My 14 year old freshman daughter has a D- in Algebra

[Anonymous]

We just started a tutor and she will be in a school math lab next semester. She is getting all Bs in everything else. She tries so hard and it kills me to see her struggle. Please tell me this doesn't mean she won't get into a good college. I just hope she still has enough time to not fail the course.

[Anonymous]

Have you talked to the teacher about this at all? What does your daughter say? It's still the beginning of the year and she has lots of time to pull the grade up.

I also don't know her learning style and whether these would help as supplemental material. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Khan Academy videos, which are free, and help explain conceptual issues in a very straightforward way.

http://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra

I was not naturally bright at math, and I found that my success or failure was much more indicative of the teacher's style or ability to explain the material. Because I studied like a mad person. I was never a slacker. Yet I got straight As one year and struggled with Cs and Ds the next. Supplementation with things like the Khan Academy videos help me a lot. I'm relearning this stuff myself so I can understand what my 16 year old daughter is doing.

[Anonymous]

I was a regular C - D math student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a regular C - D math student.

Oops! Hit submit.

I was a C - D math student my entire academic career. My parents tried everything -- tutors, grounding me, etc. I was an A-B student in every other aspect.

I didn't get into a couple of schools that I wanted, but I was fortunate to find a small private college that took more time during the admissions process and (thanks to some nudging from a teacher who felt I had potential) I was able to go to a good school.

I have a great career now, make what I consider to be a good wage, and I try to spend as much time as I can helping my young children with numbers.

[Anonymous]

Alot of kids who struggle in Algebra never really mastered some of the basic middle school math (proportion/ratio/fractions, etc.) Might be worth reviewing some of that with her. My understanding of research on kids who don't do well in Algebra/Cal is that many of them have some underlying misconceptions about basic math that get in the way. Focusing on the actual algebra may not be the answer. Hopefully a good tutor will understand that but I would consider it....

Khan videos are quite good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alot of kids who struggle in Algebra never really mastered some of the basic middle school math (proportion/ratio/fractions, etc.) Might be worth reviewing some of that with her. My understanding of research on kids who don't do well in Algebra/Cal is that many of them have some underlying misconceptions about basic math that get in the way. Focusing on the actual algebra may not be the answer. Hopefully a good tutor will understand that but I would consider it....

Khan videos are quite good.

As a former math teacher, I agree with all of the above.

[Anonymous]

It took me forever to get FOIL in 8th grade algebra. Literally...took the test about 5 times.

I took fairly advanced math classes (as in took them a year ahead of schedule) but opted out of calc entirely and took statistics instead. I did get a few Ds and Cs in math. But those were outliers on my report card.

I got into a respectable school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took me forever to get FOIL in 8th grade algebra. Literally...took the test about 5 times.

I took fairly advanced math classes (as in took them a year ahead of schedule) but opted out of calc entirely and took statistics instead. I did get a few Ds and Cs in math. But those were outliers on my report card.

I got into a respectable school.

Actually I meant i went to one. I got into several.

[Anonymous]

Is it anxiety? Boredom? The teacher? Her learning style?

[Anonymous]

Give the tutor some time to get your DD up to speed. It is still early in the year and if she brings her grade up, colleges will see that trend.

[Anonymous]

Me too! I was a 14 yo freshman who got a D in Algebra and my dad went through the roof. He made me retake it Sophomore year (got an A) and I turned the whole experience into one of my college essays. Got into the school of my choice (Top 20) and proceeded to get a D in the one and only math class (Calc) I had to take. Never affected my life as a whole and never had to take math again!!

[Anonymous]

What math program was used at her elementary school? If it was Everyday Math, there are big gaps in her math knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Here is what my daughter, who took algebra last year, tweeted about an hour ago:

"I'm still waiting for the day I'll actually use x² + y +8 [(x + 2y ² = a-z] + 2x ³ + (- 2z = 2. 4) + 10y - 5Z ³= k= 9 in real life."

She also struggled with algebra, particularly second semester. We went back to a tutor we had used on and off for math since 5th grade. Working one-on-one with someone is really helpful, if expensive.

Like you, it's so frustrating to see your DD work so hard and still not be successful. I was also afraid mine wouldn't pass the Maryland high school assessment, but she did fine. She told me that test was much easier than her regular classes.

Also, depending where you are, the quarter only recently started (unless you're referring to last quarter's grade), so there's a lot of time to pull it up.

I really wish Maryland, at least, didn't require 4 years of high school math.

Good luck to both of you.

[Anonymous]

Pp MD requires 4 years of math because that is what most colleges require.

OP hopefully the tutor will make a difference. My 11th grader has been going to a weekly math tutor for over a year. It has been very helpful and he's gotten As in math since going to the tutor.

[Anonymous]

She may just need it taught to her a different way. Also, I took Math I split into two years, over 9th and 10th grade.