Educational Resources Are At Our Fingertips! Click on "Data Probe"!

Lesson Reviews E-24   Week of May 2-7, 2004 On and on we go!

New Students from Carson: Ricker (13), Tirrell (14), Miguel (15) of Carson Christian School, joined our group.

Activity the previous Saturday...Field trip to the Los Angeles Science Center and to the IMAX Theater. The show at the IMAX was entitled "Bugs! 3D" and it was a great show. The students really had a great time. Afterwards, they took in some of the scientific exhibits at the Science Center. It was then on to Universal City Walk where they were treated to a movie. This is keeping with the tradition of rewarding those students who are excelling in their respective middle and high schools. We (30, parents and students) will be attending the Staples Center for the opening game of the Los Angeles Sparks on June 1, 2004. Come along and join us!

Karla and I continued  working on the math section of the CBEST examination: Asha and I continued working on her Algebra One: Randall and I continued working  on his Geometry and other subjects. Brianna and I did graphs again and worked with PrintShop to create a colorful school assignment. Ashley and Ashlyn did homework and I offered assistance as needed. Cleasena (18), soon to graduate from Lynwood, assisted with the tutoring of the younger students. She received a minimum monetary contribution for her efforts.

On Wednesday, Richer, Tirrell and Miguel received a 3-hour introductory lecture and lesson from me on some of the basics of mathematics. At first, we had a "rap session" so as to become acquainted with each other. Rap sessions make the "nervous students" a bit more relaxed.

Asha and I reviewed her Algebra One in preparation for an upcoming exam. We have finished with the tough "word problems" concerned with distance, rate and time, and Asha now has a commanding understanding of how to find the speed of a boat in "still water" when the speed is given along with a down current and an up current. Asha and I worked approximately 20 "rate" problems and I am confident she will do well on her upcoming examination along those lines. We reviewed the graphing of straight lines, as well as the factoring of polynomials and the substitution method when solving a system of equations. I am very proud of Asha for her accomplishments in just 3 short weeks of one-on-one intense tutoring. We have stepped in and provided transportation for Asha due to her lack of transportation to the tutoring service.

Tirrell (new student) attends Carson Christian School and he is need of assistance with Algebra One. My previous "rap session" outlined his interests and his problems in school. It is for that reason that we immersed ourselves in one of his "paces" dealing with solving equations. We worked approximately 15 problems together. Working problems with students allow me the opportunity to really focus on their weaknesses, which sometimes involve positive and negative numbers, fractions, decimals and sometimes....the multiplication tables!

Thursday.....continued...Jarrell (17), Banning High School and our Student Tutor) will be graduating from High School next Month. Jarrell worked with Randall (15) on his Geometry One homework from Cabrillo High School in Long Beach. Jarrell made "A" marks in Algebra One, Two and Geometry One and Two, and he is very astute. See Jarrell's Journey for a story of educational triumph! See Jarrell's Educational History at Oprah 4.

I worked with Karla (of Carson) on her mathematical skills. We reviewed square roots and took them to a new level of understanding. We related exponents to radicals and solved many, many problems related to the manipulation of numbers raised to plus and minus powers. We also did square roots "long handed", and that is something that few remember how to do since the introduction of the Calculator. We delved into the Calculator keyboard, specifically the Sine, Cosine and Tangent. The Calculator lesson came after a review of right triangles, specifically the 30, 45 degree triangles. Karla has made considerable progress in all phases of basic math, algebra and geometry and I am certain she is now ready to pass her CBEST examination. We have used her CBEST Math book as a study guide.

Ashlyn (15) of Carson did her homework. I stood ready to assist as necessary. Jamise (21) and Cachet (20) came over to do work on the computer.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers who have the interest of their children as a first priority. God bless you for allowing me the opportunity to assist them with their education! My reward comes when they make "A" and "B" marks instead of "D" and "F" marks.