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My ds hates math


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Recently ds and I have had a few heart to heart discussions about math. Basically, he shared with me that he strongly dislikes it- actually he said he hates it. I fear that I have killed the love of math that he use to have. He loved math in the primary years when we used Singapore. He even worked through their Intensive Practice books.

We have used Foerster alg II this year. He has done well (and we use the tests from the publisher), but it has been a challenge. Part of me wants to slow down and let him use a less rigorous precalculus text next year and perhaps rekindle his love of math. He wants to major in animal science and become a vet, and from what I can tell the vet schools he is interested in only require undergraduate trig and one other higher math.

Any thought on which way to go? Should I press on with Chalkdust, or enjoy fred or Math -u See?

susanar

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The Vet school at NCSU requires Calculus and a Stats course. The thing that I would be more concerned about, however, is that they require Organic Chemistry, Physics, Genetics--math intensive courses. So if your son truly "hates" math, there may be a larger problem.

 

One idea might be to have him finish this precalc course, then try his hand at statistics. (Several people on this board take an online course from PA Homeschoolers that is taught by a fellow WTMer.) If he is doing well in the course, I don't see why you would abandon the curriculum. Foerster lays a terrific foundation for the work ahead. With the school year coming to a close, do you really want to have him jump ship and repeat material?

 

Jane

 

ETA: Oops--thought he was in Precalc now.

Edited by Jane in NC
Insufficient caffeine before posting.
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the more difficult parts of Foerster's algebra. Your son might find the switch to trig to be a welcome change. In our case, dd is young enough that she'll still have plenty of math if she doesn't get through a full math book each year. We've slowed down and the slower pace is increasing her confidence and I'm hearing much less about not liking math.

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I had him do WAY too many math problems so he disliked math (R&S mostly). Now, in gr. 9 (private high school), he likes algebra because he doesn't have SO many problems to solve everyday, and his teacher lets the class do their homework in class sometimes.

 

What is important to you?

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I think sometimes students are not prepared for the tedium of mathematics practice, and the real *work* it is to think that hard. :) My own daughter (who is now a math major!) "hated" math after Algebra 1, and said, "Mom, I'm just not mathematically minded. I'm a writer and an artist. I'll never be the mathematician you are." I gave her an entire year (age 13) with practically no math. Then we moved gently back into Algebra 2 at age 14 in a co-op situation (with four other motivated students), and I taught the class with lots of examples, a reasonable homework load, and well-designed assessments. (We used the A Beka Algebra 2 book, which just goes to show that any book will do with a good teacher. LOL.) We also did Geometry at home, and it gave her a rest from the algebraic problem solving. As a writer, she found she loved proof, and as an artist, construction. :) By the end of the year, she was satisfied that she was 'at least as good' at math as her peers. So, the following year, PreCalculus in our home went a bit more smoothly, but she still never felt confident. I did a Trigonometry co-op in the summer to bridge to the PreCalc, and that helped again. She's always done well when she's in a group. I think like a lot of first born children, she felt she couldn't measure up to my ability (sigh) despite my every effort to make her relax and enjoy the journey.

 

So, we spend her last fulltime year at home with Calc I (again, a co-op--I invited a young man to come to "class" with us 3 days per week), and then Statistics and Non-Euclidean Geometry. So, when she started at the CC in January at age 16, I recommended she start again at College Algebra (knowing that she was probably going to major in art!), and just see how it went. I told her I'd prefer she finish the Calculus sequence before she gave up in math (grin), just to be well-educated.

 

Anyway, she's graduating in December, and still has a 4.0 GPA. She has been blessed with some outstanding professors in mathematics, and it continues to encourage her to explore more ideas mathematically. I can honestly say that without a lot of refresher on my part, she has surpassed my current mathematical ability. GRIN. (I did help her with a Differential Equations problem early in the semester, but was grateful to Google for a good search engine, and mathematicians who post solutions online...)

 

Can you find a strong mathematician to "teach" his PreCalculus course? I do think students get isolated and frustrated attempting to learn math at home, especially if they have a hard time getting a parent who understands the material to explain it to them clearly. Even just a couple of sessions a month with a tutor can keep a student on track, and clear up some stumbling blocks. Never underestimate the benefit of peer tutoring! Two or three PreCalc students working through a text together is a very good thing. Personally, I would never have made it through grad school without my classmates! :) My daughter is a strong student, but she participates in every study session and discussion group she can--that's what MAKES her a strong student.

 

Lori

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Why not "enjoy" a more understandable math course like LOF or MUS??? It is hotly debated whether these are as "rigorous' as others----but if he meets the requirements for math and actually understands and enjoys it----isn't that kind of more important than shoving a rigorous program down his throat so he 'hates' math? Just my 2 cents. BTDT with my own son----who now likes math...........

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so I'm not going to repeat their advice in detail, but will add my own perspective. When I first read your post and saw the "soon to be 16 yo ds" I nodded my head and thought about my son and his friends at that age. Out-sourcing wasn't an option for us at that point for several reasons but life would have been easier if we'd had more outside reinforcement/ encouragement.

 

My son's case is a bit different; he never liked math, but we plodded along. Last week ds was in a situation where he was asked to introduce himself, tell a group about his interests and favorite subjects. My jaw dropped when he mentioned math as one of his favorite classes. Taking a CC algebra course has made a big difference. Ds thrives on the discussion, and it helps that the instructor shares his interest in music.

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I agree with 4wildberries. Scale back to something he will enjoy and still give him the base for college. When he gets to those classes in college he'll have the foundation and will be able to 'get with the program' and learn whatever math is needed for vet school.

 

I think that too often parents want the kids to learn it all in high school so college will be easier. While that is a good method for some kids, other kids will cave under the pressure.

 

My step dd hated high school math and only barely passed the minimum requirement. After working a few years and then going to college , she buckled down and really learned the math she needed for her degree.

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Thanks for all of the replies. I have thought about what you suggested. Perhaps we will press onward and begin Chalkdust pre-cal, or use Math-u-see pre-cal followed by precalculus at the local community college- though I don't know much about the math department. I know that he would like the group setting. I usually work problems side-by-side and we "race" to see who can solve them first:001_smile: (he usually wins!).

I hope that this is spring fever.

 

Lori, did you use Math-U-See trig?

 

Thanks, again

Susan

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.

 

Lori, did you use Math-U-See trig?

 

Thanks, again

Susan

 

Yes, we used MUS Trig (now called PreCalc) for the bridge between A Beka Algebra II and an intro to Calculus text. We did it in 9 weeks. It is not a year-long course. Maybe a semester...but we did it in a summer. :)

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