NATCHEZ &8212; Math is more fun when you can show off a little.

But the students at Robert Lewis Middle School weren&8217;t the only ones showing their skill Monday afternoon. The parents got quite into it, too.

Violet Payne said her daughter LaPorshala, had underestimated her mom&8217;s math ability.

&8220;I made A&8217;s in school, but I didn&8217;t take advantage of taking more math classes,&8221; Violet said.

Violet wants her eighth-grader to score well on next week&8217;s Algebra I state test, so she&8217;ll be on an advanced placement path for high school.

The pair was one of three working through a test-training course being offered at the school all week long.

Students work through practice test booklets with parental help, and math teacher Leigh Anne Mason helps with the tough questions.

Once problems are completed, Mason reviews the answers and gives test-taking tips.

&8220;To me it&8217;s so much better when the parents sit down with the kids because they are focused and they try,&8221; Mason said. &8220;They like to show what they know.&8221;

And the parents do the same.

&8220;Some of it comes back to me,&8221; Violet Payne said.

Bil-Leigh Lewis came to the program with her nephew, Davarious Clemons.

&8220;I know some of it,&8221; she said. &8220;It&8217;s getting me back to school though.&8221;

Parents who attend receive an information guide for the test that gives sample questions and tells the number and type of questions on the test.

Mason showed the students common mistakes and tricks they may encounter on the test, like using 6.9 and 9.6 in the same problem &8212; numbers students easily transpose.

Hearing those tricks and practicing the test are the keys to success though, eighth-grader Joshua McDonald said.

&8220;I&8217;m going to be practicing that test every day,&8221; he said. &8220;I&8217;m going to get the hang of it.&8221;

Parents of Algebra I students are required to attend one of several of the meetings this week. The course will be offered today from 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 to 10 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

Students in Algebra I, Biology I, U.S. History and English II will begin taking Subject Area Tests next Tuesday and finish up on Friday.