Students and parents solve math puzzles while enjoying pizza

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Fractions, percentages, integers and proportions may not sound appetizing to some.

But about 15 parents of Rayen Early College Middle School students put their pencils to paper Monday night at MVR to relive math class. And this math class had pizza.

The class, “Come Back to Seventh Grade Math,” was led by Maureen Donofrio, a math teacher at Rayen Early College Middle School. It’s something she’s been thinking about doing for a long time.

“Parents come into parent-teacher conferences and they tell me they don’t remember how to do the math that their children are doing,” Donofrio said.

Reviewing those concepts not only helps the parents to help their children, but it also provides extra time for the students to brush up on what they’re learning.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Krish Mohip, Youngstown City School District’s chief executive officer. “Parents get a refresher so they can help their kids. Students get a review of math concepts and everyone is having a great time. I love it.”

Donofrio worked the problems out – with help from the students and parents – on a dry erase board, allowing the room to see the work.

Hands of both students and parents shot up when the teacher asked a question.

MVR pizza as well as cookies, brownies and other treats accompanied the math problems and those who correctly solved problems won prizes.

Donofrio hopes to offer the parent-student math class again next school year, maybe one class per grading period.