Parents of the HS Class of 2016 (Part 1)

@BeeDAre your post makes my heart sing! Fabulous news all around.

Unfortunately, the prognosis for students with math LDs is not good. Unless the tutor is an LD professional specialized in math LDs, not much can help. The usual accommodations, such as extra time on tests, only go so far for people with no working memory, etc. I doubt sheā€™ll be able to get non-cumulative tests, an LD expert tutor, and such. Iā€™d hire one for her, but here we are in week 4. I wish the school would have been more insightful about math LD accommodations, but kid did not know to ask and her ā€œindependenceā€ has led to our being disconnected from her situation. This is so common for college students with LDs. Common as dirt. If she can get a C, thatā€™ll do, but I think sheā€™s now guessing her way through.

Did you know thereā€™s a big debate about required math for college students in non-STEM fieldsā€¦beyond the LD discussion? Iā€™d say every student needs stats and everyday math, though.

So glad your DD is doing well @BeeDAre !

I hope she can get the grade she needs and move on with life @dyiu13 !

@BeeDAre Great news.

@dyiu13 Is this her only required math class?

@dyiu13, Iā€™m sorry your D is struggling with math. That just sucks. Is it advanced math?

I had to take Statistics as a literature major. Got a C - with tutoring help. I probably would have failed it if it werenā€™t for the tutoring, Iā€™ve always been math-challenged.

My D is not, but hates it anyway. She managed to somehow test out of the math requirement with her AP credit for Calculus, although she got a C in that class in HS (didnā€™t do all the HW) She is beyond happy about that.

Otherwise, I do think the non-STEM and Business students at her university have to take a general math course.

Weā€™ve found the same thing. And itā€™s also a nice source of photos, since one of his bandmates is a big fan of Row Selfies.

My condolences on the math. If it becomes too much, would it be possible for her to take it at a local junior college for transfer credit? I donā€™t remember where your D is in school, but I know some of the state uni system kids have done that with really tough classes. The jcs tend to be far easier.

I agree that some college math would be useful. Like a class that teaches student loan interest calculations or home and car loan calculations, or balancing a checkbook. Also tax forms/documents and calculations to complete - math that you may actually benefit from in adult everyday life.

I just spent an hour trying to explain that S DID have the correct meningococcal vaccine after he was age 16. (School sent an urgent hold message re non-compliance). I was basically told thereā€™s a new law and vaccine required by our state. I looked up the law, and Sā€™s shot was fine. It appears the same law that made them get the booster after age 16 for high school last year is extended to college age kids. Theyā€™ve had the records since April but I faxed in new pages with arrows and underlines so hopefully they see the right info this time.

Havenā€™t heard from S in 5 days.

@BeeDAre Iā€™m so glad sheā€™s doing well!

Do your kids apply to leadership positions and school organizations in college? I donā€™t know if this is school specific, but I think she might be spending too much time applying to different committees, school organizations, etc. Her classes are very intense and in addition she is trying to get involved in too many things on campus.

@Ballerina016 D has taken on one committee chair position; and is a member in 2 or 3 other orgs (mostly related to her major.) I think for some kids when they come from a HS where there may not have been as many options that appealed to them - itā€™s a bit like being at an all you can eat buffet- everything they had hoped for is right in front of them! I would need a gentle reminder to look, try a nibble; taste, then dig in to one or two that were especially yummy.

@Ballerina016 Iā€™m running for class president but that hasnā€™t started yet. There arenā€™t many clubs you have to apply for here, most welcome anyone

Weā€™ve had to have some discussion regarding this very thing . So far heā€™s in agreement to wait until next semester before running for any offices.

Could not describe it better myself @oneundecided . Her small HS did not offer many opportunities and now she is like a kid in a candy store. But we had a talk before she left for college that she should take it easy first semester. Now two weeks in she already picked up a campus job, member of two committees, got into sorority which she thankfully decided not to join after a trial period, and still interviewing for more. I just donā€™t want her to crash.

Good luck @readingclaygirl

We did too @carolinamom2boys That is why she was hesitate to to tell me about her job on campus. But she canā€™t help it.

The ā€œmath for non-STEM majorsā€ at Dā€™s college includes exactly this: ā€œLike a class that teaches student loan interest calculations or home and car loan calculations, or balancing a checkbook. Also tax forms/documents and calculations to complete - math that you may actually benefit from in adult everyday life.ā€ in addition to a smattering of stats and other math disciplines. Itā€™s different from other math classes Iā€™ve come across, but seems quite useful in the end. D is not a fan of the flipped classroom method, however.

@dyiu13 Iā€™m sorry that your D is in such a position, but without knowing much about what her LD is, wouldnā€™t SOME tutoring be more helpful than none? Otherwise, Iā€™d start looking into other ways she might be able to fulfill her math credits.

D opted not to run for office this year, but the clubs sheā€™s in are very low-key and sheā€™s not that busy as a result. There are no applications for them. Sheā€™s pondering starting an informal speech club-she says theyā€™d ā€œsparā€ since going the formal speech and debate would be more than sheā€™d be willing to take on. But she misses her speech activities.

@sseamom, that sounds like a math class I would enjoy. I am better at practical math.

My math class is specifically for education majors. So in addition to learning or reviewing math concepts, we attempt to learn how to teach the concepts. I say attempt because our professor has no idea how to teach children, she can barely teach college students

D just joined marching band and joined ā€œCampus Bandā€ for non-music majors. She wanted to join the ā€œCampus Orchestraā€ because she likes orchestra music better; but it was on a night that she has a class, so she joined the band instead.

She recently lamented that she missed the Campus Club Fair on the quad during Welcome Week because she was in band camp. I reminded her she was doing plenty, and to not go out of her way to over-extend herself.

She also mentioned wanting to find a campus job next semester after band was over. Apparently, campus jobs are plentiful there.

@readingclaygirl the math for education majors is a separate course, so D will take that probably next semester-itā€™s how to teach the subject.

@BeeDAre D was very sad that the choir for non-music major and those without the talent level to be in the Jubilee Choir meets during one of her evening classes, so she could not join. Sheā€™s trying to find a church where she could join their choir, though. That will have to do for now.

My D is finding that every single thing she wants to join meets during her late Wednesday class or her MWF afternoon class - sheā€™ll have to remember that when she schedules next semesterā€™s classes.

Sheā€™s had her first round of tests and did poorly on one of them (70, yikes!) because it was much harder than she expected and she had missed some classes when she was sick the previous week. She seems to have rebounded and studied extra hard for her Bio test, which she thought she probably aced. There must be a few more tests and other assignments in the class, so hopefully she can make up for it.

For us we have 2 semesters of Math for education majors @sseamom