School math story
thecugals
My daughter, Ellie, was in 3rd grade until November of this year, when we both decided we'd rather be unschooling. Last Sunday we were selling girl scout cookies at Shop'n'Save with some other third grade brownies and moms. When we arrived for our shift, one of the moms told me that the girls had struggled a little bit with making change. So I stayed close by to help any of the girls in our group who might need it. They all did. The thing is, I know that each of these girls were "taught" (with lessons and homework) how to make change by counting up in math class earlier in the year. And none of them could do it. As a new unschooler, it's reassuring to know that I'm not depriving my daughter of good learning opportunities by keeping her out of school. But it was also sad and frustrating for me to see girls looking nervous and a little embarrassed that they couldn't make change. In this case, all the school managed to teach them was math anxiety.
Beth C.
Beth C.
Julie
I got a retail job at 16 that required making change. I was taking pre-calculus at the time, but making change caused me a lot of anxiety, nervousness embarrassment, and fumbling. I started surreptitiously using a calculator when I could, just to allay the anxiety. That was DEFINITELY school-induced math anxiety. Every encounter felt like a test.
Julie M
james 2005
tyler 2007
audrey 2009
Julie M
james 2005
tyler 2007
audrey 2009
--- In [email protected], "thecugals" <thecugals@...> wrote:
>
> My daughter, Ellie, was in 3rd grade until November of this year, when we both decided we'd rather be unschooling. Last Sunday we were selling girl scout cookies at Shop'n'Save with some other third grade brownies and moms. When we arrived for our shift, one of the moms told me that the girls had struggled a little bit with making change. So I stayed close by to help any of the girls in our group who might need it. They all did. The thing is, I know that each of these girls were "taught" (with lessons and homework) how to make change by counting up in math class earlier in the year. And none of them could do it. As a new unschooler, it's reassuring to know that I'm not depriving my daughter of good learning opportunities by keeping her out of school. But it was also sad and frustrating for me to see girls looking nervous and a little embarrassed that they couldn't make change. In this case, all the school managed to teach them was math anxiety.
>
> Beth C.
>
Robyn L. Coburn
I think part of it is that making change and school math subtraction
shouldn't necessarily be the same process, and if the kids are thinking that
they have to do a subtraction sum, instead of counting upwards they will get
anxious.
You know what I mean by counting upwards - from the cost to the amount
paid - "2.46, 2.50, 3, 4, 5 dollars" into the hand instead of "2.46 from
5.00 is ..um .er 3.54 no, no 2.54 (phew)".
Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com
www.allthingsdoll.blogspot.com
shouldn't necessarily be the same process, and if the kids are thinking that
they have to do a subtraction sum, instead of counting upwards they will get
anxious.
You know what I mean by counting upwards - from the cost to the amount
paid - "2.46, 2.50, 3, 4, 5 dollars" into the hand instead of "2.46 from
5.00 is ..um .er 3.54 no, no 2.54 (phew)".
Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com
www.allthingsdoll.blogspot.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie" <jmarkoski@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 11:26 AM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Re: School math story
>I got a retail job at 16 that required making change. I was taking
>pre-calculus at the time, but making change caused me a lot of anxiety,
>nervousness embarrassment, and fumbling. I started surreptitiously using a
>calculator when I could, just to allay the anxiety. That was DEFINITELY
>school-induced math anxiety. Every encounter felt like a test.
>
> Julie M
> james 2005
> tyler 2007
> audrey 2009
>
> --- In [email protected], "thecugals" <thecugals@...> wrote:
>>
>> My daughter, Ellie, was in 3rd grade until November of this year, when we
>> both decided we'd rather be unschooling. Last Sunday we were selling
>> girl scout cookies at Shop'n'Save with some other third grade brownies
>> and moms. When we arrived for our shift, one of the moms told me that
>> the girls had struggled a little bit with making change. So I stayed
>> close by to help any of the girls in our group who might need it. They
>> all did. The thing is, I know that each of these girls were "taught"
>> (with lessons and homework) how to make change by counting up in math
>> class earlier in the year. And none of them could do it. As a new
>> unschooler, it's reassuring to know that I'm not depriving my daughter of
>> good learning opportunities by keeping her out of school. But it was
>> also sad and frustrating for me to see girls looking nervous and a little
>> embarrassed that they couldn't make change. In this case, all the school
>> managed to teach them was math anxiety.
>>
>> Beth C.
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
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07:34:00
Melissa
It's funny (not really) I always thought I was bad at math. Something happens to my brain and I just can't "see" what to do as I can with other things. It's a real "white out" in my head (hard to explain, but that's what it seems like).
What I now know is that my reactions are entirely the result of school-induced math anxiety. I see how my unschooled kids handle "math" and it is so easy and normal and - yikes - fun, that I have re-learned from them how to approach it. Some of my anxiety is going away, slowly but surely.....
In a way I am lucky to have had my experiences, and therefore my perpective, because so many people stress out about their kids learning math, and I have no idea why they get excited about it. I would never want to subject my kids to math the way I learned it (or didn't learn it as the case may be).
My youngest son is absolutely brilliant in his approach to numbers. He would have been discouraged early on in school, of that I have little doubt....
What I now know is that my reactions are entirely the result of school-induced math anxiety. I see how my unschooled kids handle "math" and it is so easy and normal and - yikes - fun, that I have re-learned from them how to approach it. Some of my anxiety is going away, slowly but surely.....
In a way I am lucky to have had my experiences, and therefore my perpective, because so many people stress out about their kids learning math, and I have no idea why they get excited about it. I would never want to subject my kids to math the way I learned it (or didn't learn it as the case may be).
My youngest son is absolutely brilliant in his approach to numbers. He would have been discouraged early on in school, of that I have little doubt....
--- In [email protected], "Julie" <jmarkoski@...> wrote:
>
> I got a retail job at 16 that required making change. I was taking pre-calculus at the time, but making change caused me a lot of anxiety, nervousness embarrassment, and fumbling. I started surreptitiously using a calculator when I could, just to allay the anxiety. That was DEFINITELY school-induced math anxiety. Every encounter felt like a test.
>
> Julie M
> james 2005
> tyler 2007
> audrey 2009
>
> --- In [email protected], "thecugals" <thecugals@> wrote:
> >
> > My daughter, Ellie, was in 3rd grade until November of this year, when we both decided we'd rather be unschooling. Last Sunday we were selling girl scout cookies at Shop'n'Save with some other third grade brownies and moms. When we arrived for our shift, one of the moms told me that the girls had struggled a little bit with making change. So I stayed close by to help any of the girls in our group who might need it. They all did. The thing is, I know that each of these girls were "taught" (with lessons and homework) how to make change by counting up in math class earlier in the year. And none of them could do it. As a new unschooler, it's reassuring to know that I'm not depriving my daughter of good learning opportunities by keeping her out of school. But it was also sad and frustrating for me to see girls looking nervous and a little embarrassed that they couldn't make change. In this case, all the school managed to teach them was math anxiety.
> >
> > Beth C.
> >
>
thecugals
--if the kids are thinking that
they have to do a subtraction sum, instead of counting upwards they will get
anxious.--
Counting upwards was what was taught, though. Maybe if they were first exposed to it in real life instead of in a math book, or maybe if they were older, or maybe if one of the moms wasn't standing over her daughter saying, "OK, he gave you $5 and the box of cookies costs $3.50, so how much change does he get?" or maybe if people who were buying cookies didn't keep saying, "This is good math practice for you", they could have relaxed and figured it out. Or maybe not, maybe later. The thing is, before unschooling I wouldn't have noticed all this. I might have just been caught up in it myself. Now I feel like I'm able to see things that most of those around me still can't--I can see the matrix! ;-) Anyway, I don't know if I would have had the courage to take my daughter out of school when she seemed to be doing fine, for the most part, if it weren't for those, especially with grown and older kids, who have shared their experiences and wisdom. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Beth C.
they have to do a subtraction sum, instead of counting upwards they will get
anxious.--
Counting upwards was what was taught, though. Maybe if they were first exposed to it in real life instead of in a math book, or maybe if they were older, or maybe if one of the moms wasn't standing over her daughter saying, "OK, he gave you $5 and the box of cookies costs $3.50, so how much change does he get?" or maybe if people who were buying cookies didn't keep saying, "This is good math practice for you", they could have relaxed and figured it out. Or maybe not, maybe later. The thing is, before unschooling I wouldn't have noticed all this. I might have just been caught up in it myself. Now I feel like I'm able to see things that most of those around me still can't--I can see the matrix! ;-) Anyway, I don't know if I would have had the courage to take my daughter out of school when she seemed to be doing fine, for the most part, if it weren't for those, especially with grown and older kids, who have shared their experiences and wisdom. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Beth C.
Isabelle
I have experienced that type of 'white out'. I would just go blank. I was terrible at math. I developed such a fear of it and the teachers that walking into class could make me feel sick. I was clueless and confused and everything went too fast for me. By the time I was finished with high school my inability to do math was such a part of my identity that I avoided whole career choices because of it. I had 'anti' math. I eventually went back to school as an adult for a programming degree because I had experience with computers and coding and wanted the degree (I'm 42 now, that degree is not as important as it was then). There were math requirements, and I had to start at the very beginning (no credit remedial courses). It was slow for me, but I filled the requirements. I absolutely believe when you are ready to learn something and need to, that is when its possible. I still have math anxiety, my mind goes blank when I'm put on the spot. I do not consider myself good at the math in those classes I took because I have no retention. They were more like hoops to jump through to get the degree than actually useful to what I do. My sons (14 & 10) who have never had a math class approach math naturally and fearlessly, without anxiety and white outs. Its a useful and fun tool for them to use, not a mountain to climb and conquer :) ~Isabelle
It's funny (not really) I always thought I was bad at math. Something happens to my brain and I just can't "see" what to do as I can with other things. It's a real "white out" in my head (hard to explain, but that's what it seems like).
What I now know is that my reactions are entirely the result of school-induced math anxiety. I see how my unschooled kids handle "math" and it is so easy and normal and - yikes - fun, that I have re-learned from them how to approach it. Some of my anxiety is going away, slowly but surely.....
In a way I am lucky to have had my experiences, and therefore my perpective, because so many people stress out about their kids learning math, and I have no idea why they get excited about it. I would never want to subject my kids to math the way I learned it (or didn't learn it as the case may be).
My youngest son is absolutely brilliant in his approach to numbers. He would have been discouraged early on in school, of that I have little doubt....
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
It's funny (not really) I always thought I was bad at math. Something happens to my brain and I just can't "see" what to do as I can with other things. It's a real "white out" in my head (hard to explain, but that's what it seems like).
What I now know is that my reactions are entirely the result of school-induced math anxiety. I see how my unschooled kids handle "math" and it is so easy and normal and - yikes - fun, that I have re-learned from them how to approach it. Some of my anxiety is going away, slowly but surely.....
In a way I am lucky to have had my experiences, and therefore my perpective, because so many people stress out about their kids learning math, and I have no idea why they get excited about it. I would never want to subject my kids to math the way I learned it (or didn't learn it as the case may be).
My youngest son is absolutely brilliant in his approach to numbers. He would have been discouraged early on in school, of that I have little doubt....
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
-=-It's funny (not really) I always thought I was bad at math.
Something happens to my brain and I just can't "see" what to do as I
can with other things. It's a real "white out" in my head (hard to
explain, but that's what it seems like).-=-
I did really well at school math until Algebra II came along when I
was fifteen. But still I have a "white out," and I think it might be
the same way some people have no way to know whether a word is spelled
correctly or not.
I don't visualize or remember numbers. I've described it as not
having a storage place for numbers. When I do remember a number, it
has to do with the sound of it or a pattern I can visualize. I can't
visualize the numerals themselves for long enough for it to do any good.
I saw a sign yesterday that said this, centered, artfully arranged on
a big sign:
Village Inn
vi
I said "Why is that "Village Inn 6'?" No, the village inn corporation
seems to be adopting a logo that is vi. Lower case. That TOTALLY
means "six." <g>
On top of my inability to remember a number (it took me a long time to
memorize my social security number, and I still don't know my bank
account number, so I carry it around with me, in my pocket).... I had
school math trauma. But the school-crazy didn't cause my inability to
remember. I used to have to write my locker combination down. I
wouldn't forget it during the week, but if there was a break from
school for a week or so, I wouldn't know it. Writing it on notebooks
didn't work. I tried that. So I used to write it very small
somewhere in the hallway. One year on a place on the wall I knew they
would paint before long--I wouldn't have done it on a new paint job.
One year on the end of a row of metal lockers. Not my row. <g>
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Something happens to my brain and I just can't "see" what to do as I
can with other things. It's a real "white out" in my head (hard to
explain, but that's what it seems like).-=-
I did really well at school math until Algebra II came along when I
was fifteen. But still I have a "white out," and I think it might be
the same way some people have no way to know whether a word is spelled
correctly or not.
I don't visualize or remember numbers. I've described it as not
having a storage place for numbers. When I do remember a number, it
has to do with the sound of it or a pattern I can visualize. I can't
visualize the numerals themselves for long enough for it to do any good.
I saw a sign yesterday that said this, centered, artfully arranged on
a big sign:
Village Inn
vi
I said "Why is that "Village Inn 6'?" No, the village inn corporation
seems to be adopting a logo that is vi. Lower case. That TOTALLY
means "six." <g>
On top of my inability to remember a number (it took me a long time to
memorize my social security number, and I still don't know my bank
account number, so I carry it around with me, in my pocket).... I had
school math trauma. But the school-crazy didn't cause my inability to
remember. I used to have to write my locker combination down. I
wouldn't forget it during the week, but if there was a break from
school for a week or so, I wouldn't know it. Writing it on notebooks
didn't work. I tried that. So I used to write it very small
somewhere in the hallway. One year on a place on the wall I knew they
would paint before long--I wouldn't have done it on a new paint job.
One year on the end of a row of metal lockers. Not my row. <g>
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joanna
> My youngest son is absolutely brilliant in his approach to numbers. He would have been discouraged early on in school, of that I have little doubt....My son, probably like many others left to find their own way with math, has developed his own formulas for things. And he's right. But at first I was worried that he wasn't "learning" the "right way" to do it. LOL (a long time ago, now!) He most certainly would have been discouraged, and then might have had the big "white out" around numbers too!
Joanna
Robyn L. Coburn
<<< or maybe if people who were buying cookies didn't keep saying, "This is
good math practice for you", >>>>
Isn't it ironic?
Right in front of them in the real world, and people are still valuing math
"practice" and school math over real life.
Doing the practical exercises to facilitate understanding the theory,
instead of learning some theory to facilitate the practical application.
Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com
www.allthingsdoll.blogspot.com
good math practice for you", >>>>
Isn't it ironic?
Right in front of them in the real world, and people are still valuing math
"practice" and school math over real life.
Doing the practical exercises to facilitate understanding the theory,
instead of learning some theory to facilitate the practical application.
Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com
www.allthingsdoll.blogspot.com