High school students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Upward Bound Math & Science Center program make quick use of their class time. They deliberate and rehearse the elements of simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences. Stretching their young minds is David Franke, a longtime Language Arts “coach.”
“Good job, Isaiah! (Ray)” said Franke in response to the teenager’s correct answer to his question, “What kind of sentence do you construct when joining a compound sentence with a dependent clause?”
Franke’s English class is one of a series of courses being offered to 32 students participating in the summer component of the Math & Science program, held on the SIUE campus. Franke is a part-time instructor for SIUE’s Instructional Services and a tutor in the Writing Center.
This year’s schedule consisted of geometry, algebra II, English/literature, computer science, anatomy and physiology. Students also had the opportunity to participate in three workshops on graph theory and networks. Volunteering to teach the workshops were Gunes Ercal, assistant professor in SIUE’s Computer Science Department; Xin Chen, assistant professor in SIUE’s Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department; and John Matta, a graduate student in the School of Engineering.
Other volunteers adding to the educational benefits of the summer program were scholars Karina Arroyo and Liz Howze from the nonprofit organization Golden Apple. Golden Apple’s mission is to “inspire, develop and support teacher excellence in Illinois, especially in schools of need.”
The Math & Science summer program ends Friday.
“For students to give up their summer to participate in the program,” said program director Elke Harris-McIntosh, “shows how much they value this educational opportunity.
“This summer program can be intense, but fun!” Harris-McIntosh continued. “Students are learning new concepts and reviewing some old ones. These are concepts and values that they will be able to use throughout their lives.”
One lesson on values was taught through “The Reality Store” workshop presented by the SIUE Career Development Center. The students took turns at a roulette wheel. Each was assigned a job and an associated income as a result of having been a high school dropout or having earned a high school diploma, an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.
Students used their monthly income to pay for housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, child care, clothing and more. The game was revised and coordinated by Robin Kilpatrick, counselor, SIUE Career Development Center.
“My reality goal has been to get a good education and make use of all the opportunities that come my way,” said 16-year-old Martell Cotton, a math and science student. “I plan to be prepared, get a good ACT score and a good education.”
In “The Reality Store” game, Martell spun the wheel and learned her fate: a high school dropout with three children and a husband. Martell’s assigned employment was a pizza delivery person with a monthly net pay of $1,015.
“I was devastated,” Martell said of her fictitious job. “I want to be an anesthesiologist.”
“This is a good program,” said Martell, a junior at Cahokia High School who has been a Math & Science student since the 9th grade. “I have learned a lot in these past years. I expect to do well on my ACT because of it.”
Sixteen-year-old Marcus Brown commented specifically on the English class with Franke. “I like this English class,” said the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School student. “Mr. Franke makes it so I can better comprehend the information. He is a good teacher.”
Franke has been a language arts instructor with the Math & Science summer program for five years, said program counselor Judith Sams. Franke graduated from SIUE in 1974 with a bachelor’s in elementary education. He received a master’s in education from SIUE in 1984.
“Mr. Franke has such energy and love for the subject and the students,” Sams said. “The students can tell how much he cares about them.”
Seventeen-year-old Brian Brown has participated in the Math & Science summer program for the past three years and realizes how helpful it has been.
“When talking about my future,” said the junior at East St. Louis High School, “I no longer say if I go to college. I say when I go to college.
“Upward Bound has taught me that if I apply myself and do my best in high school,” said Brian, who is the top 10 percent of his class, “the sky is the limit for me. I know I have a very bright future as an engineer.”
Also expressing his gratefulness for the program and the program director was 16-year-old Darwin Harris.
“This summer session has been great for me. Mrs. McIntosh (affectionately known as Mrs. Mac) has taken care of everything,” said Harris, a junior at Cahokia High School. “She really cares about us. After high school, I plan to attend Grand Valley State University and major in communications and geography to become a broadcaster or a meteorologist. My Upward Bound experience has shown that I can do it.”
The SIUE Upward Bound Math & Science program is designed to prepare participants for post-secondary education and motivate their exploration of science, mathematics and related education professions. Participants receive tutorial instruction in science, math, language arts, foreign language and computer/laboratory instruction. The program also offers a six-week summer residential component, where University faculty members instruct introductory courses in science, math, language arts, foreign language and computer literacy.
Photo Information: Martell Cotton, Upward Bound Math & Science student, works on an exercise in her English composition class.
David Franke, part-time instructor/writing tutor with SIUE Instructional Services and English teacher for the Upward Bound Math & Science summer program, makes a grammatical point to a class of attentive high school students.
Golden Apple Scholar Karina Arroyo reviews English reading material with Upward Bound Math & Science students Donovan Crowder and Marcus Brown (foreground).