Quote:
Originally Posted by A-Rod's Cousin
Most people don't have a math brain. Hard work isn't going to change that too much. It just comes easier to some people than to others.
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No, what you're calling a 'Math brain' is really just genius. Of course geniuses are going to make it look easy, and people coming in with the expectation that, if they don't perform at some super-human level, they are justified in quitting drive me nuts. For everyone but outliers math is simply a lot of work, take courses and be prepared for a couple of hours of homework each night-- which you can't fake the way you might write a b.s. paper in an English class.
You wouldn't take a masonry program and not expect to lug rocks; don't take a math class without anticipating the mental equivalent.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusemandingo
+1. Same with learning a foreign language. It just comes easy to some people and others could spend hours a day practicing and never get that good. Kinda scary that a tutor thinks that anyone who doesnt easily get concepts is just being lazy.
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I hope by that you mean that it is scary that the hundreds of kids that come in are
not prepared to take their own education seriously enough to
not look for an excuse to quit and demand special treatment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ballin4life
I think 95+% of people can learn high school level math. When I tutored people most of the job was just having them actually work hard. So I'm not surprised that another tutor apparently thought the same.
This.
Quote:
Originally Posted by A-Rod's Cousin
What are you considering "high school level math"? Algebra I or Pre-Cal? IIRC, the former is the standard freshman class and the latter, the standard senior level class. If you think 95% of people can learn pre-calculus through hard work you are sorely mistaken. Or you live in China.
Math is hard, and anyone born lucky enough to have it come easy to them is exactly that: lucky.
I see your point. Rephrase: 95% of the college-accepted. The bottom of the barrel might really have to sweat for a C, but they CAN get there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusemandingo
I think a lot of the reason they seem to not want to work at it is because they dont get it. Its a lot easier to put in time and effort into something when you understand and enjoy it. Some people's minds just cant make the connections and grasp the concepts that others can. I think almost everyone can learn up to some level of math, but assuming people who are having trouble learning are lazy and not trying is a mistake imo.
Ive never tutored math but Ive tutored Spanish and some people's brains are just better equipped to learn a foreign language. I assume it's the same with math.
Nobody said "assuming". Their work ethic is pretty evident if you're tutoring them. People have been taught that being bad at math is normal and it is ok to throw in the towel.
Also, the connections are what the tutors are there for. You should hear my distributive property/pimp and ho lesson for athletes and the PSEO kids.
Last edited by Kristy; 05-27-2012 at 10:57 AM.
Reason: in before *people that make massive tangential multi-posts*. Sorry! :)