I took a quick quiz that was adapted from Danica McKellar's, Math Doesn't Suck. I was just a little surprised when I scored this quiz and fell into the 'comfort zone' level. I say I was a little surprised because I actually did well in math during my high school years. I think the old phrase uttered by many whining math students of various ages, "WHEN AM I EVER GOING TO USE THIS?" got the best of me.
I was already spooked by the fact that I had taken an on-line math class and did not do well, i.e., failed. That is some terrible word that conjures many unpleasant emotions, failed! I'm not sure why I tried. I must have been to lazy to drive to Mercy College. The fact that I am a mother of seven and work full time, had no bearing on the decision :) And so it goes.
People can be Mathophobes. I feel bad for them too. Math is one of those things that you either have to get and it makes sense, or your life is full of more work ahead of you. There are some people that have a 'math brain' and numbers just seem to make sense to them. Math is also nothing like ELA (English Language Arts). Math makes sense, there are formulas that you have to remember. I suppose you can equate that to reading and writing rules; like the use of periods, commas, verb tenses,etc….
I still envy the people that can look at a problem and know what the answer is. I am not one of them. I can work a problem, but I am definitely a visual learner. One of the biggest reasons that I did not pass my math class online was because I could not teach myself. I need to sit in the chair, hear the instructor, see it on the board, write it myself, and then I can start to make the connections that hopefully will last!
According to an article written by Alan Bass, (Math Study Skills) Pearson, 2008, the physiology of someones attitude is a major contributor to that person's outcome. In other words, I have the power to change my attitude towards math and if I do, it could very well help the outcome in this math class.
I am willing to learn and change. I am willing to listen and take advice. In the end, it is my name on the final and I need to own that.
