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Math!

Jules

Hi, I am currently studying for some very important exams I'll be taking next year. I think it's like a polish version of your A-levels (I live in Poland). So, I love math, I really do. However, I do struggle with it. I'm slower than everyone else and I make stupid mistakes. I am way better at math than I used to be, say in secondary school, but the mistakes are still there. I made big headway since I was 16 years old and I believe that if I could to that then I am able to go even further. Now that I know I have Aspergers (so my troubles with math are not something extraordinary) maybe I could find a new way to approach improving my mathematical thinking. Did any of you struggle with math? What extra work did you put in your studying to make it better? Or any other advice?

Parents

  • Oh, and even though I have a maths degree my arthmetic is poor, I make loads of mistakes and fret a lot. This is common amongst lots of people good at maths. I also used to make silly mistakes cos my head would whizz, or i'd intuit a number but then try to work it out properly, get a different answer then end up slow working out which of the two answers were right!

    Maths is also taught badly, lots of teachers have bad teaching methods for maths, and kinda scared they'll get found out for not being very good at it. Maths is a language and you learn it best by talking to people about your maths. Sadly most classes want you to be quiet! So it might not be you that's struggling. It's good you love it, and I wouldn't worry too much about mistakes, look at what works when you're correct - were you relaxed, trusted your guess, read the question twice, did it fast, did it slow, followed the rules, or did it yoyr way ... .

  • in reply to Mark (NicheMarket)

    It is so good to know that someone with a maths degree has poor arithmetic! I was worried that it is something that will definitely stop me from making any achievements in this field. I couldn't be more wrong I guess. 

    Most math teachers are terrible. I started to like math after I'd met my highschool teacher. He was the best! It was after ten years of the ordeal with bad and/or mean teachers. I agree that schools (most of them) have bad teaching method. Now I'm this math course with an innovative approach. Like you said, talking to people is crucial.

    You put my mind at ease, thanks!

Reply
  • in reply to Mark (NicheMarket)

    It is so good to know that someone with a maths degree has poor arithmetic! I was worried that it is something that will definitely stop me from making any achievements in this field. I couldn't be more wrong I guess. 

    Most math teachers are terrible. I started to like math after I'd met my highschool teacher. He was the best! It was after ten years of the ordeal with bad and/or mean teachers. I agree that schools (most of them) have bad teaching method. Now I'm this math course with an innovative approach. Like you said, talking to people is crucial.

    You put my mind at ease, thanks!

Children
  • in reply to Jules

    I'm glad that helped at put you at ease a bit. Maths can be good for those on the spectrum. Knowing you've got the answer, there's nothing more to be done to improve it, the sense of closure and completion. I hope your examd go well.

  • in reply to Jules

    I had some very good and bad maths teachers at school.

    The best one always gave us a week to do the homework.  He advised us to try the questions every night.  If we couldn't do it, it wasn't the end of the world, told us to go out, play football, enjoy yourself.  Try the questions the following day.  He guaranteed that after trying seven nights in a row we would get the homework right. If we didn't, then it meant we were plain thick and there was no hope for us 

    The bad ones tried to disguise their ignorance.  I asked for help with questions on past exam papers.  The teacher dismissed my query as, 'that's an unusual type of question, it won't come up this year.'

    It did, fortunately I was able to do it because I had taught my self from books.