Math students at Parkland
experience a taste of
internationalism
*
BY TEV1N STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
When discussing the
subject of math, fun and
imagination aren't usually
words that come to mind.
But for the students in
Brigette Wilks IB
(International
Baccalaureate) Math
Studies I course at Parkland
Magnet High School, they
are part of every lesson.
The course is intended
to engage learning while
taking the students outside
of the classroom to famil
iarize them with the real
world.
On Tuesday May, 27,
the students in Wilks' class
presented "A Taste of
Internationalism." Each
student had to imagine he
or she was well into his or
her career and were plan
ning a vacation to a country
of his or her choice, and
1
come up with a presenta
tion relating to that country.
From musical perform
ances to commercials, the
students showed the par
ents and staff in attendance
the many ways high school
math can be exciting.
Wilks, a former flight
attendant, said the IB
course was perfect for her
because she loves math and
travel.
"Our theme is interna
tionalism," Wilks said.
"I've done that, so to be
able to engage these stu
dents in a real way was per
fect."
While on their dream
vacations, students were
responsible for calculating
all expenses and currency
exchange.
As expected, when you
hear IB Math, some studies
were reluctant to take the
course.
Annie Simeon said at
first she didn't want to take
the class, but Wilks made
an impact on the first day
of class and she realized
this class was unlike any
other.
"On the first day, she
made a rap," said Annie
"After that, I knew I made
the right decision to take
the class."
Wilks said although a
lot of her students didn't
really enjoy math at the
beginning, through engage
ment she changed their
minds.
"It's amazing with what
these kids were able to
come up with just because
they were having fun and
engaging."
The class is available to
juniors and seniors. An IB
Math Studies II course is
also available. The seniors
in the class believe that the
class has really helped
them prepare for college
and life after college.
Senior Kyra Brown,
who happens to be the
granddaughter of Wilks,
will be attending North
Carolina A&T University
in the fall.
Kyra said she knows
that she will look back on
this class 10 years from
now and remember the
bonds and friendships she
made with her classmates.
"I will be studying jour
nalism at A&T," Brown
said. "I know the things we
learned has really prepared
me for working with others
and using math in the real
world."
Wilks said her students
are a group of go getters
and she has no doubt that
they will all be successful.
Seven students in the
class will be graduating in
June while many of the jun
iors say they will take the
second course next year.
"I have a classroom full
of go getters,"said Wilks
"They want it, and they're
going to go get it."
1
Photo by Erin Mizelle for the Winston-Salem Chronicle
Dejur McDean, Chanze BlacknaU, Suzanne Leyva, Forrest Henderson,
Annie Simeon and Miaysha Bryant, are seniors at Parkland Magnet School and
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