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| Mathematically inclined migrants turn toward teaching |
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| Written by Maddy Houk / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | |
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A group of 20 Patterson High School migrant students have made it clear this summer that they are serious about math. Attendees in the Migrant Math Academy are sharpening their math skills while giving one-on-one math help to younger students. The students all belong to families that have moved in the past three years because of their parents’ jobs.  Graphing calculators come in handy for Patterson High School students in Art Ojeda's academy class. Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator The program is only the second in Stanislaus County. The first, in Riverbank, is 8 years old. Dressed in black T-shirts with white lettering, the academy’s Patterson High students worked in two groups at Creekside Middle School last week. While some in teacher Art Ojeda’s class compiled a Creekside Middle School survey about life skills classes, the others honed their math skills as they completed assignments and played mathematics-based games. Melissa Vargas, 17, who will be a senior at Patterson High in the fall, said the academy helped her put herself in a teacher’s shoes. “I wanted to be in the class to expand my knowledge and help other students who need help,” Vargas said. “It’s really a good experience and opportunity to see what a teacher feels like.” Academy participants tutored local children in need of a math boost after their classes and received minimum-wage pay for their efforts. Diane Fuentes, secondary counselor for migrant education, said eligible students had to be interested in math, have a C average or better in the subject and agree to be employed. The summer program, which ended Friday, included a trip to the Challenger Learning Center in Atwater, where students learned about science and space travel, and a chance to hear former gang member and Harvard graduate Richard Santana speak. Administrators will continue working with eight of the students, who will tutor younger students in math at Northmead and Apricot Valley elementary schools. Teacher Jeremy Saavedra said he sent some Creekside math students to the migrant academy for tutoring.  Photo by Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator “For me to be able to send six to eight kids over here to get one-on-one attention is extremely beneficial,” Saavedra said. “It’s not only beneficial to them, but to the tutors and to the students who stay in my classroom — I’m able to give them more attention. If I can emphasize anything, it’s that it’s a great program.” Bernie Rangel, director of the migrant program in Patterson, agreed that the academy has clear benefits. “It’s a good program to steer the students into the math and science areas,” Rangel said. “It’s something we do need the student to pursue.” Lorena Osuna and Claudia Trejo, both 17, and Ignacio Llamas, 16, said being in the math academy program was a chance to give other kids a leg up. The three tutors remember having problems with math when they were younger. Stephanie Arevalo, a 17-year-old senior, said the summer math academy fit right in with her career plans. “I wanted to experience something different and work with students,” Arevalo said. “It’s a wonderful experience, because I really want to be a teacher when I grow up.”
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