Month: December 2019

“Math Jam presented math in a positive way. I just wanted to feel comfortable in my math classes.” she said. She decided to return to Math Jam over the summer – as a tutor. According to a PCC official, nearly 85 percent of incoming students wind up in pre-college math courses. Research shows “the students who need the most help are the least likely to take advantage of it,” said Brock Klein, an associate professor. Participation in Math Jam – funded through an Irvine Foundation grant – is voluntary. So far, Math Jam offers assistance in pre-algebra and beginning Algebra, or Algebra 1. The college plans to offer Intermediate Algebra, or Algebra 2, to students during the summer 2008 session. Students are placed in small groups and work with a tutor. There are few teacher lectures as the emphasis is on hands-on activities such as games or outdoor assignments. “The point is to make math meaningful to students,” Klein said. The number of students who participate in Math Jam – 75 the first year and almost double that this past summer – is just a fraction of the PCC student body. Klein concedes that the program is not equipped to handle 500 to 600 students. In addition to the summer Math Jam, students can continue with the Fall LifeLines program, which requires students to keep up their grades, have regular meetings with their summer math tutor, counselor and current math instructor. The incentive? A free math book. While it’s hardly winning the lottery, not having to buy an expensive textbook is enough inspiration for some students, Klein said. Jesus Gutierrez, 30, can empathize with students who feel uncomfortable in math classes. He took remedial math classes throughout high school and was forced to pass Algebra his senior year as a requirement to become a Marine. “I got a `B’ in the class, but it was not a pleasant experience,” said Gutierrez, now an adjunct math instructor at PCC. “I went in for help after school and during lunch.” As a Math Jam instructor, Gutierrez focused on improving students’ attitudes towards math. Some students came in with very negative experiences but after working through their weak areas for a couple of weeks, Gutierrez said they felt more positive about math and their upcoming college experience. “It is a very valuable experience,” he said. [email protected] (626) 962-8811 Ext. 2108 www.insidesocal.com/schools160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! PASADENA – Rene Cabrera has lots of horror stories of her high school math classes. Failed math quizzes, boring teachers and long lectures made this second-year student at Pasadena City College become disenchanted by fractions, integers and decimals. While she completed pre-algebra, algebra and geometry in high school, 19-year-old Cabrera wanted to continue her studies through calculus but was not allowed to because of low grades. “I was intimidated but I really wanted to go on. I liked math,” she said. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREGame Center: Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 10 a.m.Cabrera had a chance at redemption when she enrolled in PCC’s two-week summer Math Jam in 2006. It is a non-credit program that seeks to build math confidence and ease students’ transition into the school. The 2007 Math Jam’s summer session hosted 140 students. The program, in its second year, was mentioned in a report released by The Campaign for College Opportunity last week. The report, “Practices with Promise,” highlighted 15 programs at two-year and four-year colleges that are making it easier for students to gain access to higher education. Cabrera said the advice and assistance she received during those two weeks allowed her to blossom in her current math courses. She received an “A” in her Intermediate Algebra class and is “doing pretty well” in her College Algebra class.