Im a freshman in college and currently it is Thanksgiving break. Im currently working on my math homework however it is super difficult and I really don’t understand it at all. I hate math with a passion and the instructor in that class is not helpful at all and instead complains all the time for people failing the class. The way she teaches math is way too fast of a pace for me to learn. Im a slow learner in general and learning something that complicated in four months is just something I cannot do. The instructor in that class is also uncooperative and isn’t willing to work with struggling students much.
Im currently failing that class and what sucks is math is a requirement for my major which I never understand why. I really feel like its hopeless visiting her office hours and trying to talk to her because she doesn’t listen to anything I say. it wasn’t until just recently I started to do well in college (when I say recently I mean like the middle/end of October). If anyone is going to ask me about my prior threads about me struggling please know that I managed to get my grades up for the most part its just math thats a pain and struggle for me.
In high school it took me at least one full year to get good at math but the way I’m being taught now really sucks and there really is nothing I can do about it now. Since semester ends soon and I’m basically stuck with what I have.
I will obviously end up having to retake that class. So my question is would it be possible to retake it with someone else? Im not sure if anyone here has experienced failing a math class and later took with someone else. I would rather much have that then have to deal with my current instructor. I will have to talk to my advisor about withdrawing from that class if I can and see if I will take it next semester with someone else. Again if anyone knows that I can retake the course with someone else other than my current instructor please let me know thanks.
I apologize if I said anything mean or hurtful but its just the truth of how I have been feeling about that class and the way the instructor handles things.
yeah just talk to your advisor or just apply online and pick a different instructor. i know you probably already tried this, but watch youtube videos, they help a lot. also khan academy!
First, you need to change your attitude toward math. Math is actually a much easier subject than something like English. Problem is that people fear math.
My kids school district had a consultant come in to discuss the new math program being implemented. She gave a long winded, and not very scientific, explanation why some people fail math. They were operating in the wrong section of their brains, in the emotional section. You should be in your logical thinking section. Kind of hokey, but she did make a point.
Relax, think about WHY you are doing something rather than just learning the “steps”. Understanding the “why” is key to dong well in math.
Go to Ratemyteacher/professor. Ask around to everyone in your major who has had to take the same course. Find a section with a professor who is highly rated for making the work easy to understand-- not just easy or nice, but a good teacher. Arrange your whole schedule around being in that section of the course.
The speed of the class is not due to your teacher, but the material they must teach in a semester.
You need to change how you study…did you know that for every hour you spend in class, you are expected to do 2-3 hours of studying/homework outside the classroom?
You need to go to your professors office hours and get a tutor and do practice problems and check out Khan Academy.
If others in your college teach this same class, then yes, when you retake this class, you can take it with a different professor. You can use the rate my professor website to try to find out who the good math teachers are at your school.
I very, very strongly suggest that you get a tutor as of week 1 in the spring, and work with that tutor at least once per week for the entire term. You need to pass this class, and I think you can, with some extra help. That level of help won’t come from a professor, normally. You need a tutor. Go to the tutoring center now and find out what they offer re: math tutoring, so you’re ready to go with it for next term.
Its really funny that you say that Math is actually easier than English. Of course its not in English class all I have to do is show up and do the work which is mainly writing essays and papers that alone doesn’t take much time at all. Im currently working on one research paper and it wasn’t that bad at all developing a thesis and finding good sources was the only thing that took a little bit of time everything else just priced together nicely.
Math is filled with complicated formulas of letters and numbers that don’t make sense at all. its hard to understand took me a year or so to get math in high school. English was never difficult it did get boring with the stories that we read but that was it no complicated formulas no rules just writing essays is nothing compared to fractions decimals etc.
I fear math because I will never understand it even if I think I do. Its hard to remember everything its just boring and tedious.
Yes its basically impossible to paste class now there is no room for improvement anymore once the final hits its done. I really like your idea of going to tutoring center in the Spring. I will consider doing that. The professor already is not willing to work with anyone.
Glad to hear that your other classes are going well.
As mentioned in a previous post, the professor doesn’t set the pace of the course. She has one semester to get through the material. No matter who you take the class with again, the pace will be the same. All you can hope is that seeing the material for the second time will help.
I also agree with getting a tutor from day 1. Study in groups too if you can. It can help!