Learning addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in the Flowing Wells school district doesn't always involve flash cards and studying a multiplication table.
Students in third through fifth grades are using calculators to acquire math skills, but it's no shortcut.
Their calculators have built-in mathematical drills and functions, including a multiplication table drill, to reinforce what is taught in the classroom.
"They are very cool, and they are a challenge for the kids," fifth-grader Jordan Lugo said. "It's a very good way to help us learn."
More than 1,200 of the calculators were donated to the Flowing Wells Unified School District by Sharp Business Systems, which opened a Tucson branch earlier this month, and parent company Sharp Electronics Corp.
Students at all six of the district's elementary schools — Centennial, Homer Davis, Walter Douglas, Hendricks, Laguna and Richardson — use the calculators, which they received earlier this month.
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Laguna fifth-grade teacher Vanessa Oaxaca said not all of her students find regular flash cards interesting, but the calculators have captivated them.
"If I didn't build it into my lesson, they were not happy," she said about using the calculators as part of a math lesson. "I had to put it up on the board so they would know it was coming."
As an added incentive, Sharp Business Systems sponsored a Math Challenge at each school.
Laguna fifth-graders participated in the competition, which involved answering 25 random questions on the calculators, which have a flash-card function. Adam Kuczynski, 10, won the competition and received a $50 Discovery Store gift card. His classroom also will receive a pizza party.
"At first I was actually pretty nervous," Adam said. "One of the reasons I was nervous was because I was in front of all of the fifth-grade classes. It was way cool because I wasn't sure I would win or not because I thought there were better people."
Oaxaca has allowed her students to use the calculators about 45 minutes each day.
"They are very adamant about getting their calculator time," she said.
She said the calculators helped her students learn 11 and 12 on the multiplication table in a matter of days.
"The challenge factor is a good motivation," Oaxaca said. "With this, they want to keep going."
Her students, including Jordan, say math is easier because of the practice they get on the calculators.
"You can get faster in math masters also," fifth-grader Sara Lopez said, explaining, "There are 100 problems, and you have to do them in less than three minutes."
Plus, there is no paper and pencil involved.
"It's much funner with the calculator," Sara said. "You don't have to write it. You just press the buttons."
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