Math in Motion Program connects New Britain students with future educators

By Savanna Yelling ’25

A new program in Central’s Mathematical Science Department concluded with a community event in May that celebrated mathematics, mentorship, and student leadership.

Math in Motion, developed by math professors Anna Duffin and Oscar Perdomo, brought sixth-grade students from New Britain to Central for a series of mathematics-focused activities designed to build confidence, encourage teamwork, and foster an interest in the subject.

"Math in Motion was developed to create engaging mathematics experiences for sixth-grade students while also providing leadership and mentoring opportunities for CCSU students," Duffin and Perdomo said in a joint statement.

The program was funded through the Next Generation Student Success, Diversity, Innovation, and Community Engagement Grant. According to Duffin and Perdomo, they created the program in response to challenges many students face as they transition to middle school.

"We specifically focused on sixth-grade students because we know that enthusiasm and engagement in school often drops during the transition to middle school, as does mathematics performance as measured by standardized assessments," they said. "Our hope was to showcase mathematics in different ways, build students’ confidence, and spark greater interest and engagement in mathematics."

In developing the program, Duffin and Perdomo worked with the New Britain Public Schools 6–12 Curriculum Coordinator and local after-school programs to connect students and families with the opportunity.

Students from five New Britain schools visited Central for two Saturday sessions featuring collaborative mathematics activities focused on problem solving, teamwork, and critical thinking. The program concluded with a larger community event and team competition that brought together students, families, Central mentors and faculty members.

"One of the most important parts of the program was the role of the student mentors," Duffin and Perdomo said. "All of our mentors are future educators, and the program provided them with an opportunity to work directly with middle school students in a supportive and engaging environment."

Throughout the program, mentors facilitated activities and supported students as they tackled challenging mathematical concepts.

"One of the most memorable parts of the culminating event was watching the CCSU student mentors confidently lead activities and support the sixth grade teams throughout the competition,” Duffin said.

Following the program's success, Duffin and Perdomo have applied for another Next Generation Grant and hope to expand the initiative in the future. One possibility would allow this year's participants to return as seventh graders and serve as mentors for a new group of sixth-grade students.

“Our hope is that this will help build a stronger sense of community and give returning students an opportunity to share their experiences and confidence in mathematics with younger students,” they said.