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Difficulty with math

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

My son wants to become a teacher,but he just cannot seem to rememberor understand math. He can do basic math,but anything beyond that gives him trouble. He has taken the math test a # of times & has never passed,therefore he cannot take the classes he needs to become a teacher. He has taken all the other courses that he needs. He has had tutoring in math. Does anyone have any ideas to help him?

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 04/21/2002 - 12:52 AM

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Hi Erna,

I feel for your son. His difficulty brings back many memories of total frustration. I am 46 years old, with a 4th grade math ability. I graduated from high school, but never bothered to take college entrance exams, because I knew I would never pass the math part of it. I didn’t even know how to count change back to someone, until I was married and my hubby, who is a math wiz showed me. I have an above average IQ and was a whiz in reading and verbal skills, but my reading comprehension skills weren’t good. I could read great but didn’t understand what I read.

I wonder, does your son also have trouble with verbal instructions?… Can he be instructed on how to do something verbally, and will understand and remember? without having to have the proverbial “Picture Drawn For Him”

I ask this, because the only way I seem to do better with math, is when someone lets me explain how to do a math problem, while I am also doing it. I need to have someone listen to me explain, and let me do it.

It seems that when I am allowed to explain, and at the same time work the problem, it seems to organize my thought process.

These are just some thoughts I had, as I read your post. I wish your Son the very best.

Best Regards,

Debbie

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/22/2002 - 4:15 AM

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Please don’t let him find some way to get through the “requirements” and be yet another teacher that fears and hates math… “teaching” kids not math, but that same fear.

Perhaps he make a living tutoring in a subject he is strong in. There’s a huge market for people to help kids learn to read and he could work for Sylvan learning or a place like that.

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