I have made no secret about my general lack of understanding regarding math beyond the basics (read: algebra). Well, lately, Katie has been struggling with just that and we have been sitting together for literally hours at a time working on this. I am in awe of how much more patience I have for this type of thinking. I don't ever remember giving it this much consideration in school. I am sure it comes with being an adult and the very obvious desire to help my own child to succeed. Yes, my brain literally hurts when trying to help figure some of this out but the fact that I have been able to spend the time with it and actually get some problems right is nothing short of miraculous.
Anyway, it made me think that it has been some time since I have had to use my brain like that, at least in an academic sort of way. It also, despite the still ever-present frustration surrounding it, felt good. I know. Obviously, I have lost it. Using my mind in an academic, critical thinking sort of way surrounding math actually felt good? Can someone check to see if hell has frozen over?
Here's the other realization. It turns out my mother, my teachers, and all of the studies that have probably been done about this very subject were, gasp, right! Math does help develop critical thinking skills. In some cases (mine) it also helps develop headaches and stress (interestingly enough that part was left out but I digress). It may have taken me 20+ years to realize this but I think that is true of quite a few things you are told/taught when you are younger and think you know everything.
Mom? Ms. Alexander? Mr. O'Connor? Ms. Drohan? Are you reading this?
Friday, March 28, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
School On The Brain
Conversations with/ comments from Julia this morning:
"Mom, I think if Mrs. H agrees, I am going to ask her if I can stay in for recess and work on my read to self journal. I am nervous that I will not have time to finish it after my morning work and it is due on Friday." Sometimes I think she has just the right combination of motivation and anxiety...other times I worry the anxiety/worry will overtake her.
"Mrs. H has been very generous with our class recently. For example, I needed to finish my Patriot/Loyalist writing so she gave me extra time when I finished my math worksheet."
"Mom, there is a fourth grade student on my bus who can be verbally abusive! She is always swearing and she made a little second grader cry!"
"I am not looking forward to art class today. Last week, we were very rude to Mrs. W when she was teaching us. " When I asked Julia if she was being rude she said, "Of course not but when Mrs. H talked to our class after art she said," I am very disappointed right now." That means she is mad at all of us because if she was only disappointed with a specific person or people she would have only spoken to them not the whole class."
Things I learned this morning:
1. Julia had school on the brain.
2. After every conversation I have with Julia I realize more and more how adult-like she sounds, despite being 9 years old. It's interesting, sometimes funny and sometimes worrisome.
3. I am continually amazed with her ability to use phrases and words that seem beyond her years appropriately in sentences...verbally abusive, specific person, for example, etc.
"Mom, I think if Mrs. H agrees, I am going to ask her if I can stay in for recess and work on my read to self journal. I am nervous that I will not have time to finish it after my morning work and it is due on Friday." Sometimes I think she has just the right combination of motivation and anxiety...other times I worry the anxiety/worry will overtake her.
"Mrs. H has been very generous with our class recently. For example, I needed to finish my Patriot/Loyalist writing so she gave me extra time when I finished my math worksheet."
"Mom, there is a fourth grade student on my bus who can be verbally abusive! She is always swearing and she made a little second grader cry!"
"I am not looking forward to art class today. Last week, we were very rude to Mrs. W when she was teaching us. " When I asked Julia if she was being rude she said, "Of course not but when Mrs. H talked to our class after art she said," I am very disappointed right now." That means she is mad at all of us because if she was only disappointed with a specific person or people she would have only spoken to them not the whole class."
Things I learned this morning:
1. Julia had school on the brain.
2. After every conversation I have with Julia I realize more and more how adult-like she sounds, despite being 9 years old. It's interesting, sometimes funny and sometimes worrisome.
3. I am continually amazed with her ability to use phrases and words that seem beyond her years appropriately in sentences...verbally abusive, specific person, for example, etc.
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