For many students, learning new math concepts is difficult and teachers don’t always have time to answer every question in a 42-minute class period.

But instead of struggling on their own, or waiting until the next day to get help, students at Tyrone High School can get help from one of their peers who already took the class.

The Tyrone math department peer tutor program recruits students who excel at math to help other students during the school day as a tutor. The program began about five years ago and has approximately 15-20 students enrolled each semester.

According to math department chair Michele Marasco, having peer tutors in class is a win-win for everyone.

The class counts as an elective for the student tutors, struggling students get extra help, and the teacher gets more time to spend with the students that need the most help.

“Since we started having peer tutors in class, it has helped to improve our Keystone Algebra scores significantly,” Marasco said.

The students who serve as tutors are able to build confidence in their math skills and help others at the same time.

”As a math peer tutor, you are always put in classes you have already taken so you can help the students with any questions they may have,” senior math tutor Mattie Cherry said.

The peer tutors are highly appreciated by both the teachers and the students.

“Sometimes there are so many students that need help because I can’t get around to all of them in the period,” math teacher Tiffany Smith said.

Student tutors help the teachers with student questions and work one-on-one with students that need intensive help.

“I enjoy helping the teachers and kids a lot. It’s nice interacting with them,” junior peer tutor Jaida Parker said.

Any student who is good at math and likes to help people can sign up to be a peer tutor. The teachers get to pick their tutors, so most of the time they know what the students’ capabilities are.

“I help the students [by] helping them solve problems. Sometimes the information might make more sense coming from a student’s perspective,” said junior peer tutor Stephanie Ramsey.

Teachers often recommend someone to try peer tutoring based on their abilities in math and communication skills.

“Mrs. Smith came to me after my freshman year and told me I would be good at helping students,” said junior Emma Getz.

The math department set up this program as a way to get students to help students and learn how to work with different people.

”I think it is a great program. The peer tutors learn how to help others and develop good communication skills,” said math teacher Chelsea Markle.