Wylie, Texas - February 13, 2008

Starbucks gives students window of understanding

Math teacher tutors kids at local coffee shop

By Brooke Hoffard
Special contributor

With pencils, paper and money in hand, Wylie East students were anxious to get started writing on the windows. As the clock ticked, one by one, students made their way through the Starbucks doors for their tutorial with Jodi LaRoe, WEHS Algebra I teacher.

“My students really seem to enjoy the tutorial at Starbucks.

They like the laid-back atmosphere, plus they get to eat treats and drink coffee,” LaRoe.

Drinking coffee isn’t the only thing that happens at the local Starbucks. LaRoe holds math tutorials at the Wylie Starbucks for her students.

Penny Trammell, Wylie East ibrary aide, said she wandered into the coffee shop and noticed the students hard at work. She said she watched as they worked out math problems on windows and studied at tables. LaRoe also helped students with their work individually.

“What a wonderful way to show off our great students to the Wylie community,” Trammell said.

With the tutorials at Starbucks, LaRoe said she has seen many improvements in her students’ grades, including attitudes and math abilities. She has even witnessed new friendships form, she said.

“A lot of my students have learned that you cannot study math by just looking at it. You must do it,” LaRoe said.

Student Chelsea Johnson said she finds it easier to learn the math concepts outside the classroom. “The atmosphere of Starbucks is much easier to concentrate than at school,” Johnston said.

Brooke Hoffard is a Wylie East High School freshman.