Classical students happy to spend vacation honing math, English skills

LYNN – For most teenagers, summer is about relaxing, having fun and most importantly a vacation from school.However, for a group of nine Lynn Classical High School students, the month of July has been about improving their English skills and getting ready for the math portion of the MCAS.Classical teacher Jackie Burke is running the summer session, which she said “has been very helpful” for students who attend class Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon for four weeks.The main focus of the summer session is to prepare students for the math section of the MCAS. The students range from 15 to 18 years old. Also in the class, there are students who will be taking the MCAS next fall as sophomores for the first time as well as seniors who are taking it, hopefully, for the last time.Along with mathematics, students are working on English as a second language.”They are really thankful for this class. They don’t speak English at home,” Burke said.The students break off into small groups and work on math problems while speaking in English.”They work so well in groups,” Burke said. “The small setting really helps them.””We need to be prepared for the MCAS and we want to get a good score,” said student Nahid Hasan. “If you need any help, this class helps you solve the problem.”The students practice using a copy of last year’s MCAS and the method is working.”I have been learning a lot of stuff,” said student Linda Fonseca. “I have learned a lot of stuff I didn’t know before.”Fonseca has noticed an improvement in her math and English skills, and so has her teacher.”The improvement is crazy,” Burke said. “I give them a practice test in the beginning of the week and they learn so quickly.”The group also takes breaks and mini field trips.”Four hours is a lot of math, especially when they are used to 45-minute classes,” Burke said.”We will go outside and have relay races as a break,” she added. “We get all hot and sweaty and then come back inside and refocus again. It is almost like they appreciate coming back inside to learn.”The class also takes field trips. This past week, the class went out to breakfast. It was the first time the nine students have ever been to an American-style restaurant.”It was a treat for them. I said if they do well on their test I will take them out and they did,” Burke said. The class prepared for the occasion by learning about different styles of American breakfast food and even pretending to order with Burke as their waitress.Burke feels a tremendous sense of pride in her students.”I am really proud of them. They are not getting school credit for this. They are so motivated and come in here with smiles on their faces every day,” Burke said. “I have gotten to know a certain group of my students better. I have gotten to know them as individuals, which is great.”Along with getting to know her students better, Burke has enjoyed watching friendships develop.”We have students from all over; from Colombia to Bangladesh. There are so many different cultures here,” Burke said. “To see them become friends and speak in English to each other has been nice.””It has been fun working together,” Fonseca said.While the students have been enjoying their new friendships, doing well on the MCAS is their main priority.”I feel ready and prepared for the MCAS. I think I will do well,” Hasan said.