University of Delaware Office of Public Relations The Messenger Vol. 5, No. 2/1996 Young math students count on program Chances are you can bring any type of math problem to William B. Moody and, rest assured, he'll solve it. Moody, professor of educational development, is the director of an innovative nationwide math program for students in grades 4 through 8. Created last year, "Solve It" is aimed at measuring children's mathematical skills in a competitive atmosphere through a testing format designed by Moody. The test uses what Moody calls "quasi-real life" problems. Mixed in among fundamental addition and subtraction problems, for example, are questions relating to ships, temperature analysis and Richter scale readings. Success has come early for the program. In its inaugural year, 100 teams participated from across the country. Moody not only kept most of those participants, but he also was able to acquire more than 60 new teams for this year's program. Participants hail from as close as New Jersey and as far away as the West Coast, and there's one team from Canada. "Solve It" is administered to participating students five times a year, and teachers are asked to submit the top 10 scores of their students. Out of approximately 2,000 results submitted to him, Moody says there are 30 to 40 perfect scores. At year's end, a ceremony recognizes the top three scores nationwide at each grade level and these students receive trophies and plaques for their accomplishments. All students, regardless of score, receive a certificate and patch for their participation. Teachers welcome the program because the test is accompanied by descriptive answer sheets detailing strategies they can use to benefit their classroom instruction. "I think it's really having a positive influence on the math curriculum in the schools," Moody says. "It's a good way to reach out." Moody chose the name "Solve It" because "the program is really about kids learning how to become better problem-solvers." The program's logo features two students facing each other, a girl and a boy, in a thinking position on top of a stool. -Jaret M. Lyons, Delaware '96