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An online learning tool is helping sharpen the math skills of students at Lenihan Intermediate School.

The Web site, First in Math, serves 50 Lenihan students who are able to work through different types of math problems including number pattern games. The work is done during free time at school and at home.

Last year Lenihan student Nicole Lacina took first in the fifth grade state rankings on the site and Andrew Walker followed at third.

Currently, Lacina is atop the sixth grade state rankings with Walker right behind in second. They are followed by fellow Lenihan students Hunter Riedl at third and Cassidy Blackford at fifth.

The rankings are based on the number of problems solved on the site.

"We have some very good math students in this district," said Karen Roessler, extended learning teacher at Lenihan who helps coordinate the First in Math program for the school.

The work online is helping students get ahead in the classroom.

"They can look at a problem and see the answer because they've already played with the number patterns," Roessler said. "They are learning more because they want to play the game."

Students first started using the program two years ago at Hoglan and Franklin elementary schools under the direction of teacher Jill Brockman.

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Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com