I`m taking finite mathematics, as a requirement to get into the education program. I`m an excellent teacher, as I get lots of compliments from parents of the kids I teach in swimming lessons, and from my boss... that doesn`t mean I think I`m the best, since I know I`m not... but just that I have found my `calling` in life, and thus feel the pressure to do well in this class.

I find it really hard to follow with calculations, and colour coding has helped, it`s still hard to keep up. The teacher is seemingly useless, as I struggle with the textbook before understanding the material, which is beofore orl after I go to her class and get completely lost in her explanation.

Anyone else going through math hell? How do you cope?
I have numberphobia for sure... I hate taxes (still havn`t done them yet, and have outstanding auditing corrections for the last 3 years), can`t balance a checkbook, have no budget and have no idea how I made it this far to living on my own.

please comiserate with me so I`m not alone in this...
but I am determined not to let it kick my ***, as I WON`T LET IT... I need it too much.

Time to sleep, so I can get up to finish the homework. Last class of the week!!! Yay!!!

Can you get a tutor or a study buddy?

Most Canadian schools accommodate people with ADD. When I went to Con College, they told me that if I had found out at the beginning of the school year they would have assigned me a tutor and GIVEN me a Palm Pilot.

You should also tell the teacher that her explanations are in the wrong format for you. Maybe you need notes summarizing stuff... maybe you need more time and interactive questions during the explanation... you know better than I do what you need. But she should be making an effort to accommodate you, and if she is dropping the ball, you should start writing the letter to her supervisors NOW documenting it.

I would hold off on mailing that letter until one day after you have your final mark, though. :D Unless you can't get any other form of help that works first.

I had a horrible time with my math-like classes last year (accounting, finance, operations). The deal for me was working too quickly, especially through scantron (multiple choice) exams. I was always the first done, not because I knew more, but rather because I couldn't sit still through a question long enough to check my work/assumptions. I'd often make silly arithmetic mistakes, and these would cost me.

What helped (some) was refusing to be the first one done. I'd look around, and not leave my seat until a significant portion of the class had finished their exams. My eyes would still bounce all over the page, but I'd at least catch one or two mistakes (ie: 2x4 = 6).

Not letting it kick your *** sounds like a fine strategy, though. I did that with micro-economics last year. Just willed my way through it. Scored a B+ :) ! , even though I didn't understand a thing, having never dared Calculus.

If the concepts of the course are going past you, you might think about a tutor. Again, this helped me in Finance. Problem there was that I saw no value in the course material, therefore couldn't relate it to anything in my professional or personal life, therefore spaced out throughout the lectures. Two sessions with a tutor helped me see it much more pragmatically, helped me find shortcuts, and helped me catch up on the material I dreamt through ;).

You'll be great!

guess what everyone???
I just found out that a friend of mine is majoring in math!!! He told me at work (he`s on varsity swimming, and I work as a lifeguard/swimming instructor)...I got so excited that I let out a hooray! and hugged him so hard I fell back into the puddle by the hot tub... he he... he also lives in a residence where I used to live for three years, right around the corner from where I`m living now, so he`s really close!!

I can`t believe my luck, I feel a LOT better now...
and I`ve talked to my prof several times, so she knows that I am trying really hard and appreciates it.

GUESS WHAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got my assignment back on Tuesday... and....

I GOT 88%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


3 bonus marked added for effort... and it was one of the higer grades that I saw!
I didn`t totally understand the word problems and proofs we have to do using induction, but I understood the basics.
It feels great to try hard and know that I am getting recognized for it.
The class has a lot of people like me, who want to get into the eduction program and so are taking it... they tend to whine about the course being "stupid"... but I can tell that they don`t go home and work at the stuff, b/c they feel frustrated and don`t like it.
Knowing that I need a good grade pushes me to do well and make sure I understand it... if only I could see this clearly for my previous years.
I think the ADD thing sucks as far as school and courses go, since I couldn`t keep a clear sight of how axactly how each course relatd to my overall goal of graduating and getting a job...
but this course is clear on it`s purpose: get into the education program.

88% wow!!! 44/50, and the TA wrote: almost perfect! on it...
I think that`s the first time in math that I`ve gotten that!
YAY!!!!

...OK now onto assignment 2, due in 4 hours... procrastinated, of course...

CONGRATS Slowpoke....that's wonderful....and it's also wonderful that you found help in the form of your friend and enlisted his help....that took guts.....

And that you're staying positive and really keeping your focus on the goal....keeping your eyes on the "prize"...getting into the education program......Keep doing that.....

I'm sure the positive feedback from your professor felt wonderful too:)

SUPER DUPER.......:)

That's AWESOME slowpoke. How is class going now?

Very good.

Also, after you do "get it" try to teach it to someone else, or prepare the materials to do so.

It will help you.

Also, document what worked and why, in having things explained to you. see if you can find a pattern.