math literacy

[Zewp]

Might I ask what you are studying at varsity right now?

A standard BA degree with the aim on doing my honours in Psych and then going on from there to do Forensic Psychology.

Could probably have gotten in for a Bcom or something had I not been a lazy, procrastinating git all throughout high-school, but eh. I always had the potential to be a 80% candidate, at the least, but I literally didn't study in high school. Only went in and wrote my exams with what was discussed in class. Basically got through with 60 and sometimes 70% for my subjects. If there's one thing I'd redo in my life, it's go back and actually work hard in high school.

That's why I say, the OP's daughter likely doesn't have a problem with maths, she has a problem with not wanting to do it. It's easy to say you're failing a subject because you're not proficient at it, but anyone who puts in enough effort can pass any subject at high school. High school's slogan is 'what you put in is what you get out.'

I had a really bad math teacher from grade 10 - 12. Brilliantly smart, but no teaching skills whatsoever. I'm not blaming him for me only getting 50% at the end of matric though. I blame myself for doing my math homework once a week, in the hour in which I went to my private math tutor. Outside of that, I didn't practice my math at all, and it reflected in my marks.

 

[Bryn]

A standard BA degree with the aim on doing my honours in Psych and then going on from there to do Forensic Psychology.

Could probably have gotten in for a Bcom or something had I not been a lazy, procrastinating git all throughout high-school, but eh. I always had the potential to be a 80% candidate, at the least, but I literally didn't study in high school. Only went in and wrote my exams with what was discussed in class. Basically got through with 60 and sometimes 70% for my subjects. If there's one thing I'd redo in my life, it's go back and actually work hard in high school.

That's why I say, the OP's daughter likely doesn't have a problem with maths, she has a problem with not wanting to do it. It's easy to say you're failing a subject because you're not proficient at it, but anyone who puts in enough effort can pass any subject at high school. High school's slogan is 'what you put in is what you get out.'

I had a really bad math teacher from grade 10 - 12. Brilliantly smart, but no teaching skills whatsoever. I'm not blaming him for me only getting 50% at the end of matric though. I blame myself for doing my math homework once a week, in the hour in which I went to my private math tutor. Outside of that, I didn't practice my math at all, and it reflected in my marks.

I was a lazy procrastinating git all through high school and I still got 4 A's, 2 B's and a D (Afrikaans). The whole point of procrastinating is to still get the work done. I'm currently finishing up BCom Accounting.

 

[Zewp]

I was a lazy procrastinating git all through high school and I still got 4 A's, 2 B's and a D (Afrikaans). The whole point of procrastinating is to still get the work done. I'm currently finishing up BCom Accounting.

All depends on how lazy you were. Sometimes I'd simply neglect to do certain tasks because I didn't feel like it. Basically did the bare minimum required to pass and get average grades.

 

[EnchanterG]

My point being its easy to look back at work we did three years ago and say "How easy is this!?", but its a totally different kettle of fish when you are sitting in that class with a 'wtf face'.

So what I'm saying is, you found the maths lit paper really easy and that's great for you, but there really are people out there who aren't able to do maths (there are a plethora of reasons why) or don't need it for a degree and they shouldn't be made to feel inadequate, or be disparaged by comments by people who think their maths knowledge is better than someone elses by stint of a highschool course they followed.

 

[dgharmse]

My point being its easy to look back at work we did three years ago and say "How easy is this!?", but its a totally different kettle of fish when you are sitting in that class with a 'wtf face'.

So what I'm saying is, you found the maths lit paper really easy and that's great for you, but there really are people out there who aren't able to do maths (there are a plethora of reasons why) or don't need it for a degree and they shouldn't be made to feel inadequate, or be disparaged by comments by people who think their maths knowledge is better than someone elses by stint of a highschool course they followed.

She really battle with word sums.She had a tutor two years ago and it didnt help her at all.She did pass all her other subjects,but for some reason she battle with maths.

 

[FrankCastle]

In my opinion parents spent way to much money on tutoring and mathematics extra classes, I did a fair bit of tutoring and to be honest, if the child's attitude doesn't change then you can spend as much money as you like, it won't work. In most cases I came across, children who can't do mathematics missed a building block or two in a previous grade, they sometimes passes say grade 8 with a distinction, but the fundamentals didn't sink in then grade 10 all of a sudden becomes impossible for them.

Teaching is also a very unforgiven job, if the child performs well then it is because he or she is clever, if he does bad then the parents blame the teacher.

Good point about teachers,however what I noticed is that teachers tend to subconsciously "ignore" the slow learners and just focus on the smart kids.
Imagine a job, where, you on the one hand frustrated because you're being kept back and on the other hand pressured into moving forward.


Its less work to teach smart kids.

 

[Bryn]

My point being its easy to look back at work we did three years ago and say "How easy is this!?", but its a totally different kettle of fish when you are sitting in that class with a 'wtf face'.

So what I'm saying is, you found the maths lit paper really easy and that's great for you, but there really are people out there who aren't able to do maths (there are a plethora of reasons why) or don't need it for a degree and they shouldn't be made to feel inadequate, or be disparaged by comments by people who think their maths knowledge is better than someone elses by stint of a highschool course they followed.

I thought maths lit was a joke when I was still in high school, and I've seen nothing to change my mind since. There is only a little shame in doing maths lit if you don't want to study a degree worth having, but that's assuming you ace it.

If you are failing maths lit however, then you can't complain about being made to feel inadequate, because you are inadequate. Maths lit requires little to no knowledge of anything - just a few megahurtz of brain power. If you have a legitimate reason for failing (retardation being the only one I can think of off the top of my head) then you should be at a special school, otherwise you should just get off your ass and do some work.

My faith in humanity is not so low that I can excuse a fail in maths lit.

 

[noxibox]

The teacher obviously plays an important role. If it were not so we could just hand out textbooks and have someone on hand to maintain order. There'd be no need to even hire people with degrees to do this work.

While parents might not necessarily be aware of or acknowledge the extent to which a teacher is an important part of their child's success, the teacher's students usually do recognise a good teacher when they encounter one.

Things usually seem easy and obvious when you know how to do them. It's silly to claim that the calculations in maths literacy are so trivial they should be obvious and easy to all. Before maths literacy was available many of those now taking it would not have been taking mathematics at all.

A child who has given up may well have been butting their heads against the problem for quite some time before throwing in the towel. They may have been left behind by teachers who lack the ability to figure out different ways to get the point across. Or they get labelled as stupid and incapable, thus not even worth spending effort on. That labelling also confirms to them that there is no further point even trying.

 

[cybershark]

It's hard to believe reading some of the replies in this thread, that some people still hold to the belief that if you can do maths you're intelligent, if you can't you're not.

Brain profiling has shown intelligence can be defined in many ways, not just mathematically. A good starting point imho is the book: Am I clever or am I stupid? by Kobus Neethling. A video about it: http://youtu.be/-BI5t3u4V5A

 

[R13...]

I have to agree with the last few replies. If you're failing math lit, it's because you didn't put any effort in. Buying her more books isn't going to help for a child who does not spend enough time studying and/or practising her maths.

I might be wrong, but I was matric three years back, and I checked some math lit papers and couldn't believe how easy those things were. Even worse, in the exams, the math lit guys get told which formulas to use to solve the problems, while us normal math people got a formula sheet which became useless if you didn't know which formula was used for what.

How anyone still manages to fail matric maths in this day and age is a mystery to me. You get formulae handed to you with the exam papers? How nice.

 

[Bryn]

It's hard to believe reading some of the replies in this thread, that some people still hold to the belief that if you can do maths you're intelligent, if you can't you're not.

Brain profiling has shown intelligence can be defined in many ways, not just mathematically. A good starting point imho is the book: Am I clever or am I stupid? by Kobus Neethling. A video about it: http://youtu.be/-BI5t3u4V5A

Maths lit is mind numbingly simple and very much detached from proper maths. Not being able to even pass maths lit definitely puts you in the 'dumb' category.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Brain profiling has shown intelligence can be defined in many ways, not just mathematically. A good starting point imho is the book: Am I clever or am I stupid? by Kobus Neethling. A video about it: http://youtu.be/-BI5t3u4V5A

Hi Kobus

 

[dgharmse]

Maths lit is mind numbingly simple and very much detached from proper maths. Not being able to even pass maths lit definitely puts you in the 'dumb' category.

I was asking for help not ****ty remarks.

 

[cybershark]

Hi Kobus

He's a South African, so I mentioned him. So despite the , you achieved the opposite.

 

[Barilak]

Maths lit is mind numbingly simple and very much detached from proper maths. Not being able to even pass maths lit definitely puts you in the 'dumb' category.

Your constant ranting about how stupid and simple math lit is - in a thread where a father is just asking for some book recommendations - leads me to put you in the 'dumb' category.

Have a little empathy. Our brains are all wired differently, so everyone struggles in certain areas and excels in others. I don't know you, but I can guarantee that there is something you're not good at doing, and that many people out there are able to do that same thing with ease.

I've gathered that this girl's first language is Afrikaans, which could be problematic in a subject which makes use of a lot of word sums. I'm not making excuses for her, just trying to understand her circumstances. Of course she has to work very hard. But calling her 'dumb' and saying she belongs in a 'special school' just makes you look like an intolerant @sshole.

 

[dgharmse]

I helped her last year and im sure she will make it this year as well.She got 37% this term.Just that little extra push and she will make it.

 

[Barilak]

I helped her last year and im sure she will make it this year as well.She got 37% this term.Just that little extra push and she will make it.

With maths, the best thing she can have is a lot of practice. There are only so many ways that a certain concept can be tested. Once she's learnt a basic concept, you need to give her a lot of different examples which test that concept. Keep this in mind when buying a book - it mustn't only teach concepts, it must provide lots of problems which she can work through herself. She'll build up her confidence with every problem she solves.

 

[Dylan_G]

Well, I'm currently in Matric and I know the syllabus quite well... Beside all the arrogant replies... the people that say that maths lit is easy are right. Its incredibly easy. And I understand that not everyone can get maths right but thats not the point. Choosing maths lit is the easiest option you can take maths-wise.

OP, please try your hardest to change your child's attitude toward the subject. If she cannot pass maths lit, something is definitely wrong(and I don't mean with her. It could be a teacher, class envirnoment,etc). Have a talk with her and find out what can change. Not many people can teach themselves and throwing another book at her won't help. Go have a chat with her teachers and look for ways to solve it. Change her place in the class ? Change the class/teacher ?

It places a serious limitation on a person's life if you are doing maths lit. Most degrees do not accept maths lit and require pure maths. Fair enough, she may not want to study a maths intensive degree and thats completely fine, but why just throw it away and not focus on it? Maths is important in every facet of life regardless if you have a degree or diploma. She should try her best to develop her skills, even if it means going back to grade 8 and 9 work.

My brother is going through the same thing(Grade 9, not doing well for maths)... I see that you tried to help her ? No offense, but you might just confuse her more. My dad tries to help my brother and it doesn't always turn out well(even though my dad works with numbers everyday for a living). There are many other avenues, you just have to explore them.

 

[dgharmse]

With maths, the best thing she can have is a lot of practice. There are only so many ways that a certain concept can be tested. Once she's learnt a basic concept, you need to give her a lot of different examples which test that concept. Keep this in mind when buying a book - it mustn't only teach concepts, it must provide lots of problems which she can work through herself. She'll build up her confidence with every problem she solves.

Thats why i asked for a book that provide lots of problems and answers.I ordered the book : Ken & Verstaan Wiskundige Geletterdheid - Gr 10.Hoppefully it will help her.

 

[noxibox]

She really battle with word sums.She had a tutor two years ago and it didnt help her at all.She did pass all her other subjects,but for some reason she battle with maths.

Get a better tutor. Word sums actually challenge a lot of people, no matter how simple they are. Her difficulty might in fact be in problem-solving rather than mathematics. If you're a good teacher, and can do the problems yourself, then you can help.

How anyone still manages to fail matric maths in this day and age is a mystery to me. You get formulae handed to you with the exam papers? How nice.

Having a formula is only part of solving the problem.

It places a serious limitation on a person's life if you are doing maths lit. Most degrees do not accept maths lit and require pure maths. Fair enough, she may not want to study a maths intensive degree and thats completely fine, but why just throw it away and not focus on it? Maths is important in every facet of life regardless if you have a degree or diploma. She should try her best to develop her skills, even if it means going back to grade 8 and 9 work.

There are so many avenues that don't require it. Certainly anything beyond the simple problem solving in mathematics literacy is not required in day to day life.

My dad tries to help my brother and it doesn't always turn out well(even though my dad works with numbers everyday for a living).

Being able to solve a problem and being able to explain how, and coach someone, are very different things. That's why sometimes brilliant people make useless teachers where a mediocre person makes a brilliant teacher.