TEACHER'S CORNER: TEACHER EMPHASIZES MENTAL MATH

Most students would prefer to use a calculator for mathematics problems.

So says Kenneth Ostendorf, who teaches eighth-grade math at Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School.

"I feel there is a need to emphasize mental math," Ostendorf said.

To that end, he uses a series of warmup drills throughout the year.

The drills expose students to techniques of solving whole number, decimal, fraction and percentage problems mentally.

"I make extensive use of the overhead projector to show students how to solve problems, not just telling them," Ostendorf said.

One project the students like is putting math problems on videotape for other students to watch and solve.

Ostendorf has taught math at the school for the past 20 years.

A 1962 graduate of Notre Dame High School, he has a bachelor's degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University and a master's degree in education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Ostendorf said he had always enjoyed school.

"Most of the teachers I had seemed to be caring individuals who had a lot of job satisfaction and treated the students with respect," he said.

"I decided to become a teacher so that I also could hopefully instill in my students a caring attitude and to treat each other with respect," he said, adding: "I have not regretted that decision."

Since starting his teaching career 25 years ago, Ostendorf said he still sees students start the year with enthusiasm and an attitude of wanting to learn.

"But as the year progresses," he said, "it is quite evident that some of the students today have many problems in their home life that interfere with their maintaining that hard work ethic, good attitude and behavior that teachers so much would like to see throughout the year.

"I would hope that all parents would make education a top priority in their families and take the time to read to their children in the early years," he said.

There is a need for parents to help children get involved in positive school, church, community and sports activities as they approach the teen years.

"Parents should be willing to attend those activities with their children to let them know they care, and to help develop leadership and good self-esteem," he said.

"Parents and teachers must work hand in hand in order to have well-adjusted children ready to succeed throughout the school years and later in life."

Ostendorf and his wife, Mary Ann, have four children; Ann, 18, a freshman at St. Louis University; Jill, 16, a junior at Notre Dame High School; Mark, 12, seventh grade, St. Mary's Grade School; and Nick, 4.

In his spare time, Ostendorf enjoys gardening, traveling and attending children's volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball and soccer games.