How to Use This Training
This Training Blog is a result of many years of tutoring and counseling students who were having trouble passing their math classes. Those students fell into two categories. Some were deficient in math skills. We could work on the skills and get them prepared for class. However, the other category of student was not deficient in math skills, but they were still failing. Those students were simply not approaching their class in a way that would allow them to succeed. Most of them didn't understand the need to do the homework. They weren't necessarily being lazy. They just didn't understand the importance of it. Some of them had convinced themselves long ago that they simply were not capable of passing a math class. It is my hope to address the perspective problems and the myths that have led to failure for so many of these students.
"Math is the great mental bogeyman of an unconfident America. If we can convince you that anyone can learn math, it should be a short step to convincing you that you can learn just about anything, if you work hard enough." -Power of Myth “There’s One Key Difference” by Miles Kimball and Noah Smith
In order to help students, we need to change the way they think about math. What can you do? As their instructor or their counselor, you need understand what they are thinking. If you aren't a “math person”, you may or may not have felt comfortable with your math classes in college. If you didn't, you may need a new perspective about the subject yourself! Even though the presentation addresses students, go through it. Read the articles linked under Training Resources.
Classroom Instructors: Suggested Ways to Use the Blog
-Assign the blog training to your class at the beginning of the semester and require that students complete a Success Plan.
-Use the training as extra credit or for remediation.
-Show the presentation in class and discuss.
How to Use This Training
This Training Blog is a result of many years of tutoring and counseling students who were having trouble passing their math classes. Those students fell into two categories. Some were deficient in math skills. We could work on the skills and get them prepared for class. However, the other category of student was not deficient in math skills, but they were still failing. Those students were simply not approaching their class in a way that would allow them to succeed. Most of them didn't understand the need to do the homework. They weren't necessarily being lazy. They just didn't understand the importance of it. Some of them had convinced themselves long ago that they simply were not capable of passing a math class. It is my hope to address the perspective problems and the myths that have led to failure for so many of these students.
"Math is the great mental bogeyman of an unconfident America. If we can convince you that anyone can learn math, it should be a short step to convincing you that you can learn just about anything, if you work hard enough." -Power of Myth “There’s One Key Difference” by Miles Kimball and Noah Smith
In order to help students, we need to change the way they think about math. What can you do? As their instructor or their counselor, you need understand what they are thinking. If you aren't a “math person”, you may or may not have felt comfortable with your math classes in college. If you didn't, you may need a new perspective about the subject yourself! Even though the presentation addresses students, go through it. Read the articles linked under Training Resources.
Classroom Instructors: Suggested Ways to Use the Blog
-Assign the blog training to your class at the beginning of the semester and require that students complete a Success Plan.
-Use the training as extra credit or for remediation.
-Show the presentation in class and discuss.
