Kevin's Watch

It's a good feeling when you help a kid "see" why you do what you do when you do math.

Linna Heartlistener wrote: It's for math competitions.
I'm teaching my class to a handful of kids prepping for Mathcounts and the AMC tests. (formerly the AHSME.)

And iunno, you encounter a wide variety of ability levels and motivation levels in tutoring. (Do you think that if you could target being able to get certain types of tutoring student, it would be different?)

Possibly so. The first problem I would encounter would be having to help the student unlearn the mess their teachers taught them so that I could "wipe the slate clean" and begin teaching them the *correct* way to approach and solve problems. I tend to favor only the techniques which result in arriving at the correct answer, regardless of how the problem is initially phrased.

If I could target certain types of students...well, that would require a modicum of getting to know the students, which would be part of the tutoring process anyway, so it probably wouldn't make much difference. Tutoring, as opposed to teaching, leave me more in control of the "how" processes are taught.

wayfriend wrote:It's a good feeling when you help a kid "see" why you do what you do when you do math.

It has been so long since I made the mental leaps from regurgitation to understanding that I have almost forgotten what it was like not to understand why and how a mathematical process works. It isn't a problem with the students but a problem with me--a lack of empathy problem. I find it difficult to understand why a student can't understand something when I find it "obvious"...but it is "obvious" to me only because it became obvious 20 years ago.

I still remember getting screamed at back in first grade for 'doing a problem wrong'. I had the correct answer, but the teacher had wanted me to carry the one. She didn't bother trying to explain why, so all I got from it was confusion since I'd solved the problem with less work. It gave me a lifelong aversion to that method, though I am pretty adept at doing complex sums in my head.

Math just doesn't do it for me.

--A

math is hard.

got over the tooth abscess/terrible cold, only to damage my right shoulder. hurts to move it, living on meds til I can see the ortho this morning.

had to work four days barely able to move the arm. no one seemed to notice, I likely should not have been allowed to work. but we have a huge audit next week that I am helping to prepare for.

American Correction Association is coming and we have been doing extra cleaning to prepare. maintenance has been actually fixing things in the kitchen. (not everything though.) the paint crew and my inmates have been painting. we even have some new equipment. and we are hauling off stuff that I have been advocating bee removed for some time now.

ACA will do walk throughs all week. they will check paperwork, ask questions, get in my way. it is the nature of things.

they will quiz me about many things, I will answer all their questions correctly while trying to do my actual job. security and feeding the inmates and staff. and they will find a way to ask the stupidest inmates and staff softball questions that anyone should be able to answer. and these people will fail to answer them correctly.

we will pass, but the ACA will find some slight findings that we need to correct. we pay them to do this. we pay for them to tell us we are doing a great, but not super great job.

and they will mostly get in my way.

Weird.

At least it's the weekend.

--A

sgt.null wrote:
and they will mostly get in my way.

Fun. I got audited at work this week too. My department passed, but another department failed badly, which means a re-audit in the near future.

I saw some amazing theatre this week, especially a three person play titled THE DRY WAY about mermaid sisters banished from the sea. I went to a major art museum and saw a lot of wonderful art.

Makes up some for the poverty and ill health. Actually does a lot to alleviate.

Makes sense to me, Zahir! Adding some spice makes what life is serving up more palatable for sure! Sounds like an enjoyable weekend!

I've spent some time checking with a good friend of mine to see how her son is doing. On Friday, her 9-year-old was hit by a truck which then sped off. Her son will live, but is hospitalized with a broken leg, some small bleeding around his brain, and possible spinal injury (doctors say it's too early to tell). I'm still trying to deal with the anger I feel about someone who would do something like that and just drive off.

Well, Zahir's re-appearance has certainly brightened my day.

That sucks CH.

I had a fairly quiet weekend...even feel a little rested. And have booked some leave at the end of March. What with the public holidays around then, I'll have 17 days off, at the cost of only 6 days of my accumulated leave.

So, looking forward to that.

--A

Any chance some of that accumulated leave could translate to a trip to Albuquerque come October?

Cord Hurn wrote:I'm still trying to deal with the anger I feel about someone who would do something like that and just drive off.

People who do things like that are probably already wanted by the police for something or will become wanted if they stay to speak with the police--license expired, license revoked, no insurance, and/or open warrants on the file. They don't care who they have to step on--or run over, in this case--just as long as they aren't inconvenienced or have to face the responsibility for their actions. Yes, they have two legs, two arms, etc. like the rest of us do but they don't qualify as "civilized human being".

I will add to that - some people panic and do stupid things that make situations worse.

I was in a hit-and-run a couple of years ago - the guy stopped for a couple of seconds like he was trying to decide what to do, then he took off. I won't ever know why, but fortunately I wasn't badly hurt. (Though I do still have a bit of a complex about crossing that street.)

If he had stopped - even if the police had witnessed it - he probably would have only gotten a ticket for running the light. On the other hand, hit-and-run after injuring a person is generally a felony.

I hope your friend's son recovers.

Menolly wrote:Any chance some of that accumulated leave could translate to a trip to Albuquerque come October?

I'm tempted, but the thought of 5 days travelling for a weekend brings me out in hives. And of course my usual issues of leaving the GF without transport etc, still apply too.

I really should though.

--A

Avatar wrote:

Menolly wrote:Any chance some of that accumulated leave could translate to a trip to Albuquerque come October?

I'm tempted, but the thought of 5 days travelling for a weekend brings me out in hives. And of course my usual issues of leaving the GF without transport etc, still apply too.

I really should though.

--A

Yes, you really should!

Looks like if I pay twice as much, I can halve the travel time.

--A

Arrr!



My eye has been upgraded!

I think I'll need a lie-down soon...

MsMary, from wood to glass? Tee-hee.

Best few days I've had in a while. Just regular old stuff going on, no major crises... feeling like it is well with my soul.