The formulas on the chalkboard blurred into unintelligible sequences of numbers, sign, and letters. The textbook, despite its thickness, cast little illumination.

The instructor’s explanations seemed profound, but somehow could not penetrate.

I was forced to face an unfortunate truth. Despite my ability to maintain straight As in my other general education course work, I was going to fail Algebra 1. For the second time.

Like many of my fellow De Anza students, I met a monster in basic math courses. It was diffi cult to be willing to find the extra time to devote to math success, as well as admit that I needed extra help. Yet it was the thought of failing a third or fourth time, or perhaps even seeing a lack of math completion prevent me from graduating and transferring, that pushed me to investigate and join De Anza’s Math Performance Success Program.

The MPS program combines a variety of elements to produce a magic formula for student success rates in math. The key element of the program is the added instruction time; students spend two hours a day, for a total of ten hours in week, in class. A portion of the class time is spent working collaboratively on activities which review that day’s subject material.

The extended instruction time makes up for the accelerated learning pace of the quarter system, and the in-class group work does away with passive and unproductive class attendance. The program also utilizes carefully chosen instructors with very effective teaching styles, as well as provides both in-class and out-of-class tutoring.

Students are encouraged to turn to classmates for help and to form study groups of their own.

After I joined MPS, the unimaginable started happening; my quizzes and tests came back not only with As, but with with perfect scores.

I was able to stuff my “minus zero” exams into my folder while putting in half as much out-of-class study time as before. Math was no longer an unconquerable beast.

To join MPS, visit Herminio Hernando in the Student and Community Services Building or call him at 408-864-8851. Spots are competitive, so don’t delay.

The MPS program starts in fall with Math 112, and concludes in the spring with Math 10, taking students from basic algebra to the level of math needed to transfer for majors without additional math requirements. Students may join midyear. Happy logarithmic functions.