Guest mama2bananas Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Hi All, I am brand new to the forums and excited for an outlet to discuss, unload, and rejoice over our ups and downs with school. I am grateful for the community and hope to not only learn from all of you but to also be an encouragement. I am a mama to 5, homeschool all of them, and enjoy coffee, traveling, dreaming, decorating…and eating :lurk5: . My first post is a bit of an unload. The conflict in our home is over math. Dd (12) is currently doing advanced algebra (online class). She shows understanding in lecture, her practice questions are usually 85-95% correct (on first attempt), but then she tests and it shuts her down. She breaks down emotionally and it makes me wonder if maybe it is too much and that she should slow things down. My line of thinking is that she is VERY young and has all the time in the world but she seems so convinced that stepping back is not an option, she is ready for this course, etc. :confused1: It confuses me beyond measure when I see her going through her assignments without difficulty and she is confident one day and then the next day she is losing her mind over it and crying. (I understand the emotional component of giftedness can be more dynamic and extreme and my dd definitely demonstrates these attributes. Add puberty into the mix and it seems even more exaggerated.) Her other classes (all gr 11/12 level) do not usually pose the same reaction from her, unless she has a deadline she is getting close to and time has been limited to work on a given assignment. I am struggling for the right words to sum up what I am saying and am hopeful at least someone just gets what I am saying/asking! I could really use some insight. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 My two cents: my first thought is that I wouldn't step back in math due to test anxiety alone if it is unrelated to the quality of her math understanding. If she thinks she can handle the material in spite of the test anxiety, I'd put some trust in that. OTOH, if difficulties with understanding are causing a lack of confidence, maybe it's time to side-step for a bit. Is "advanced algebra" algebra 2? What program is she using? There are lots of ways to go deeper in math, especially at this level. A student so talented in math deserves exposure to lots of depth and mathematics outside the regular high school sequence anyway, so that's where I might aim next after this course is finished, if she hasn't engaged in such activities already. There's no rush to calculus, as you probably know. Her reactions to the tests and to deadlines sound like a type of perfectionism. If that's the case, that might be another reason to look toward problem solving activities. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mama2bananas Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Thank you Wapiti - that is just what I needed! Dd is confident that she can handle the class and very much struggles with perfectionism (ie. last semester I literally made her submit an assignment to her Gr 10 english teacher that she felt was "nowhere near complete". Her grade on the assignment - 100%). Yes, Advanced Algebra = Algebra 2. She is using Lial's "Advanced Algebra" and taking Jann's (in Texas) class. I know choosing an online class was a step in the right direction for her but I definitely feel lost on where to go from there to diversify. Math is not my strong suit but I am eager to help her where I can. Lastly, thank you for the nudge towards problem solving activities. That is the one area she scored just above her chronological age and I had totally forgot until you mentioned it. I will definitely look for more ways to help her intentionally strengthen that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 You might look at the "extra" courses at AoPS, such as Intro to Counting and Probability and Intro to Number Theory, which can be done with the text alone or in conjunction with the online course. You might also look at the AoPS math contest courses such as MathCounts or AMC 10. Has she already done geometry? If her problem solving skills are closer to her age, I'd probably start with the MathCounts online class. (Note that AoPS will give a personal class recommendation if you're not sure what would be the best fit.) More encouragement from Rusczyk on problem solving (pp. 2-3): How many of your children are perfectionists, and it drives them nuts when they don’t get one hundred percent? They have to get over that. We don’t want them to get over that by slacking off. We want them to get over that by being presented with more meaningful challenges, because if you’re always getting a hundred percent on everything, you are not learning efficiently enough. You’re not learning as fast as you can and you’re not learning how to do things you haven’t seen before. What happens is just what we saw with my classmate. If the first time they can’t do something is college, they get so used to just being able to do everything because they’re “smart,†that once they can’t do something, they figure, “I’ve hit the wall. I can’t do this anymore. I’m quitting.†That’s another thing that the tyranny of 100% encourages in students. It encourages them to think, “I can do all this because I am so smart,†and once you can’t do it, then you’re done, while smarter people can go on. That’s just not the case. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 If math is her weakest subject, she might have the highest test anxiety for that. The deadline/time squeeze anxiety would be rather common even for adults. For verbal logic puzzles, the LSAT prep books are fun and easy to borrow from the library. For math puzzles, the Martin Gardner ones are fun to start with. You can also download the MathCounts handbook, the MOEMS div M sample, AMC 8/10/12 past year questions for her to do at leisure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike in SA Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I would slow the math pace down a bit if possible. It sounds like it has gone a little too far for her level of mathematical maturity. Number theory might be a good diversion, but I'd avoid C&P for a while -- it is NOT easier (actually quite the opposite). Stopping progress is not necessary, but a more thorough development of each topic might be called for. That may mean adding additional texts for review, and establishing a pretest / chapter test approach (if pretest is good, then you can skip the chapter test, but if not, then there is extra review and prep before the chapter test). The main rule is, allow time to develop, and don't force the issue. Advanced algebra at 12 is quite a bit ahead of schedule already. Pressing things is likely to just increase anxiety levels. Another option is to plan for a third course in algebra, beyond the one she is in. Use that one as the actual "algebra 2" course for the transcript -- you can even test her using algebra 2 tests, and use that to build confidence, as well as a solid foundation for precalculus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mama2bananas Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Just wanted to pop in again and say thank you for all the words of encouragement and suggestions! You have all given me things to consider as we plan our next steps. We have decided to pick up a class with AoPS and look forward to that commencing this coming week (talk about perfect timing!). A successful first post, if I might say ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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