for the day. They are so excited, they wiggle in their seats and try to "beat" each other to the answer. It is great! Jan Semple (Author): Perfect! Their enthusiasm will persist throughout all four levels for the simple reason that people like to succeed. Well done! 9. How does the portion of Semple Math you have now seen compare to any "non-Semple" learning materials you have used in the past? (Please do not identify and materials and programs by name.) I find this material much better because it takes the concepts and makes it "real" for the kids. They love the stories about the numbers and this helps them to find a connection with the process. 10. Has any standardized or local testing been used as part of this Challenge? If so, please explain the means of assessment and share your findings with consideration for student privacy. We are assessing the students using old TAKS tests and benchmarks. I've completed the initial testing before putting them in this program. I will be doing a second mid-year test after we return from the holidays. Jan Semple (Author): Great! We will welcome the results. Please note my program focuses on one operation in each of the four levels. You have started with addition in Level One. Any standardized testing must report scores by operation so that you can isolate and see the improvement. Level One will help the student to achieve fifth grade competency in all of the skills related to addition. Each successive level will do the same for the corresponding operation. Your students will show significant improvement on the test this year. Their scores will continue to rise as they complete the program. Thank you for employing a widely used test. We have had many people interested in seeing data. 11. Would you recommend this program to other educators? Why or why not? Definitely! I'm also going to see about getting my other special ed teacher trained. It is a really great program!! 12. Should we sponsor a second round of the Challenge and for the purpose of sharing our Times Tables Kit? I think it would be a great idea. I'd like to see what others think of the higher level concepts. Bill Semple (President): The Times Tables Challenge will happen. We had tentatively looked at the Spring of 2007, however, the current Challenge event is moving at a pace that will likely require most of the school year to conclude. The Times Tables Challenge will probably be held in October/November of 2007 but, nothing has been formally scheduled at this time. Please check our website for announcements. Jan Semple (Author): Tracy, thank you for all your work to make these feedback sessions a success. One resource I will offer is the info@semplemath.com email address. Chelle Wallis is a master of my program and a dear friend. If you have any questions or concerns as you continue with your students please write them down and send them to Chelle. Her knowledge is available to you for the asking. Otherwise, please keep right on going just as you have done so far! I am looking forward to hearing more after the holidays.
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