Chew Some Gum & Raise Your Grades
Chewing gum is a 3rd grader's idea to help get better grades and she has the science to prove it works.
That's why they're tearing open the gum at Eaglerock Multi-Age school in Duvall before opening up the tests.
"I told my mom and she thought it was kind of weird she didn't exactly get why we were doing it," said student Joe Stoutt.
Why are the kids chomping gum, while spitting out answers?
"It helps me focus on the test," said student Austin Koons.
9-year-old Mackenzie Woelz brought the gum chewing idea to school. She found a scientific study that says chewing gum boosts brain power. "Test scores increased 35%, Chewing gum increased blood flow to brain cells," said Woelz.
The British study also found gum chewing stimulates insulin production, and that helps boost memory.
Mackenzie took her discovery right to Principal Doug Poage.
"She actually had a plan all written up with the rules that they would follow," said Poage. "No gum under your desk, only in the garbage, chewing gum only when the teacher says it's ok, and no more than one stick in your mouth at a time,"
Those aren't the only rules.
"No blowing bubbles, no smacking it," said student Austin Koons.
Wednesday 3rd graders started taking the Iowa Test for basic skills. Most said the gum helps.
"It gets our minds off the test kind of and gets rid of our nerves," said Stoutt
"I love it, I think it really helps me," said student Sara Ullman.
For those giving the test, the gum has another plus.
"It does keep their mouths quiet too, so that's a benefit, they don't talk as much," said Poage.
But when the test is done, the gum comes out, hopefully right after the correct answers.
Kids at Eaglerock Elementary just started using gum during testing this week. It's still to early to know if their test scores are going up.