'Do the Math' set to return for 22nd season Sept. 12

For more than two decades, Kern County 4th through 12th graders in need of a little extra help with their math homework have tuned in to “Do the Math,” a standards-based mathematics TV show and free tutoring program produced by KCSOS’s Kern Education Television Network (KETN). The 22nd season will begin on Sept. 12.

Host and executive producer Michael Cushine, along with several math tutors, will work with students on air to solve their homework and other standards-based problems. Parents are also invited to speak with tutors on how to better help their children at home.

“Often times, parents and students get frustrated with each other because of the different methods used to teach mathematics between the generations. We try to offer different methods to reach the solution to show there isn’t only one correct answer,” Cushine said. “It’s better to solve one problem, five different ways than to just solve five different problems.”

While mathematics is the core of “Do the Math” programming, the show has evolved into all things STEAM, with an emphasis on how science, technology, engineering, arts, and of course, math is applied within real- world situations and careers. A segment called “Math in the Real World” features on-location segments at local businesses, organizations and other community locations where industry professionals demonstrate practical applications of STEAM concepts in their everyday jobs.

“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.”

The live TV show will air from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. most Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school year. Monthly guests from the Bakersfield Museum of Art, Science 4 Kern and the Panama Buena Vista Union School District’s Music Department will demonstrate hands-on learning with local students. In addition to hearing from career experts around the world, “Do the Math” is fortunate to speak with experts from the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center throughout the entire season.

Free, phone-in tutoring is available from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays by calling (661) 636-4357 or toll free at (866) 636-6284. Students can also email their questions to [email protected].

“Do the Math” can be seen in Bakersfield on Spectrum Cable Ch. 15, in California City, Boron and Mojave on Ch. 19, and in Rosamond on Ch. 180.

For more information, visit http://www.dothemathonline.net. You can also follow “Do the Math” on social media: Facebook: @dothemathbakersfield, Instagram: @_dothemath_, Twitter: @dothemathbako, and LinkedIn: Do the Math.