tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post6881715124010278106..comments2024-03-22T13:39:55.941-07:00Comments on Math Mama Writes...: Math Mama's Advice: Tips for Helping Older College StudentsSue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-12947588782742500892010-12-21T15:03:29.015-08:002010-12-21T15:03:29.015-08:00Check out the "focus on basics" numeracy...Check out the "focus on basics" numeracy newsletter here: <br />http://www.ncsall.net/?id=481 <br /> <br />Another article that had me sayign "Amen!" rather often was http://www.transitionmathproject.org/dev-ed/10spring-workshop/doc/stigler_dev-math.pdf -- students don't know to reason when they're tackling math. THey may or may not know how... many of them could learn it... but they automatically go to "what is the procedure associated with these numbers?" and often it's wrong.SiouxGeonzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14852040976080951492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-59858188912149603402010-12-20T18:02:52.216-08:002010-12-20T18:02:52.216-08:00Factoring?! Ironic that I just wrote about that, b...Factoring?! Ironic that I just wrote about that, but didn't include any ideas for teaching it well. I'm not really sure what works best, but I have some ideas. I'll write another post on this in a few days. (Last year, I think I wrote a big post on xmas day.)Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-9721886437500102002010-12-20T09:10:20.360-08:002010-12-20T09:10:20.360-08:00Sue, thank you so much for your thoughtful respons...Sue, thank you so much for your thoughtful response. You're absolutely right about the older ladies wanting to "get it". They work so hard in our math lab - it's very inspiring and humbling to know that many (almost all) are also single working moms. Because many other aspects of their lives are hard or painful, my desire is that the math part be somewhat of a pleasant, rewarding experience.<br />I agree with Busy Day Cake that math wasn't taught well over the years - I was one of the victims, so I can empathize with my students' frustrations. <br /><br />Regarding groups - yes, they are awesome and everything good, however not logistically possible for some of the ladies I help. But you raise an excellent point about the one doing the tutoring is the one doing the learning. I think I'll try asking the student to try to explain to me first: what are we trying to do and second: how might we do it. I definitely need your advice here because so often the students will write down the problem and then go "now what?" There seems to be a large disconnect somewhere in the "solve for x" or "simplify" instructions.<br /><br />Regarding a specific area: factoring trinomials and the FOIL method can be a painful and steep learning curve. I know the tricks, but my experience (perhaps yours as well) has been that more tricks = greater confusion, so I try to keep the factoring process to one thing (these are the simple trinomials that don't need the quad formula to be solved). But here's what I need: A simple analogy to explain what we're doing. For example, to explain the distributive property, I use spreading peanut butter and jelly on EVERY piece of bread. Okay, it makes no sense when I write it here, but in the lab I have a cartoon or two showing:<br />peanut butter( wheatbread + rye bread). Anyways, some little story telling deal about factoring trinomials would be great - I gladly welcome any advise!<br /><br />PaulaPaulanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-59123354970236201392010-12-20T06:58:26.999-08:002010-12-20T06:58:26.999-08:00And thanks for commenting, BDC! (I followed the li...And thanks for commenting, BDC! (I followed the link on your 'name', and saw lots of intriguing comments. Raw milk is easy to get, here in the Bay Area. I'd like to hear more about your daughter's school. Email me if you want to chat. suevanhattum on hotmail.)Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-60297141222324332162010-12-20T02:49:45.095-08:002010-12-20T02:49:45.095-08:00I also think it's important to acknowledge tha...I also think it's important to acknowledge that math wasn't taught very well "back in the day". So many people had disempowering or even traumatic experiences. We know so much more about how to teach math conceptually so that more people can access it and be empowered.<br /><br />Thanks for your blog Sue. I'm a K-12 math specialist in Ohio.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com