McKinney TX – The Bennett Bears was chosen as one of five Texas schools to represent the state in the first week of Think Through Maths (TTM) annual Red River Rumble mathematics competition between Texas and Oklahoma held Nov. 9 – 13. The weeklong event called on 3rd – 5th graders from Bennett and a counterpart school in Oklahoma to complete and pass as many online TTM math lessons as
possible over the course of the week.
With more than 3,100 lessons passed, Bennett was the hands-down
winner. “We are very proud of our Bennett Bears,” said Holderman. “At
Bennett Elementary we say that were the best school in McKinney because we have the best students, the best staff and the best parents. And, our students rose to the challenge! At the end of Monday, we had 408 lessons passed, and by 10 p.m. on Saturday, we had more than 3,000!”
Mason Wakefield, a 4th-grader at Bennett had the highest number of lessons passed in the state-126. “It feels great to be first in the state,” said Mason. “Im really proud of myself, my parents and my teachers for helping
me get there. I spent a lot of hours on it. Im proud of my school for doing more than 3,000 lessons. That many lessons is crazy for one school to achieve-especially three grade levels, but we teamed up and encouraged each
other to do it.”
Benny the Bear celebrated with Bennett Elementary students at Bennetts Friday Live gathering where Principal Amy Holderman announced the schools victory in the Think Through Math Red River Rumble.
More than 4,100 Texas schools-including each campus in McKinney ISD-utilize TTM, which provides challenging lessons designed around the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and other state standards and
is supported by on-line math teachers to assist struggling students.
Bennett Elementary was chosen by TTM along with 19 other Texas schools to compete in the Red River Rumble based upon their outstanding participation and passing rate using the online math enrichment program. Each week for
four weeks, five of those Texas schools square off against an opposing Oklahoma school to earn this years Red River Rumble bragging rights
