Dear Debbie Cunningham--and every other math teacher that came before, but mostly Mrs. Cunningham because I gave you the most flack,
As much as I hate to admit it, you were right. (Ohh, how it pains me to type such words! So go ahead... Bask in it.) Who knew that years after sitting in the back of your class (devoting my time to making-up a secret code language with Victoria Treece), I'd actually need to know those Math functions you were yapping about? And who could have known I would be continents away when this happened? (And furthermore, who would have guessed that the secret code language we spent class period after class period inventing would amount to nothing beyond a few barely decipherable notes?!) Who knew... Surely not I, for I'd probably have paid more attention. (Then again, who am I kidding? Probably not.) But as fate would have it, I actually am having to use math in the "real" world. It turns out I cannnot help Josh and Stephen, the 11-year-old twins here, with their homework because I, myself, do not understand how I arrive at the conclusions. Granted I can figure out the right answers with certainty, but I'll be damned if I can write out the long-hand explanations as to how or why I arrived at the answers. Does my using my common sense not account for anything in the math world?! (Of course not; that's too abstract.) Therefore, I cannot teach the boys and explain to them the equations as their math book does. (...Even after hours--okay, maybe a half hour at most--of studying the pages.) Thus. I have hit a mathematical snag and all I can think is: If only I had wiser... I would have listened to Debbie Cunningham.
Happy now?
Sincerely,
Catherine "Cattie" Harrison
As much as I hate to admit it, you were right. (Ohh, how it pains me to type such words! So go ahead... Bask in it.) Who knew that years after sitting in the back of your class (devoting my time to making-up a secret code language with Victoria Treece), I'd actually need to know those Math functions you were yapping about? And who could have known I would be continents away when this happened? (And furthermore, who would have guessed that the secret code language we spent class period after class period inventing would amount to nothing beyond a few barely decipherable notes?!) Who knew... Surely not I, for I'd probably have paid more attention. (Then again, who am I kidding? Probably not.) But as fate would have it, I actually am having to use math in the "real" world. It turns out I cannnot help Josh and Stephen, the 11-year-old twins here, with their homework because I, myself, do not understand how I arrive at the conclusions. Granted I can figure out the right answers with certainty, but I'll be damned if I can write out the long-hand explanations as to how or why I arrived at the answers. Does my using my common sense not account for anything in the math world?! (Of course not; that's too abstract.) Therefore, I cannot teach the boys and explain to them the equations as their math book does. (...Even after hours--okay, maybe a half hour at most--of studying the pages.) Thus. I have hit a mathematical snag and all I can think is: If only I had wiser... I would have listened to Debbie Cunningham.
Happy now?
Sincerely,
Catherine "Cattie" Harrison
Google it! That is what I always do when stumped. Also, make them write it all out step by step because I have a 13 year old who thinks he can do it all in his head and it is annoying!
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