NW tutor gives ABCs of math

By Matt Koper/reporter

Rolando Flores has a degree in math but didn’t fully understand the subject until he started tutoring other students in the subject.

Flores, a math tutor, gave the ABC’s of Math presentation Sept. 9.  on NW Campus and spoke on how to succeed in a math course.

“Being able to explain something to someone else means you understand it,” he said. “We don’t just learn from our teachers—we learn just as much from other students.”

The ABC’s of math are designed to help students succeed not only in math but other classes as well, he said.

“A” stands for attend, Flores said, stressing why it is so important to be in the classroom.

“Things come up, I get it,” he said,” but every minute you are not in class is a minute lost. And if you don’t understand something, it doesn’t mean you never will.”

Learning is a process, he said.

“Just because things don’t make sense four out of five days when a teacher explains it doesn’t mean things won’t click on the fifth day,” he said. “If you’re not there, you miss that opportunity.”

“B” means be prepared, Flores said.

“It’s a math class, so you know what is expected,” he said. “You’re going to be solving problems and taking notes. It’s a subject that takes time, and just doing homework isn’t enough.”

He explained why rote memorization is not an ideal way to learn.

“In math, you can’t just memorize your homework for the test and think you understand it,” he said. “The question is, why do things work like they do?”

“C “ means communicate. He discussed why it is important to communicate with teachers.

“Believe it or not, professors are regular people who like to talk,” he said. “That is why they want you to come to them during their office hours,” Flores said.

“I once was in another faculty member’s office talking to him about football and when a student walked in, he asked me to leave,” Flores said. “It was more important to him to have students feel like they could drop by than us chit-chatting.”

NW student Boyce Fenn said he left the presentation with a new idea and approach on how to prepare for his tests.

“I came here today because I really struggle with math, and I left here with ideas on how to be ready for my next test,” he said. “The ABC’s approach will definitely be helpful in the long run.”