Helping everything add up

Deirdre Newman

On a recent afternoon, Corona del Mar High School eighth-grader

Veronica Friedman was working on her math ratio homework. Teacher Tina

Polychronopoulos sat on a desk next to her and helped her to convert

inches to yards. Five minutes later, another teacher, Eleanor Moore, came

by to help her cross-cancel so she could finish the problem.

This type of individual attention is characteristic of the school’s

new math clinic, which in only its second month is becoming a popular

after-school destination.

Teachers who operate the clinic say it’s a great opportunity to help

the students who are struggling mathematically.

“The bottom line is they need some one-on-one attention,” Paul Orris

said. “In the classroom, it’s hard to give them that.”

Senior Sloan Minges would attest to that. He comes to the math clinic

for reinforcement.

“I need to see it for a couple of times before I actually understand

it,” he said.

The clinic, which meets for six hours a week, is funded by the Harbor

Boulevard of Cars. It is based on a successful program at Newport Harbor

High School, Assistant Principal Lee Gaeta said.

Before the clinic started, students relied on peer tutoring or

invested in costly private tutors, said Jill Money, a PTA board member.

Money’s son, John, goes to the clinic for help with algebra.

“I think it’s just wonderful,” Money said. “I had to have him get

private tutoring on occasion, which is very expensive, so it’s so nice to

have it as another option. I also like the factor that the teachers

themselves know more of the curriculum that’s being taught.”

Some students come because they are recommended by their teachers.

Others come of their own volition.

Junior Dave Jackson recently visited the clinic to redeem himself for

a test he did poorly on.

“I didn’t do too well because I focused too much on one part and now

I’m here going over the mistakes on my test and getting ready for a

retest,” David said. “There are a lot of distractions in class that take

away from learning.”

Junior Kristina Tucci said she comes to the clinic because math is her

weakest subject.

“I have trouble understanding mixture problems,” she said.

The clinic is also attracting students who say they value spending

extra time after school honing their mathematical skills.

“I just want to get ahead so I can learn faster,” said Albert Lu, an

11th-grader who was working on his geometry.

* IN THE CLASSROOM is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot education

writer Deirdre Newman visits a campus in the Newport-Mesa area and writes

about her experience.