When homework has Kern County students stumped, the solution has often been just a phone call — or TV remote — away. For more than two decades, “Do the Math,” a free, standards-based math tutoring show produced by KCSOS’s Kern Education Television Network (KETN), has been helping 4th–12th graders tackle everything from fractions to algebra. The program returns for its 24th season on Sept. 9, continuing its mission to make math less intimidating and a lot more fun.
Host and executive producer Michael Cushine says the show works because it takes the frustration out of learning at home.
“Often times, parents and students get frustrated with each other because of the different methods used to teach mathematics between the generations,” he said. “We try to offer different methods to reach the solution to show there isn’t only one correct answer. It’s better to solve one problem, five different ways than to just solve five different problems.”
Although math remains the foundation, “Do the Math” has grown into something bigger, incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. A new segment, “The STEAM Yard Showdown,” will challenge students from different schools to team up and put their knowledge to the test while exploring new technologies at the county’s brand-new STEAM Yard makerspace.
“The idea is to get young people to understand that what they are learning in school will serve them well when they get into a career,” Cushine said. “It isn’t just about crunching numbers any longer. It’s about collaborating with others to find different strategies when approaching a problem.”
Each week, the live program also features special guests — from local partners like CALM and the Kern County Museum to international experts who have shown everything from the math behind rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Station to the formulas behind glassblowing at the Corning Museum of Glass. Students who call in aren’t just getting answers to their homework; thanks to a partnership with Struggly.com, they also have the chance to play interactive games designed to sharpen problem-solving skills.
“Do the Math” airs live most Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school year from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Spectrum Channel 15 in Bakersfield, Channel 19 in California City, Boron, and Mojave, and Channel 180 in Rosamond. Free phone-in tutoring is available from 4 to 5:30 p.m. by calling (661) 636-4357 or toll-free at (866) 636-6284.
By Robert Meszaros
Rob Meszaros is Director of Communications for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, where he has served since 2012. In his role, Meszaros oversees media relations, internal and external communication strategies, publications, Marcom, branding, and multi-media content creation. Before joining KCSOS, Meszaros was the PIO for CSU Bakersfield and earlier worked for seven years at The Bakersfield Californian.