Pingree Student Builds Website, Online Store to Help Peers With Math

A sophomore at in Hamilton has come up with her own, unique program – where students can use their success to buy rewards – that helps students learn math.

The idea developed while Amal Tidjani was volunteering as a peer tutor in Pingree’s Resource Center.

“As a peer tutor,” she recounts, “I noticed that many students at various grade levels, regardless of whether they are in honors or regular math courses, had difficulty remembering important algebraic concepts. In fact, I even caught myself forgetting essential skills such as graphing both linear and quadratic equations.”

Her solution? Tidjani developed Math It Up, an algebra preparatory program that meets every Monday after school during the winter season to help students brush up on fundamental algebraic concepts.

The program’s goal, says the young math whiz, “is to not only help students reinforce their algebraic skills, but more importantly, to enhance their understanding of math as a whole.”     

In the first couple of weeks, Math It Up reviews of basic algebraic concepts including one- and two-step equations.

“Reinforcement of these topics proves beneficial as students tackle more challenging topics such as transforming equations, foiling, factoring, solving simultaneous linear equations, and problem solving,” explains Tidjani.

At Math It Up, one to two weeks of practice packets are available for each topic. In addition to practice packets, instructional videos will be uploaded onto the Math It Up website she created.

As students master algebraic concepts, they can rack up points to win exclusive items at the MIU (Math It Up) Shop that Tidjani created.

For every classwork packet a student completes, they receive 10 points, and for every homework packet they complete, they receive 20 points. By the end of the program, students can trade in their points for exclusive prizes, including a candy basket or baked goods basket at the online MIU shop.

The next step for the program, Tidjani hopes, is to help newly accepted students review before they arrive on campus in the fall.