Even the spring air can only do so much for math.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I post a picture and just a few words.
It's more tolerable with a warm breeze, but only slightly. 😉
(We are not a family of math lovers.)
(Parents included.)
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P.S. Don't forget to go enter the Blinkbuggy photo book giveaway!
P.P.S. There's a BuckBooks baking event today, (affiliate link) where you can get a variety of baking books for $1 each (one is $1.99). I haven't personally tried any of these books, but a couple of the bread ones look promising, and $1 is a pretty low-risk price.
That's sad. Give math a chance. It truly is beautiful, but you have to open your mind and allow it to be.
I dunno. I don't think everyone has to like everything, and that's ok. Some things in life you just do because you have to.
I adore words and vocabulary and writing, but I don't think everyone needs to see the beauty in words the way I do (I have at least one kid who HATES writing.)
And I don't think I need to love everything other people love either. Some people like chemistry (SO NOT MY THING). Or pets (also NOT MY THING). In my own house, I have a science-lover and several pet-lovers. I don't understand it, but that's ok. 😉
We've all got different gifts and inclinations and abilities, and something one person loves may feel like torture to another.
As a high school math teacher, I completely relate to you. One of the biggest problems with the trend toward national standards in everything is the assumption that everyone can and should become an expert at the exact same things. Everyone is different, and that's a good thing. Yes, we all need to master the basics of everything, but as for the picky details--countless generations of people have gotten by just fine by identifying the things they are good at and enjoy and doing those things.
Well, my daughter and I can relate, but my son and husband both enjoy math. My husband's undergrad is in math, and my son will probably pursue a field that requires strong math skills. My daughter is more interested in natural science and literature, but she still took math through calc. She did just fine, but it wasn't her favorite subject and it took far more effort than other subjects.
I wish at least some of us enjoyed it! I'm a little envious of people who feel joy in mathematics.
Give me words over numbers any day. Vocabulary, spelling, writing, grammar, literature, history...all of those I can totally get into.
There's a difference between arithmetic and capital-M Math. Learning arithmetic tends to be dull because so much of that teaching is based on rote memorization. It's possible to teach kids basic Number Theory and Set Theory at that age (generally disguised as concept learning). Using arithmetic in real life helps make it relevant - maybe going through volume cost calculations out loud, for example?
Capital-M Math is a different matter. Algebra, geometry, calculus,... that's when you see the underlying concepts. I had trouble with geometry (I don't visualize well) but it has some of the most common uses, including golf and sewing. My favorite was Symbolic Logic, which has substantial overlap with Spoken Logic, Rhetoric, and most especially Logical Fallacies. Many Logical Fallacies can be mapped out like equations using Symbolic Logic, making them easier to demonstrate and remember.
Here are two good pages on Logical Fallacies:
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/
http://www.logicalfallacies.info/
I agree! I don't think we should enforce a love of anything on anyone and was having trouble expressing my love for abstract mathematics without making it sound like my opinion was the only opinion.
I truly suck at arithmetic. Like, truly. But my undergrad is in math (and chemistry, which was to make me marketable and didn't, exactly) because it gets so much more interesting after the hurdle of nine million calculation exercises.
I agree, and in the same way, I don't think we should encourage a hatred of a subject either. I've tried hard to encourage each kid as they've started math, and without fail, each of them has just naturally leaned toward not liking it, while they've leaned toward liking other subjects better.
But parental influence only has so much power. I love writing and I love words, so you might think my kids would end up loving the same things, but I've got one who just hates writing. Kids are individuals and to some degree, they will love what they will love and hate what they will hate no matter what we parents do.
I love how you talk about fixing things around the home. You admit that you don't want to be a plumber, but you are so proud of installing your own faucet . . . that's an inspiration to us all.
That's why we're so surprised (and a bit disappointed) at the "Math is just not my thing" attitude. It seems so unlike you! Yes, some people don't like pets, and they don't have to have pets. But my college students who "don't do math" shut themselves out of lots of other things that they DO want to do: medicine. public policy. finance. sociology. Not liking math is more like not liking reading . . . it affects so much of the rest of your life.
Well, it's not that we don't DO math. 😉 I did math every single year through high school (and did fine in college math too), and my kids do math every year too (and we go through every single lesson in Saxon math each year, so I'm giving them a very thorough math education).
My kid that doesn't like writing still has to learn to do it, because learning how to write is essential to so many other things. And my kids that don't like math (all of them!) still have to do math because it's essential for so many things.
So, please don't hear me saying that I think we shouldn't do math. I definitely, definitely do, and I am grateful for the math skills I have. They just don't bring me joy the way words and writing bring me joy, you know?
I got through the plumbing job because I thought it was important, and I was proud of myself at the end. I get through teaching math to my four kids because I think it's important, and I AM proud of myself for hanging in there, even with four kids and even with high school math.
But that still doesn't mean I enjoy it anymore than I enjoy laying underneath a sink with a basin wrench. 😉
My son hates math also. He doesn't understand it easily. He also just does it because he has to. My husband and I both enjoyed math though.
I have always struggled with (and hated!) math. The only time I do well is in geometry, I'm a very visual learner. Happily, that hasn't stopped me from finding a career I love! If we all loved math and hated reading, earth would be pretty dull and probably not very successful.
Man, I loved math at that age. I love that there's always (unless you get into the really hard colleg-y stuff) one right answer. Boom. Success. You solved it. The end. Good for a high anxiety mind.
PS - I'm very offended and mad that YOU don't like it, because we should all be the same. jk. 🙂
Except when you get into geometric proofs, and then there's sometimes more than one way to skin a cat!
Well, clearly I was traumatized by proofs because I don't remember them at all....?
I hated most theoretical math growing up, but there were some things I liked: playing "invisible chalkboard" on my dad's back at the bus stop (doing mental math calculations), rolling and counting coins... And there was a science experiment I did where I mapped dice rolls and wound up with one of those cool triangles - a Sierpinski triangle. (Look up "chaos game.")
But, yeah, math in school was not my thing, either. I like it more for practical applications, like budgeting, and doing projects like matting a picture or planning a quilt, or at work when we soft-evaluate a program. Word problems were the only thing I kinda liked in school - I might be the odd one out, there, and that's okay.
A friend's kid is totally into math, though. If you're in a car or at a dinner table with him, more than likely he'll ask you math problems that are way beyond his given grade level. Crazy to see a 2nd-grader understand concepts like negative numbers, division, and basic equations (e.g., how far will a car go in 1 minute if it is traveling 60 miles per hour?). I totally dig his enthusiasm!
"I hated most theoretical math growing up..."
That was a problem of mine in engineering school. The math classes were taught by mathematicians and were unrelateable. Differential Equations was an especially difficult class, and it had a reputation for folks having to drop out or getting an F (I got both and passed the 3rd time). It wasn't until one of our Aerospace professors re-taught it to us in only two weeks that we got it -- it was the useful application that brought out the understanding.
I dislike math -- and I'm an engineer! While I dislike math, I really like what I can do with it: designing parts, creating intricate spreadsheets, figuring out loads, processes, etc. Even non-engineers will find it useful for finances, art, planning room set-ups, navigation, etc. Also consider that understanding math will help in preventing one from being a victim of unscrupulous business practices, understanding the economy, etc.
Oh, definitely. I think math is really important, and I'm giving my kids a very thorough math education (even though I don't enjoy it!).
It's just a case where we are getting through something important that we don't like, and that in and of itself is an important skill to teach my kids because there are ALWAYS going to be parts of life we don't love but that we have to get through.
I'm glad you're doing so. I've emphasized understanding of "I don't like..." subjects to folks in my life, even when they didn't want the education, and said folks have come to appreciate it once they were in a tight spot and needed the knowledge. I also accept the same from others.
For example, I'm a car guy and do my own maintenance. An ex disliked all of the car culture, but I made sure she understood maintenance. One time, she was almost going to be late to her doctoral admission interview and then her mom's car would not crank (this was pre-cell-phone, so she could not call me). She opened the hood, looked at the battery connection, and saw they were corroded. She recalled me saying to use a water/baking soda mix to clean them, so that's what she did The car started, she got to the interview in time, and made it into the program.
Right. I might not like sanding drywall, but I know how to do it and have been grateful for the skill when I had no money to hire someone.
I also really dislike taking my dishwasher apart to remove grapefruit seeds from the grinder, but I do really appreciate not having to call a repairman (and I like getting my dishwasher back in working order right away.)
More than the skills themselves, I hope I teach my kids how to work hard at important things, even though they might not enjoy them. And I hope that they will learn not to say, "Oh, it's too hard. I quit." when they encounter something hard/something they don't like.
" I hope I teach my kids how to work hard at important things, even though they might not enjoy them. And I hope that they will learn not to say, “Oh, it’s too hard. I quit.” when they encounter something hard/something they don’t like."
So valuable! The most important thing one can learn, is that one *can* learn.
Yes. The "I can figure out how to do this." confidence is so important.
As a former math teacher, current math tutor, and current tax assistant - you might guess I have a strong affinity for math. My husband is an equally math-loving engineer. I almost feel bad for my kids (who are generally strong/exceptional math students) because so many ordinary situations and discussions in our house end up coming back around to mathematics topics. My son made the "mistake" of mentioning quadrilaterals one day and I couldn't contain my excitement as I drew out the "family tree" of special quadrilateral relationships.
Who knew mentioning mathematics on the blog would generate such a variety of responses with a variety of intensity?
Not everyone is meant to like everything. With my strong interest in math, however, I have a hard time with the phrase "oh, I'm terrible at math". Yes, I see that acknowledging one's weaknesses is not a terrible thing. However, one wouldn't jokingly admit "oh, I really can't read so well". How did it come to pass that it is it okay/funny/socially acceptable to be terrible with math and not okay/funny/socially acceptable to not read? Both seem equally useful to me. Just my musings....
The interesting thing is that I wouldn't say any of my kids are terrible at math, nor would I say that I am either. We can do it, it just doesn't blow our hair back!
And yes, I'm not at all ok with just sitting back and giving up on things we don't like. That's why we soldier on with all of our subjects even though some are not our favorites. My job is to prepare my kids for life, and if they can't do math (or haven't learned to persevere in things they don't like), I'll feel like I've failed.
Disliking something basic like math or reading is not a justifiable reason to avoid honing your skills.
"How did it come to pass that it is it okay/funny/socially acceptable to be terrible with math and not okay/funny/socially acceptable to not read?"
That reminds me of an XKCD comic: https://xkcd.com/1050/
Hahaha! The "In YOUR face" part - such passion!
It's too bad that current U.S. math curriculum doesn't do a better job of showing how the deep down fundamental part of mathematics is the logical thinking & recognition of patterns - which is applicable to so many things. Sure, one doesn't "solve for x" in every day life, but I bet people do plenty of thinking through a real life problem by working backwards or un-doing steps already taken or the like.
The funny thing is, I'm proud of myself for learning math and helping my kids through their math precisely BECAUSE I don't love it. I can't imagine being proud of not learning it or not trying hard at it. Much as I dislike math, I would be embarrassed to be lacking math skills.
You're proud because that's something to be proud of! There's also the great satisfaction that comes from achieving something that's hard. The easy achievements just aren't as sweet.
I really, really like algebra, so I'm very excited that Thomas is moving into the pre-algebra stage. But, the rest of math I'm not so fond of. Well, I don't know if it's that I really dislike it, or that I just don't like it as much as I enjoy other subjects, especially literature and history.
We tried some outside school this morning, but I was watching a neighbor's two youngest kids, so it ended up being outside playing. It's hard to do school when you've got four younger kids running around having fun.
We are the same in this household. Math is not a very popular subject!! I will even admit it's a touchy one lol....my kids are in high school so it's even more difficult for me to remember math problems I spent years trying to forget. I'm on You Tube sweating bullets trying to help my kids out...very traumatic for me 😉
Yeah, Joshua (my oldest) is in Algebra II this year, so I've been having to work a bit at relearning things I've forgotten over the years.
The good thing is that once I've gone through a book with him, it's not so hard once the girls go through the book because it's still pretty fresh in my mind.
I always find it interesting to see everyone's natural likes and dislikes. They seem to just be in there when we're born. My 5 year old son has always been very into exploring spatial relations, which seems to entertain his teachers. When I tell them that I'm an architect and my dad was an engineer, it all suddenly makes sense to them. On the other hand, he hates to write or draw, which is completely not me as I happily spent many childhood days drawing and writing stories. If we all liked the same things, or everything for that matter, the world would be a boring place!
At least you have nice weather to enjoy once the mathwork is over 🙂
The funny thing is, my kids really enjoy drawing, and so I frequently find drawings sprinkled about on their math pages. Gotta break up the number monotony somehow, I guess. 😉
I was never terribly fond of math or physics, and yet I became an engineer. I had to do a lot of math and physics in college, but I found I liked them much better when they were applied in other classes. I always tested much higher in reading and writing than math so it surprised everyone when I went into engineering. But I like what I do, it pays well, and I rarely actually do math beyond basic algebra at work.
In my observation, people are usually more geared towards Math and Science or English /Literature and History. In our house, we are word lovers and adore history and struggle with math. Interestingly, while one person loves math because it is so finite with one answer, another person will dislike it for the very same reason (like my mom who says it is "cold"). Our differences in perceiving things is what makes the world go around. 🙂
I'm definitely on the history/literature side of things. When I'm doing history with the girls, I often get sidetracked long after their lesson is over, looking things up about the topics we've learned about that day, just because I'm interested.
I NEVER find myself doing further research on math after we're done for the day. 😉
XKCD strikes again: http://www.xkcd.com/214/.
(It used to be such a good comic. It's lost much of it's genius in the past couple of years.)
I didn't have any problems with math when I was in elementary until I entered high school then it became more complicated (and confusing) to me.You're not alone here,Kristen.
Totally off topic, but I wanted to let you know I got the $0.99 razor and I LOVE it! Thanks for all your helpful tips!
Excellent! I'm loving mine too.
I love the way I can find topics to pursue from some of the comments here. Who knew?! Sometimes I wish I had more background in things (say, higher math; theoretical math). My husband and daughters do, though he's probably the only one still fascinated by such topics. Love the wide ranging topics and opinions.