Jump Start

Algebra can be one of the toughest courses students will take. Not because it is necessarily difficult, but because students can't relate it to real life.

In Assignment: Education.. We're going to show you how the Pinellas County School district tries to help entering high school freshman get over that hurdle, by giving them a "Jump Start" on Algebra.

--[Teacher Linda Ferreira says:] "The x-maximum is positive 2 right here."--

And that ladies and gentleman is Greek, at least it is to many of these students. But they don't teach Greek here. They teach Algebra. For these in-coming high school freshman, this is like an academic equivalent to baseball's spring training.

--[Teacher Joyce Wiley says:] "So I will need a volunteer to walk the plank. Thank you, Maria"--

120 Pinellas County students are taking advantage of a special intensive six-day Algebra course called "Jump Start." They are introduced to algebraic thinking, graphing, computer, and study skills. It's -not- compulsory. It -is- for students who did not have Algebra in eighth grade.. who are -not- in summer school.. and -are- from all over the county. Muhammed Nash rode three city buses and walked several miles to make it to the first day of class at Osceola Middle School. He says he wants to be ready for Algebra One, this fall.

--[Student Muhammad Nash says:] "I really don't know anything about Algebra really so I want to be prepared for algebra next year."--

Linda Ferreira has been teaching math for 21-years.

--[Ferreira says:] "I think the hardest part about Algebra is they don't see it as relevant to anything they do."--

But Ferreira says that is exactly why "Jump Start" is successful.. Because instructors take the anxiety out of Algebra and make it relevant.

--[Ferreira says:] "I think the most important thing they get from here is an attitude about math. I really believe in the six days they have fun, and they have a real good attitude goin' into high school."--

And as it is with all things.. a good attitude can go a long way. This is the third year of the Jump Start program in the Pinellas County School District. The program's coordinator says a tracking of last year's participating students shows Jump Start had a positive impact on their freshman Algebra performance.

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