Peers with Purpose

*Primary Observation*
(1) Rote memorization is not sufficient for learning high school level math concepts.
(2) Students are most receptive to learning from peers

*Design Challenge*
How might we harness the influence and relatability of older students to tutor and motivate underclassmen toward stronger math achievement?

*Solution Approach*
Incentivize high-performing upperclassmen to serve as peer tutors for 9th and 10th graders, with the dual goal of improving math proficiency and building leadership capacity. Peer math tutors will model solution steps and serve as a student counsel in providing suggestions to administration and staff on teaching strategies that were successful for them.

*Reflections*
(1) EOC data reflected that all students that were consistent in attending after school tutoring passed the Algebra EOC
(2) LPQ student scores improved by 30% compared to last year
(3) Overwhelming positive feedback from students who participated in peer tutoring; students quoted as saying "I have a much better understanding of quadratics after being tutored by student peers" and "I felt more relaxed with peers and less anxious about getting questions wrong".

*Additional Participants*
Mr. Alhassan Taah and Mr. Danquah