Incoming Holly High School freshman find that math can be fun

HOLLY, Michigan – Participating in a summer math program on a voluntary basis for zero credit … teaching a summer math program on a voluntary basis for no pay … something doesn’t add up.

But that’s exactly what happened this year during the BASE Summer Math Program at Holly High School.

The program, geared toward incoming freshmen to better prepare them for Algebra I, was attended by 24 students, Holly High School math teacher Nathan Kidwell explained to the school board Monday night.

The program was taught by one administrator from among HHS math teachers with the help of two student teachers, one from Oakland University and the other from the University of Michigan-Flint. Classes were taught for four weeks during the summer, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9-11:30 a.m.

Kidwell said there was an hour of instruction, a half-hour break, and another hour of instruction and journaling.

Students participating in the program had four rules they were required to follow: they had to attend every class, be on time for every class, complete all of their homework on time and if they break any of the rules, they were gone.

Kidwell was pleased to report a 96-percent attendance rate, 97 percent of the students were on time for each class, and 100 percent of the five- to 10-question homework assignments were completed.

“We were very excited about that,” Kidwell said. “The homework answers were not always right, but they tried.”

Once administrators assessed the results of the program, there was significant measurable improvement. “Great results in just 20 hours,” said Kidwell of the total program hours.

Kidwell said math teachers will check in with the 24 students who participated in the program throughout the year to see how they’re doing. Supplemental instruction is also being planned for Wednesday evenings.

In the future, Kidwell said plans are to extend the program to Sherman Middle School students in seventh and eighth grade, and to geometry and Algebra II for incoming sophomores and juniors.