BEACON FALLS — Woodland Regional High School students are getting the extra help they need in a new math lab this year.
Since the beginning of the school year, there have been over 200 visits to the lab, according to Mathematics Department Chairwoman Andrea Gaetano.
Woodland’s average math SAT score for the class of 2018 was 508, one point above the state average, Gaetano said.
The new classroom is modeled after successful math labs in Wolcott and Trumbull, Gaetano said.
The lab is staffed by a certified math teacher all day and is open during and after school.
“It’s super accessible to kids,” Gaetano said.
Since many students have extracurricular activities after school, she said they want to get their math done during the day.
“We’re just trying to make it really warm and inviting place to come and get extra help in math,” Gaetano said.
Students can bring their Chromebooks and access online textbooks and Khan Academy for additional practice.
Teachers can send students to the lab if they’re struggling to complete homework or need help preparing for a test, but Gaetano is hoping students will learn to come on their own.
Math honor society members have volunteered to tutor during their study hall as part of their community service requirement, Gaetano said.
At first, freshman Krystle Fortier said she didn’t think she needed extra help, but Algebra I proved harder than she thought it would be.
“As I got the help, it got a lot easier for me,” Fortier said.
From a failing grade the first week of school, Fortier said her grade has jumped to 74 with the extra help.
“I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to go there because it made a huge difference,” Fortier said.
She said she goes every other day during study hall. At first, she went for help on homework and to finish missing work.
“Since I’m getting most of my work in on time, I practice more difficult problems for me that I don’t understand,” Fortier said.
