In 2009, the Humble ISD had accelerated classes for third- through fifth-graders at three of their elementary schools. All the classes combined reading and math components and were held from June 9-July 1. Morning classes started at 8 a.m., with afternoon classes beginning at noon, after a 45 minute break, going on until 3:15 p.m. The classes took place at Park Lakes Elementary School (4400 Wilson Rd., Humble, TX 77396), River Pines Elementary School (2400 Cold River Dr., Humble, TX 77338) and Eagle Springs Elementary (12500 Will Clayton Pkwy., Humble TX 77346).
Eighth-grade students who did not pass the grade level standardized test, TAKS, could attend a free TAKS Academy in math to bring them up to a satisfactory level. Class ran from noon to 3:30 p.m. from June 9 to July 2. High school students had the option of taking any of seven different classes covering algebra, geometry and math models during the June-July session and five courses in the second session, from July 7 through the end of the month, in both the mornings and afternoons. Classes were held at Atascoctia High School (13300 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, Texas 77346).
Each year, Paul Thornton, a local math teacher with over three decades in the classroom, hosts a series of math camps in the Spring-Klein area of northeast Harris County, on the other side of Bush Intercontinental Airport from Humble, about 10 or so miles away. Thornton is a member of the Texas Math and Science Coaches Assn. and has been coaching math teams for a long time. Thornton's Math Challenge camps are designed for students entering the fourth through the eighth grades, who are already up to speed in math and want to go farther and possibly compete in TMSCA sponsored contests. But even of they don't want to join a math club and compete, kids can still get a leg up in school. Thornton says he wants to show the kids who attend the fun side of mathematics. Camps are a week long each and were scheduled from late June to late July for 2009. Three-hour sessions are held in both mornings and afternoons, starting at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Information is available from:
Paul Thornton
17219 Modbury St.
Spring, TX 77379
E-mail: [email protected]