Poor DD...She's failing Alg 2 AGAIN

[ksumn1]

I hate Algebra also. I'm a college freshman and i had to take 2 remedial Algebra classes before I could even take College Algebra. I squeaked by with a C in the end. I'm normally a straight A student but math, especially Algebra, is sooo accellerated from what I took in high school that's it's crazy.

I definately think you should have her retested for a possible math learning disability.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Some folks just don't have the math gene. My mom and brother struggled. In college, both ended up taking statistcs for their math credit.

I'm a bit confused on how he class semster is. If she's taking a shorter term to do a tough full term course, it is likely the accelerated pace is not helping.

Have you consulted with the tutors to figure out what it is she isn't getting? Do they find she is understanding homework with their help, but tests poorly?

There are some long term options to get around this Algebra issue if she is college bound. There are degrees that do not require it at all! (though I took Calculus b/c I wanted to, my degree only required "fundamental math" and not anything higher. It may have changed by now.)

My mom got her associates using statistics for math. My brother got his bachelors with a fundamental math course and statistics to satisfy his general education math requirements. My mom was a hs dropout (was flunking) and later got her GED and eventually a 2 yr associates. I have no idea what my brother did except struggle to get minimal math requirements to satisfy a college prep diploma.

 

[hereyago]

Minkydog-I am sorry your DD is going through that. I myself, not a big math kind of girl.

When I was in high school-I'm 42 now-I had pre-Algebra in 9th grade then I could elect 2 Sciences instead of more math. Guess which one I picked? I rocked at Earth Science and Biology.

DD11 does well at math, but here is the kicker: she can't stand math. I can't stand math because I just was so bad. Basic math-every day math, I am fine, but fractions on is just bad.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Some folks just don't have the math gene.

I used to teach Algebra, and I agree with that. Unfortunately, I also have a son who somehow missed out on that gene. He had to take one math course in 4 years of college, was a 4.0 student many semesters, but college algebra almost prevented him from graduating. It seems especially hard for those who are "right-brained", that is, who excel in the arts (maybe it's a myth, but it seems true fromwhat I've seen). A big problem, and it's so hard to do, is tell DD to relax before Algeba tests. I've seen so many kids who freeze up, and I feel so bad, because they get all jumbled and don't do as well on tests as they could. Best wishes to her.

 

[minkydog]

Some folks just don't have the math gene. My mom and brother struggled. In college, both ended up taking statistcs for their math credit.

I'm a bit confused on how he class semster is. If she's taking a shorter term to do a tough full term course, it is likely the accelerated pace is not helping.

Have you consulted with the tutors to figure out what it is she isn't getting? Do they find she is understanding homework with their help, but tests poorly?

There are some long term options to get around this Algebra issue if she is college bound. There are degrees that do not require it at all! (though I took Calculus b/c I wanted to, my degree only required "fundamental math" and not anything higher. It may have changed by now.)

My mom got her associates using statistics for math. My brother got his bachelors with a fundamental math course and statistics to satisfy his general education math requirements. My mom was a hs dropout (was flunking) and later got her GED and eventually a 2 yr associates. I have no idea what my brother did except struggle to get minimal math requirements to satisfy a college prep diploma.

Back when I was in HS all you needed to graduate was Algebra 1. 1 credit of math. I did take Geometry as well. My college didn't bat an eye, they were just fine with that. Here in GA you can't get into a 4yr public college or university without 4 math credits, to include Alg1, Alg2, plus one or two maths higher than Alg 2. DDs school is on semesters, block scheduling. She was allowed to take Alg1 over the course of 2 semesters, which was great for her. And they counted it as 2 credits. But they don't allow that for any other level. She can take it over in the fall for full credit even though she has managed to complete a 1/2 credit in Alg 2. I agree that the online thing didn't work for her, but it was the only choice available other than a revved up summer school program(think 6 hours a day for 5 weeks--just kill me now!)

I'm not worried about what her college degree will require. I'm worried about her ability to even be accepted into a college that she wants to go to. We can't afford a private school, which would probably overlook her lack of Alg2 credit, especially if she's going into fine arts. But she is probably bound for public university so she has to have not only Alg2 but Alg 3. I am very concerned that she's going to have to take Alg 2 fall semester(*and hope she passes) followed by Alg 3 second semester(and hope she passes.) If she falls behind AT ALL, she will not graduate. DD has been planning to go to college right after graduation, so we could see aaaaaaaalllllll her plans changing.

 

[minkydog]

I used to teach Algebra, and I agree with that. Unfortunately, I also have a son who somehow missed out on that gene. He had to take one math course in 4 years of college, was a 4.0 student many semesters, but college algebra almost prevented him from graduating. It seems especially hard for those who are "right-brained", that is, who excel in the arts (maybe it's a myth, but it seems true fromwhat I've seen). A big problem, and it's so hard to do, is tell DD to relax before Algeba tests. I've seen so many kids who freeze up, and I feel so bad, because they get all jumbled and don't do as well on tests as they could. Best wishes to her.

That's exactly what happens. DD has been like that all her life, even when she was homeschooled. She can *tell* you exactly how to do it, draw you a picture, or act it out but if you give her a multiple choice test she can make a case for EACH answer. She freezes up and then can't get a grip on her time.

I was lucky in college. I was in a 2yr nursing program which only required Fundamentals of Math, instead of Algebra. Just one level above Bonehead Math(remedial.) Even so, I had to study 3 hours a day WITH A TUTOR. And I still barely made a C. So she comes by it honestly. If I had had to take college algebra I would be a Walmart cashier now, instead of an RN with tons of experience.

 

[shortbun]

Math is just NOT an 'E' course. Get her into a classroom with a good instructor and pick the best of her 4 tutors or find another. My favorite tutor was this guy who tutored in his home and his wife would cook us meals while we studied. I gained 10lbs and got an A in that calculus course, lol! It was my first experience with Indian food and man-o-man did I eat!!! Seriously though, this is mostly memorization and she needs to know it to build on it in the next class so she has to learn it. So sorry!

 

[clh2]

Minky - this is what the problem with Everyday Math (Connected Math and IMP) is - they are circular programs. You fly through one topic, let's use addition as the example, in 1 week. Then you hit fractions, subtraction, multiplication, division, geometry, algebra, and then you come back to addition, but now it includes fractions (because you flew through that topic already). You just don't stay in one topic until you are proficient before you fly to the next topic. You keep going around in a circle until you "become proficient" in everything. IN reality - you've not learned anything, but just got really dizzy.

The above is simply MY OPINION ONLY. The reviews of Everyday Math are horrid.

There was a thread about EM 3.5 years ago - HERE IS THE LINK. My post was great - if I do say so myself

It was an awful decision for your school district to "move" this into the high school level as the only program. They really should have phased this program in - at the early grades. What your DD is being expected to do is go from a straight road, and jump onto a circular race track that is moving very fast without trying to hurl and enjoy the scenary on the way.

Enjoy your pedi tomorrow. Are you sure you don't need mani's too?

 

[minkydog]

Enjoy your pedi tomorrow. Are you sure you don't need mani's too?

No, she likes to do her nails herself. And I'm a nailbiter. I literally have no nails at all. They are bitten all the way down to the cuticle. Just one more symptom of stress, I guess.

 

[FutureMrsC]

Hopefully your daughter is having a pleasant evening- I hate that so many stressful things continue to happen to y'all!

I sent you a PM as well...

 

[newbie2disney]

My DS(16) also struggles with algebra and math in general. I'm pretty sure he got it from me! Does your school use the e2020 online program? My son had some issues last summer, so the school district "recommended" his 2009-10 sophomore education be online (at home) with the e2020 program instead of going to school. It was the first year our school had used it, so he was the guinea pig for it. Since it started in the fall our high school has also recommended using it for credit recovery for students failing other classes. My DS has caught up on Algebra courses and is taking another math course for two credits over the summer. It's a great program if your school offers it. The e2020 program offers courses for most required classes and several exploratory classes (fyi for others that may be reading this).

 

[Buckalew11]

http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/

The above is a link to a math program that explains math in easy-to-understand terms and this might help your dd find success with math. All the best to her!

Minky, my dd just finished Algebra II in homeschooling using Teach Textbooks. Neither her father nor I can help her with math. She's used this curriculum for both Geometry and AII and has done very well in math even though she leans more towards the Sciences.

If you could get your hands on it--it has a book that explains like a teacher is teaching and talking to you, has examples on CDs and works through all problems on CDs. It might help her over some of the humps while in the class.

Good luck!!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Oh this must be so stressful for you and your DD

I am wondering if you can get her tested (perhaps by the district or maybe something like a Sylvan Learning center?) to see if she has the skills needed to learn Algebra 2. By that I mean, if she just barely passed other previous math classes she may not be strong enough in the base skills required to learn algebra. What she may need is time spent with a tutor not going over the current material at all but reviewing and strengthening what she has already taken (but maybe not really learned) and then only move back onto Algebra 2 once she has a good grounding in what she needs leading up to it.