Denise+Cloward

MAT 950 learning log Well...I am actually surprised on my "ok" test score (ok for what I am used to getting in math!) I have never done good in math, I always seemed to get the teacher who thought your were an idiot & didn't hesitate to make you feel like one in front of everybody. I am still struggling with the (-)*(-) or (-)+ (-) for example test question #8 -4+-9 = -13, well I have it in my head that a (-) + (-) = is + always! So I am studying really hard to get through my head that does not always apply!! I will work really hard to feel solid on chapter 1 before I get too involved in chapter 2. I am convinced that I have really taken advantage of my calculator here on my computer do basic problems, so I am trying to brush up on those skills too :D When Cory explains things it seems so obvious to me, but then I get by myself and question myself, I know my confidence is half the problem! I really appreciate you Cory! Your teaching style, your openness & your ability to make me feel like no question is a stupid question (although I know sometimes they are!!! haha :) Thanks, Denise

September 12, 2009 Math is NUMBERS! I don't understand why the whole alphabet has to get involved :} I have been reviewing chapter 1 to make sure I am completely understanding the basics and going over chapter 2 as well. Chapter 3 I feel pretty confident in so far. I am studying really hard to try to remember all the vocabulary too!

September 20, 2009 I don't know what happened to me this week but I know I completely bombed the test. My brain was not functioning at all! The questions all looked greek to me. Going into the test I felt pretty good and then that all changed once I started. I know I had vacation on the brain, but I don't think that affected it... It all looked totally foreign to me and I had a total brain lock. I knew I would have a hard time with the story problems but even the stuff I felt comfortable with, like simplifying and isolating, etc. I am really struggling with the story problems. I look at the problem and get confused about what they really want to know and how the crap to find the answer. I guess I need to start over at chapter 2 and do some major refreshing. I will be headed to the math lab tomorrow to probably spend the day - thank goodness I have a day off work because I think I'll be there awhile!

Cory: Draw pictures for story problems. Not all work that way, but it will help you understand what the missing info is and logically how to find it as you try to put it into a math equation.

September 27, 2009 I don't even know where to start! I am really struggling and I don't know what I am doing wrong. I study daily for hours and for some reason I can't even get the simple concepts to stay, I work problems over and over so I can memorize the steps and immediately after I move on, it's gone. I don't know what more I can do. I can't even be specific to tell you exactly what I am struggling with to get your help because there are sooo many things that are confusing to me. This weekend I have started over again at chapter 1 and taken the tests in the book up to chapter 4 to try to pin point my problems. I know I am struggling with the order of operations, story problems, solving equations, solve for area and perimeter, etc .... so basically everything. that we have worked on so far. Doing the review game on Thursday was a huge smack in the face. I am way unprepared for the test on Tuesday and I don't know what to do to get prepared. I have been going to the math lab on a regular basis to get help, having a friend tutor me and staying after in class every time. The only thing that I have felt like I understand in chapter 4 so far is section 4.3. I realize that what I have been doing obviously is not working, so if you have any more suggestions for me, please let me know.

Cory: Regarding the stuff you wrote that I highlighted in green above: These are not caused by the same thing. There are rules for solving math problems, like specific formulas or doing things in a particular order, but, for example, not knowing a formula to use for the area of a shape is a different problem than knowing the formula but not knowing how to use it.

Order of operations are 4 basic rules that always apply. They must be memorized and the only suggestion is to do them until you don't forget to go in order. Even though order of operations affects most problems, solving equations is also critical. Again, it follows the same three steps every time. Solving for area requires you to memorize formulas or to reason them out and story problems are far too abstract to give it a general rule for doing all story problems, so I would suggest sticking with the first two (order of ops and solving equations). What are the rules? Walk through each rule to get to the answer.