Benjamin Franklin Scholar Cole DuHaime spent his summer guiding rising seventh graders through fractions, decimals, word problems, and the beginnings of algebra, and helped them increase their confidence in math. Funding for the service opportunity was provided by the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Franklin Opportunity Fund and the Robert K. Johnson Integrated Studies Program.
A math major in Penn Arts & Sciences and Penn GSE's Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program, DuHaime served with AmeriCorps at Generation Teach STEAM Academy, a summer enrichment program in Washington, D.C. He says he became interested in the service opportunity after taking an urban education class last fall with urban studies lecturer Michael Clapper, and an early math education class last spring with Caroline B. Ebby, a senior lecturer at Penn GSE.
“I really enjoyed learning how to make math engaging and fun, and how to interact with students in ways that help them figure out the math for themselves, instead of just telling them the answers,” says DuHaime, a third-year from Union County, New Jersey.
An aspiring middle or high school math teacher, DuHaime says he sought out Generation Teach to attain real classroom experience working with a larger group of students; in his previous experience, he tutored students one-on-one.
Working with the rising seventh graders, DuHaime says, was a “really great experience.” His favorite part was connecting and building relationships with the students and watching them be excited about learning math.
DuHaime says he learned how to build strong relationships with students, and how those relationships are important to building a trusting classroom environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes.
“I really, really enjoyed the process of observing every small thing that would be able to tell me where my students were at with certain concepts,” he says. “Because it was a summer program, I had a lot of flexibility with the curriculum. I could adjust based on where my students were, and I could create different activities that would help build certain skills that they might have wanted to get stronger on or needed to get stronger on.”
One student who stood out was excited to learn math but sometimes struggled. DuHaime says he noticed that the student was having difficulty with some foundational addition and subtraction skills essential for seventh grade, so he started pulling him aside and working with him one-on-one to help him improve and feel more confident. When they were working together, DuHaime says the student always had a big smile on his face and often remarked, “Every day I’m here, I can feel myself getting smarter!”
Even though the service opportunity has ended, DuHaime says he will continue tutoring the student over the school year.
“I wanted to keep working with him,” DuHaime says. “It felt very fulfilling to be the one noticing those gaps and stepping up to fill them in. I really enjoyed being able to fill that role.”
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