:rolleyes: DD looking for "physics" PD....

[NHAnn]

She's sitting here sniffling about how she just does not "get" physics. She's a great student to whom most schoolwork comes pretty easily.....and every so often she hits a subject and/or teacher that challenges her. So this year (she's a junior) it's mathematical physics first period every day and she doesn't "get it". The AP Biology that is occupying a great deal of times she loves, but physics is making her cry . She thinks her average is close to 90 but it's worrying her that she doesn't "get it". Sigh. I'm NOT a math/science person at all, so all I can do is tell her it's not the end of the world if she gets a B instead of an A, and help her see that school is like life...do the best you can and and try to keep things in perspective. In the meantime, she's sniffling at me...."ask all those DISpeople to send me some major physics pixie dust please!"
So thanks in advance for some physics PD

 

[Serena]

Physics pixie dust on the way.

 

[nativetxn]

Lot's of pd...but what exactly doesn't she "get"?

 

[NHAnn]

uuummm, I asked her that but she said "I don't really know how to explain that I get the concept but not how to apply it "
??? beats me

I think it's just the annual first semester meltdown. Last year it was English...she swore she hated the teacher and ended up loving her

 

[Serena]

Hey, this is Serena's daughter. What lvl physics is it? I'm in a college physics class. I might be able to help with some stuff. (Message my mom to get ahold of me) I have generally the same problem as your daughter, but I do pretty well. Maybe I'll be able to explain it so that she'll understand better since we're coming from the same direction. Good luck!

 

[NHAnn]

thanks Serena's daughter PM on the way!

 

[Serena]

I don't know if she'll be able to help or not, but she's willing to try.

She was as frustrated as your dd at the beginning of the year.

 

[helenabear]

Sending tons of Physics PD her way. In high school I was able to "get" physics but didn't get biology, so I know the feeling. She sounds like she is doing great though

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Major physics pixie dust on the way!

If she has a friend in the class that "gets it" maybe she/he could help your DD out. I remember spending a lot of time in high school helping friends "get it" (especially right before tests, LOL). The only other thing I can recommend, especially since I have no idea what topics they're covering is to try to use some sort of mnemonics for memorizing and applying formulas. That's what I did, and then I'd write out all the equations at the top of the page before I did the test/assignment. Having the formulas right in front of you seemed to help me to think through the problem better.

Good luck to your DD!

 

[DocRafiki]

It's rough the first time you don't "get" something in school when you're used to everything coming so easily. I never did "get" the electricity part of physics. And for the most part, you don't have to memorize formulas if you get it, and vice versa.

 

[Rajah]

Ooooohhhh, boy do I understand that! I had the exact opposite problem in high school (I'm assuming that's where she is?) -- I got physics just fine but never could "get" biology, and things usually come easily to me as well.

Tell her to hang in there, and try to check out other sources of teaching. If her teacher and that textbook aren't helping, if she really wants to "get it", check out *different* textbooks. I had to learn how to do that in college and I discovered that often times one book would teach in such a way that I never could understand it, but another different book would finally make things click.

She should also try some hands-on things -- if she observes what's going on, then tries to figure it out, it might help rather than just looking at problems mathematically. Assuming what she's working on is something she can do that with -- kinda hard to observe quantum physics with high school equipment

Another thing to do -- when she thinks she gets it, have her try to teach it to someone else. I can't count how often things finally really "clicked" for me when I tried explaining to someone else, especially if that someone else already knew the answer and could let me teach it without interupting, but could confirm that I had it right or wrong.

And, finally, try to find someone to talk it out with. I found one of the best tools for me in both high school and college physics was a dry-erase board. I could stand up, pace, and talk out the problem while working it out on the board where it was easy to correct a mistake and easier to see than on a small sheet of paper. Then, once I worked out the problem, I'd transfer the answer to paper along with a cleaned-up version of the work.

Hope this helps, and sending some PD her way!! I'd offer to help, but it's been several years since my last physics class and I'm not sure how much I remember. What level of physics is it?

 

[Mickeyfaniam]

hello Ann
major physics PD on the way for your DD

Mike doesn't have physics till next year....for him biology was a pain last year.....hated the teacher... and so glad that its over. This year, his junior year, is chemistry and so far so good.

I hope your DD manages to work it out

 

[jsmith]

Send me a PM and I will try and hook her up with my DS who is a senior and a math and science stud currently getting a A in AP physics. He should be able to help but the one thing he will tell her is that if she is not currently taken or has not take calculus she is going to struggle becauses the concepts go hand in hand-but he often gives a cousin who is in college help via IM with her chemistry and physics and may be able to assist.

 

[Pam]

I also have a DD, who is a Junior in HS taking Physics with a Lab.

Tons of Physics PD flying out the window to your DD!
Pam

 

[Saffron]

I love biology! I STILL don't get physics.

Lots and lots of ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* physics pixie dust coming her way. If it's able to be propelled in that direction????? {{{{Hugs}}}}

 

[The Mystery Machine]

While I am not at the level you are at yet, I do know about a crying dd. I tell her to aprreciate your hardest teacher because those are the ones that are getting you ready for your next challenge... I have to put something postive on it, LOL!

If I walked in your shoes I would hire her a tutor. DH & I would know zipola about physics.

 

[Mary Ellen]

I'm sending you a PM.