HIVE: Middle School Math Program Creates a Buzz

New to the 2024–25 school year, HIVE–Help, Inspire, Visualize, and Explore–was developed by Sam Vandergrift, who co-leads the program with fellow MS Math faculty member Ellie Strayer. The program, which takes place twice a week before and after school, draws upwards of 15 and sometimes as many as 30 students. Middle School students from any grade are welcome to drop by for extra help, to be enriched, or to learn and explore new math concepts. HIVE serves as a supplement to the Middle School math program, allowing another tool to meet the needs of students where they are. 

“HIVE thrives on collaboration and positive energy,” says Vandergrift. “You’ll often see students working together, tackling problems side by side.”  

“It’s a really joyful kind of space,” says Strayer. “We found that there is a big community need for a space like this, and there is a large number of students ready to be enriched. We found a way to meet those needs with overwhelming joy.”

And joy is abundant in the space which has a dynamic atmosphere of curiosity and teamwork. Strayer describes it as “in motion,” with lots of drawing on the boards, rooted in collaboration between students. “It feels like a group activity we’re doing all together,” said Strayer. And now, with the support of two upper school students, this space is even more dynamic, fostering a community of learning and mentorship.

One feature of HIVE is the Honey Sweet Challenge of the Week, a multi-step challenge problem students have the opportunity to tackle each week. The problem is written to be scalable, so no matter where they are in the Middle School math curriculum, there are familiar methods and ways to engage with it. Some kids come by HIVE just to do the Honey Sweet Challenge.

Strayer recalls a scenario with a sixth-grade student who used methods they had just learned in class to solve a challenge with ratios. “The problem got harder and harder, and being able to grapple with that challenge will potentially make that student more prepared for years to come by connecting those dots.”

“One of the greatest successes of HIVE is the way it fosters confidence in students,” says Head of Middle School John Bower. “It’s a place where students can engage with math at their own pace, in a community of learners who support one another. We’ve seen students gain not only skills but also a mindset of curiosity and resilience that extends beyond the classroom.”

More than just a place to have fun with math, HIVE also carries forth the values of inclusivity and self-advocacy, which are further enforced by Strayer and Vandergrift. “We’ve done a lot to make the space feel like an inclusive environment where people want to go,” said Strayer. 

It’s also about releasing the baggage many students carry when they approach math. “Everyone deserves to practice problem-solving without math baggage,” Strayer says. “Already with the numbers coming in, it feels like we’ve met the students where there is a need. I am imagining if it continues, it will have a cultural impact on how we view math and the joy of problem-solving.”

Vandergrift agrees. “I have seen students feel more comfortable with the material, and continued to collaborate and support each other in the classroom.”

Feedback from parents has been overwhelmingly positive. “I had one advisee’s parents tell me in surprise that their student had asked to come to school early for math,” says Strayer. The program is succeeding in making math fun and accessible. The HIVE gives students a sense of what to expect in the Upper School, where the math office has become one of the most popular places on campus for both learning and connection.  

“Everyone’s on their different math journeys has dots that they can connect,” says Strayer. “At HIVE, we’re just helping everyone make their own constellations.”