How can you make math fun for someone who just doesn’t get it? This has been a challenge for schools forever, and there is no surefire solution. But PBS is trying something a little different, which just might have better results: the PBS Math Club, a new web series that hopes to change the stigma that is associated with math for middle school students everywhere.
Referencing popular movies like Mean Girls and The Dark Knight Rises, the web series is getting on kids’ levels and making math engaging, with episode views soaring daily.
In honor of April as Math Awareness Month, we sat down with the kids involved to talk numbers, movies and lots more:
YOUNG ADULT: What was the genesis of Math Club?
Jazmine Poillinger: I think I remember hearing a story about how Dylan’s niece questioned if it was possible to be cool AND smart, thus, PBS Math Club was born!
Hannah Chang: Right now, there are so many students who struggle with math. Statistically, the majority of students don’t pass Algebra I. With the educational foundation of PBS, Math Club came into being in order to help create an outlet where students who are struggling can receive help. And what better way is there than making Youtube videos?
Grace Juliana: We wanted to develop a fun, interactive tv show that would not only let kids learn but KEEP them WANTING to learn because they are having fun with kids around their own age.
Jacob: We wanted to make these videos so kids would have a fun easy way to remember some tricky concepts in math. Hopefully, through the short lessons, they gain confidence and are proud of their enhanced math skills.
YA: What do you hope to achieve through this amazing series?
JP: We want to prove that it is possible to love math and be good at it and be cool at the same time!
HC: Honestly, if there was only a single person who benefited from this series, I would be content. But idealistically, you know, I would love for Math Club to blow up and get popular. Helping a community grow in its intelligence and ability to enjoy math would be great. I hope that in this adventure, Math Club wouldn’t lose sight of its heart: and that’s to teach math.
Jacob: If a child didn’t understand a lesson from the teacher, we try to explain it in other less complicated ways. Like parallels between math and movies for example.
YA: How have films/TV influenced your message (e.g. Mean Girls)?
HC: If you take something that’s hard to understand, like math, and create a parody or story to explain it, it just makes it easier for the person to remember. It’s like a song- once it gets stuck in your head, there’s no way to get it out. That’s what Math Club is trying to do with the fundamentals of mathematics. I have no doubt that Math Club would try anything to help students remember math.
Madison Lawlor: We have used a lot of very well known people and stories in our show to help make the learning experience more exciting and it’s nice to choose very popular ideas so people have more fun relating to what we are saying.
GJ: What do kids love? Movies. Popular movies and television shows will make kids more interested to learn and make our show more fun to watch.
Jacob: The light and dark side of the ‘Force’ is easier to understand than the negative and positive values of numbers.
YA: What kind of response have you guys had?
JP: An AWESOME one!
HC: It’s always nice to see how people are really benefiting from the hard work we put in. And that’s what we want! We truly want to see students out there. I love it when students ask questions; because that means that they truly want to understand and are actually watching the videos to learn. It makes me really happy when that happens.
GJ: Kids find it helpful and teachers have written us some nice comments. Once someone asked us to do calculus!
Jacob: We have had a great response! Kids from all over have sent emails and commented that the lessons are incredibly helpful, and even some teachers have begun using them in their classrooms.
YA: What’s next for Math Club?
HC: I have no idea. Really. There are so many things that Math Club can do now- so many branches of math that we can target and attempt to teach and make parodies for. And not knowing doesn’t really scare me. Whatever comes out of Math Club is honest and has the heart of wanting to teach others. So, for whatever’s next, I’m excited.
ML: Hopefully we can continue making more videos and progress into more advanced math concepts
Jacob: The next episode has to do with scary word problems. Don’t worry though, we have a couple tricks up our sleeve.
YA: Do you have any advice for those struggling with Math?
JP: Try taking a few steps back and going through each process slowly until you fully understand the concept and why each step is necessary in order to receive the correct answer. Or, you know, you could just watch Math Club. Either one would work.
HC: DON’T GIVE UP!! Personally, I’ve always struggled with math. My mind is so stubborn, it literally refuses to understand math. But I’ve learned that if you continue to work and try, there is no other way to grow than up.
GJ: To watch Math Club! Staying after school with a teacher or a tutor is very helpful, but Math Club should help any kid because we explain the concepts slowly.
ML: Just stick with it and power through. Work hard enough and eventually it will start to make sense.
Jacob: We think having students teach makes it more engaging and relatable. It also makes it seem like math is possible.
YA: What are three pieces of advice you’d give your younger self (math related or no!)?
JP: 1. Sit in the front of class! 2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Don’t worry – others may have the same one and they may be a little hesitant to speak up. 3. Be YOU!
ML: Don’t try to fit in! embrace your unique self . Procrastination is never the better option. You have to work through the hard to get the good
Jacob: Be yourself, Study harder, Have fun.
YA:How are Math Club leaders picked?
HC: For me, it was a little different because I’m actually the only one in Math Club that isn’t an actress. I’m just a normal student. I had heard about Math Club from one of my teachers. I thought that sending in a video wouldn’t hurt, so I did. I honestly didn’t have any expectations, so when I got an email I was so surprised. It was such a fun experience.
Jacob:We really don’t have ‘leaders’. All of us are very cooperative and love working with each other.
YA:What is the biggest takeaway you’d like people to have?
JP: Math is cool!
HC: Math is doable and fun. That’s the mentality of Math Club. If you can’t do it right away, don’t just give up, try and find other ways to learn- watch more Math Club!
GJ: We really do love math and we are doing this not only for ourselves but for children everywhere.
Jacob: You can do this!! Math is tricky, but keep persevering, and it will come!
YA:Can you tease any upcoming episodes/exciting developments?
HC: We just recently did a video with food, heh, everyone likes food. We have division, dealing with fractions, there are so many things happening and I’m so excited for you guys to see them!
ML: We have more fun characters and good skits on the way!