“Got a problem? We are here to help you solve it.”
The Math Lab’s slogan is much more than a play on words. Students bring actual math problems to the lab. They work with teachers to increase their understanding, overcome limits and anxiety, and even push for higher achievement. With Math Lab, students improve grades and build confidence.
According to Head of Upper School Brandi Richardson, the COVID-19 pandemic created a situation where gaps in student knowledge in schools across the country vary greatly. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, JA chose to hold fast to its curriculum and implement the Math Lab, where students can work with teachers individually.
Richardson says this approach is possible because of the efforts of dedicated faculty. “To fulfill this type of individualized approach in a school our size, we have made significant efforts in our scheduling and planning to provide students with this opportunity,” she said. “Our math faculty is committed to helping students achieve success in college–the math faculty spends many hours coordinating with one another about the needs of each student in the Math Lab. Much like the Writing Center, the Math Lab is only possible with the efforts of the faculty, careful planning, and intentional support by the administration!”
Faculty members Wanda Pearcy and Amanda Smithers lead Math Lab. Read the Q&A with Wanda Pearcy below to learn more:
How does the Math Lab operate?
The Math Lab is open to anyone for help with anything, and pretty much on any day of the week if it can be worked out. Students use the Math Lab to get help with homework, spiral reviews, and study guides. Occasionally teachers recommend students to work on a specific weakness, and we can accommodate that as well.
What do you hope to see students gain by visiting the Math Lab?
We hope to see, and have seen, improvement in skills that are foundational to our upper-level courses and are important for maximizing performance on the ACT.
When did Math Lab start?
We have had a Math Lab since I came to JA in 2016. It was an optional tutorial time, and very few students took advantage of it. We got away from it for a year or two, and then Mrs. Richardson really wanted to bring it back to support students whose performance indicated a lack of background knowledge or gaps in background knowledge.
Do students make appointments or just show up?
Students whose grades indicate a need for some support are strongly encouraged by their teachers and Mrs. Richardson to come. We expect to see these students at least once per week. However, any student can come and get help with anything they bring with them.
Why is it helpful for a school to have built-in academic support programs?
We know that different students learn at different speeds and master skills at different points. Students enter JA at varying points in their learning. Not every student has support at home. Because of the variety of needs that our students present, the math department has taken a strong stance on spiraling back to skills taught in previous courses. Having done that, we could begin to pinpoint knowledge gaps, and the students could see them as well. With Mrs. Richardson’s support, students started taking advantage of support and individual assistance, and we can SEE that we are closing gaps. What is key to our belief in academic support programs is that research has shown that most high school students will respond positively to high standards and the push to take learning seriously IF they feel that they have a reasonable chance of success. We want to give them that belief that they can “do math” and be successful.
When can students access Math Lab?
Math lab is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays during the seventh period in either H115 or H116.
However, other times can be worked out with Mrs. Pearcy or Ms. Smithers.
How do you see students reacting to Math Lab?
Here’s the best reaction:
During class one day, I was telling a student that she really needed to start coming to Math Lab. The student sitting next to her spoke up and said, “You really should. I go twice a week and my grades went way up. I have an A now.” When the students can really see the benefit, they will take the time to get the help.
