Math teacher Edward Caughell’s learning lab is not your normal class.
Monday through Thursday during A and B lunch, upperclassmen students become teachers and mentors for other underclassmen students who need help with math.
Freshmen arrive in Caughell’s room during A and B lunch ready to work. Lunches in hand, the first thing they are asked about is homework they received or tests that might have been returned.
On Thursday October 1, during B lunch, it took some encouraging for one student to show his test, but with the support of Caughell and the other student teachers, the student relented; they went over each answer to make sure the student understood each problem.
The class is designed for students who need help with the transition from middle school classes to high school classes. With a heavier workload and faster paced work, some freshmen students are left behind the rest.
“The goal is to help them to succeed,” said Caughell. “Some of these kids have struggled in math or science in the past. The idea is that if we can give a little bit of tutoring, a little bit of instruction and ideas for organization. We are hopeful it will lead to success.”
The primary focus of the class is math and science, but when all the other math and science work is done, it will sometimes branch off into other subjects.
The class, currently in its first year, has about six freshmen in each lunch.
“There are three [student] teachers,” said junior and student teacher Kaitlyn Krizanic, “And five or six students during each lunch.”
With Caughell as the main teacher, the tutors give each student the personal help they need. According to Caughell, the student teachers are more than capable to help students with almost any subject.
The student teachers consist of juniors and seniors who have an interest in pursuing a career in teaching.
“The experience of learning how to work with the kids [is a benefit],” said Krizanic, who added teaching is something that has to be learned by doing.
“It’s like teaching someone how to walk,” said Krizanic. “You know how to walk but trying to put it into words [is difficult].”
An added bonus for the student teachers is the fact that there is no class on Fridays. Both the teachers and students get to have a free hour during this time.
The work Krizanic has done with the underclassmen students is already paying off.
“The kids are improving,” said Krizanic. “I’m seeing a big difference already and it’s only been [about] three weeks.”
This is mirrored when freshman Emily Potter, a student who spends her lunch learning in the class told The Highlander that she is really benefiting from coming during her lunch.
“It’s really helping me out,” said Potter.
Potter decided that when she is a junior or senior, she would like to be a tutor who can help others in her position.
