Press
Teacher Makes Algebra a Simple Equation
By John Canalis, Press Telegram | July 27, 2008
Algebra was not my strength in what they used to call junior high. More to the point: I was terrible at it, wearing out patient teachers and tutors alike.
Not to worry, Lora Kermode says on a recent morning over coffee in the breezeway of the World Trade Center in Long Beach. Read full article >
SoCal 'Teacher-Preneur' Helps Students, Teachers, Parents Overcome 'Math Phobias'
News Release | November 16, 2010
Lakeside Middle School students’ math scores have risen dramatically ever since its teachers incorporated new learning methodologies last summer from GEMDAS® Educational Services, LLC, a company founded by Lora Kermode, a former teacher with vast experience helping at-risk youth in inner-city schools overcome their math phobias. Read full article >
Teacher-Preneur' Helps Lakeside Middle School Boost Math Proficiency
By Tanya Huang, East County Magazine | November 29, 2010
Lakeside Middle School students’ math scores have risen dramatically ever since its teachers incorporated new learning methodologies last summer from GEMDAS® Educational Services, LLC, a company founded by Lora Kermode, a former teacher with vast experience helping at-risk youth in inner-city schools overcome their math phobias. Read full article >
Teacher of the Year Shares Skills
By Kelly Puente, Press Telegram | December 25, 2010
When Lora Kermode first started teaching and went to the local teacher supply store, she couldn’t find good, effective math posters to use in the classroom because they were not user-friendly for the students at all. The posters she found actually made the concepts seem more complicated than necessary. They were too small to use during daily instruction and they had way too much text on them—very intimidating to any student who has the slightest fear of math. So that’s one of the reasons why Kermode personally developed her own innovative, user-friendly visual aids to use in the classroom. They started out hand-made on colored construction paper. Once she started her company, she worked with a graphic artist so the posters could be mass-produced. Read full article >
Summer Algebra Program Opens Long Beach Branch
By Stephanie Minasian, Gazettes.com | August 3, 2011
When Renaissance High School sophomore Quinn Davis entered seventh grade, her math skills tested at a third grade level.
It wasn’t until her mother, Nanette Davis, discovered the Summer Algebra Institute (SAI) taught at West Angeles Methodist Church, in Los Angeles, that Quinn’s algebra scores began to make a steady incline. Read full article >
Long Beach Teens Get Algebra Help
By Kelly Puente, Press Telegram | August 3, 2011
For 13-year-old Malik Tate, like many teens, math isn’t his forte.
The Newcomb Academy student said he excels in English, history and gym class but sadly didn’t pass seventh-grade pre-algebra last year. Read full article >
What They're Saying...
“I use the GEMDAS® strategies...daily. ...These tools have helped my students tremendously…” —Stacey Benuzzi, 8th Grade Pre-Algebra / Algebra Teacher, Long Beach USD“VERY applicable. Finally a good PD! It was very refreshing to finally have a Professional Development that was both applicable and narrowed to one subject.” — Matt Grosenbach, 7th / 8th Grade Math Teacher, Saipan
