Need some advice when it comes to LD's in College

Parents Forum Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD
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<p>I have been doing fairly well in college up until this point. I've kept a GPA above 3.5 in 4 semesters of classes, and two of those semesters I maintained a 4.0 GPA. The real issue I have is with math. This is discussed extensively in my IEP with test scores and many other things. I have my IEP on file with the college, and I do get the "standard" assistance they are required to give, but beyond that I am having extreme trouble getting math specific help. </p>

<p>All of the math classes I have passed in college were the most basic pass or fail classes. Now that I am at the step before college algebra, I have failed to complete the class twice. It won't be covered under financial aid, and because I had to drop it this semester in order to protect my GPA I am stuck having to file a financial aid appeal. </p>

<p>I just don't know what else to do at this point. I've proved to the school that I am serious about college with how well I do in everything else, but they refuse to offer me any assistance with my math. I am not wanting the class to be waived or anything, I desperately want to be able to get through it so that I can have that sense of accomplishment. </p>

<p>I had one instructor for my basic math class my first semester, and again for this algebra class last summer. I discussed with him in great detail the problems I face, and allowed him to read through my IEP to see the actual diagnosed problems, as he has dealt with IEP students in the past. He was easily able to see that I am unable to learn math in the traditional sense. My junior year of high school (2007, so the results aren't that old..) I had one of the many tests done throughout my grade school career, and it essentially showed that when I exited high school I would only be able to process math at a 3rd grade level. This instructor even went to the director of my campus (I go to a branch site of a school, not the main campus) and explained to her that I am not able to learn math in a normal way, and need specialized instruction. </p>

<p>I would work with this instructor on things that so many people find incredibly easy, and even after working through a problem with him step by step, once I got on my own a few minutes later I would have absolutely no idea how to process what I was doing, or where to even begin. </p>

<p>I've thought about getting tested for dyscalculia, as several people who have read my IEP and are familiar with the problems I face I have suggested. But I don't know what good that would do me, as I really haven't researched it enough. I've tried so hard to get my school to help me get through the material in some way, but now they have switched it all to computer courses, you still have an instructor in the room but there is no instruction over anything as all the students are working on different things at any given point. </p>

<p>The easy way out would to just be to give up, and that is absolutely not something I want to do. I've worked so hard to get to this point, and I want to be able to get through this so that I can have something to be proud of. But in order to do that, I need to be able to get the help I need so that I can even have the chance to learn the material, and as of right now, I really don't know how to go about that. When I try to talk to administration at my school it's like they don't even care. </p>

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<p>1) Would your college accept a college-level math course that would meet your school’s math requirement as a transfer credit from another school with a course that is taught in a way you could perform? You’d have to make the grade.</p>

<p>2) Would your school permit you and a faculty member to create an Independent Study of college-level math designed in a way you can learn and perform math that would be permitted to apply as your math requirement? </p>

<p>Just spit-balling here. Good luck! — Personally, I transferred colleges to escape a math graduation requirement (among other factors in a cost-benefit analysis). So, I feel ya. :wink: </p>

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<p>Hi Dyiu13, </p>

<p>1) I really don’t want to go the route of trying to get the class waived or substituted. I am sure I could if I fight for it, but considering the situation I am in now I really don’t feel like that would be the best option for me. I want to be able to learn the math, which I think is what they tend to want to use against me. While wanting to learn it, I need to be able to learn it in the correct setting and guidance and they can’t provide that, or are just choosing not too. </p>

<p>2) The director at the off site campus I attend (I don’t attend the main campus of my school) is working to get an instructor back that helped me out immensely in the pass/fail math classes that I was able to get through her. This professor even went to the center director and voiced his concern about me not being able to learn the math in the ways that they require him to teach it. And also talked to her about possibly knowing so methods to help me learn it. (I had showed him my IEP and discussed all my issues with math my first semester) </p>

<p>I’m just at a loss of what to do. I got to make sure I get my appeals approved, but even if I get that approved FAFSA will no longer cover my current math class as I have taken it twice now and not been able to get through it. So I am just trying to figure out what all my options are. I’ve really been debating going to another school that has better help for those with LD’s as I have enough credits right now to transfer on really good standings as I do great in all my other courses. But I really don’t know if that would help me much.</p>

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<p>Can you take Logic instead of Math to fulfill this requirement? Or do you need the math to continue on your degree path? </p>

<p>I too always struggled with Math, and found that Logic (while still extremely challenging!) was easier to get my brain around. </p>

5

<p>My school doesn’t offer a Logic class. I don’t technically need math for my degree as far as what I will be doing with it… (English Major) but my current school and most schools in my state require at least College Algebra to be completed for all degrees. </p>

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<p>Grrr I feel you. I’ve never been able to process math either. At this point I’m really afraid of taking it again but I have to. I never thought of LD’s though.</p>

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<p>Look at it from the college’s point of view:</p>

<p>If you get a grade in a math class, they are certifying that you are capable of doing that level of math.
They provide a service, the math class, that will teach people math.
The class is taught in a lecture format, with homework, tests and office hours.
The "contract"for that class is in the syllabus.
The college also provides some accomodations like extra time or amplification. These don’t change the fundamental structure of the class.</p>

<p>Sometimes people don’t get it all in the class, so they go to office hours.
or get a tutor. or form a study group. or watch Khan academy videos. </p>

<p>You are asking for a personalized class. That is not what the college is offering. </p>

<p>Can you get tested to find out what your issue is? Is it dyscalculia? Find out what strategies there are for people with dyscalculia…
Try them. </p>

<p>If that doesn’t work, then you need to think about getting the class waived or substituted.</p>

<p>I also remember an article on Slate with someone who had math difficulties and starting from the beginning helped her.</p>

<p><a href=“I'm a math moron. No, really, you don't understand—I'm a math moron.”>http://www.slate.com/articles/life/human_guinea_pig/2006/11/the_math_moron.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;