How do you get over the math hurdle?

[Anonymous]

I was like this growing up. I also have inattentive ADD. I had tutors throughout high school, but honestly the only way I got Bs/Cs in math classes and science classes like physics was to program formulas into my graphing calculator and use it during tests. When I got a 504 plan for extended time, it helped a bit because it lowered my anxiety about spending too much time on one problem. I am still terrible at things like geometry and can't remember a lick of what I learned in calculus.

I majored in psychology at first. I had to take a lot of statistics classes which actually was ok because I could memorize what I needed to know. Then I transferred to another school and I had to take some pre-med weed out classes and couldn't pass those. I changed my major to Family Studies and took a lot of sociology, health and elective psychology classes. It was interesting to me and I did well in them. After college I worked in social work until I decided to go back to school to get my Masters in Teaching and I'm now an ESOL teacher, which is a perfect fit for me.

If math isn't her thing, don't push it--try to find a work-around to cater to her strengths instead.

[Anonymous]

She could be lacking in basic math skills, but able to compensate somewhat.

I'd send her to someone experienced with remedial math (not just a tutor who helps with current homework and classwork) to diagnose her skill strengths and weaknesses. Maybe try mathnasium:

http://www.mathnasium.com/high-school


Or take an online math placement test like ADAM. It only goes up to 7th grade. However, plenty of students who do poorly in high school math turn out to be lacking in basic middle school concepts: fractions, decimals, percents, ratios.


https://www.letsgolearn.com/shop/store/product/adam-k-7-adaptive-diagnostic-assessment-of-mathematics/

[Anonymous]

OP - You are taking the right path with DD by getting her evaluated before she starts a full college program and really struggles or bombs out on the GPA. CC is a great place to get the weaker subject area done with at least as far as a 4 year degree requirement goes. Since if she does place into remedial area, she will have the chance to review and fill in the gaps. You might try to get some general interest testing done and a bit of career advising because if for example she might need accounting or a statistics course, it might be wiser to get it out of the way at the CC or later in a summer session than a 4 year college with a full plate of classes. Also if she does have any learning issues picked up in testing, then perhaps carrying 12 credit hours all the way through will be better with a summer class or short term put in at times. Just let her know she is not the only student to deal with issues. You may also want to research schools who no longer require the SAT or ACT for acceptance.

[Anonymous]

Check out nvld. This could be the issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out nvld. This could be the issue

Definitely worth checking out. But it could just as easily be due to maturity issues - maybe her brain wasn't ready for Algebra 1 when she took it. Maybe she was sitting next to a particularly chatty friend while the teacher was going over order of operations, maybe she was out sick during a particularly important unit, maybe she was too sleepy during first period math in 7th grade.....

Who knows. Better to reassess, figure out where her weaknesses are and go from there. And please keep in mind, math may just not be her thing.