VIDALIA &045; Students in four math classes and one science class at Vidalia High School are now seeing the theories they have to learn.

Five teachers have used $750 each they received from the state Quality Science and Mathematics Grant Program to purchase hands-on and visual teaching tools.

The grant money is something math teacher Dorothy Ulmer has received before, but this year was the first time so many teachers from the school received the grant.

&uot;It was so much fun this year,&uot; Ulmer said. &uot;I heard first that I got mine, then we’d ask ‘have you heard, have you heard.’&uot;

Ulmer used her $750 to buy a graphing calculator and software that will be used to display slides to the whole class.

&uot;It makes everything come to life for the children,&uot; Ulmer said. &uot;The technology that I use helps me get them ready for the test (exit exams).&uot;

Carol Ledford, a teacher new to VHS, said the grant money is a great way to stock her classroom with hands-on materials. Ledford purchased geometry manipulatives and tools used to drill students on multiplication tables.

&uot;It helps them to see it,&uot; Ledford said. &uot;Children haven’t done as much concrete work before paper work and they don’t comprehend as well.&uot;

Carolyn Huffman, also new to VHS, said she had used graphing equipment in a previous school.

&uot;I’ve had this equipment and I knew I wanted it,&uot; she said. &uot;It greatly enhances teaching and retention with the students.&uot;

Huffman also purchased a motion sensor that she will later connect with software that will allow students to graph their physical movements on a large screen.

All five teachers said they plan to apply for the grant again next year, and Ulmer said she plans to expand it to include more teachers.

The teachers who applied did so online.