Friday, September 21, 2012

Teaching an Old Fart a New Trick

My daughter has entered middle school and with it begins an introduction to algebra. For Mollie, that's no big deal. She's good at math. In fact, we discovered that they wanted to move her a grade ahead in math because her math scores warranted it (I said no for personal reasons).

But Mollie loves her some math.

I hate math. I mean, I have always hated it with the passion of a thousand exploding suns. I flunked algebra. Flunked. Got an F.

So Mollie has decided to teach me math. Right now we're working with base numbers, exponents and the proper methods of solving equations (parathensies, exponents, multiply, division, add, subtract) aka PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally).

I thought it would be as hateful to me as it was in 7th grade. Maybe it's because I love the teacher or maybe getting 40 years of life since 7th grade changed the brain but this is fun. I'm getting the basics and my daughter is throwing her homework problems at me (she already completed) and I struggle but slowly I'm figuring it out.

I'll never be a math wiz but I'm delighted to have this second chance to learn it.

3 comments:

  1. One of the many reasons I like you, woman.


    And here's raising a cup to your daughter as well.

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  2. My husband and son are both math whizzes and it's quite fun to observe them grooving on it together. Has your daughter encountered Vi Hart's videos on youtube? All good math geeks should know Vi Hart!

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  3. Aww that's wicked cool. WTG Miss Mollie. Can I sign up too?

    I'm not in to maths either. Although I can't write or express it well, I'm more in to words and stuff. I guess my main issue iwth math, aside from not getting a lot of the complicated stuff, is that I transpose numbers. Makes it kinda hard to understand why you do something right and can be out in the answer.

    Funnily enough, I did some basic bookkeeping and enjoyed it. Until my totals were millions of dollars out... :D This is why I'm broke, I'm sure...

    Anyway, love this story Lori. And a great way for you and the munchkin to bond some more. It's all happening now.

    Hugs to ya both.
    :D

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