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Michele 1
QuoteAw shit...sorry to hear this. Ain't it a bitch? I hove no other offering than to relax. I was always good at math and taking tests of all sorts so I can't relate really.
What if you created an alter ego and "taught" her the math using the quiz/test as the problem sheet?
I can offer the following though~
1. The secret to taking tests is aim for an F and miss.
Ok, Ok...so I stole the idea but ya gotta admit it was funny.
Actually, that did make me laugh. Thanks.
I actually like the idea of an alter-ego...I wonder if I can do that, without the generally accepted trauma which tends to procede a dissociative state like that. I'd rather not experience the trauma, thanks very much.
Hrm...something to work on. Create MathGirl, superhero of algebraic equations. Her special weapon is a laserbeam spitting calculater, her emergency rescue item is a giant eraser, and she wears glasses which make her invisible to the instructor.
MATHGIRL! TO THE RESCUE!!!!
Maybe I'll meet her in class tonight...and pass the test.
Ciels-
Michele
~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~
Richards 0
Michelle,
One it sounds like Algebra has become your nemesis and therefore psychs you out a bit. Secondly you obviously suffer from extreme exam stress.
Most universities provide workshops through their student services department that deal directly with exam anxiety. Some people have found these quite helpfull.
You might want to spend a lot of time going to your professors office hours. This can be helpfull in two ways; one you can always get rapid feedback to problems, two if you get a marginal mark your professor might bump it up if he/she see's that you have been constantly coming for help.
It is also usefull to consider the fact that exams are as much psychological as academic. It is easy to know the material yet fall apart as soon as you see the exam. You need to take care if your mental/emotional status before writing a test..for example;
> Get a good nights sleep. Do not cram all night (diminishing returns on that)
>Realise that if you are reviewing it the morning of, you will likely forget it all even if you knew it the night before. This is normal, all knowledge will return if you relax.
> Do not keep reviewing right up untill the exam. Stop at least an hour or so before or you will fry yourself.
>Do not enter the exam room until the last minute or you will simply sit there surrounded by other people whose stress will affect you.
>Expect that everything on the exam will look different from the homework and you will initially draw a blank. This is normal. Relax, start working on what you can and a picture will start coming together.
>Even if the exam is going to shit, stay relaxed.
You should also ask to speak to a learning strategist (free consultations at most universities), so as to determine your learning style. There are several different styles of learning and if the way you have been taught to approach things is not consistent with your style then you are not getting as much cognitive understanding per unit of study as you could.
If you do not know where to start finding these resources, approach your professor and ask him/her. I always find it a shame when otherwise bright people keep stumbling due to a learning problem that may very well be correctable.
Sorry for being longwinded but I felt compelled to offer my input.
Good luck with your studies.
Richards
One it sounds like Algebra has become your nemesis and therefore psychs you out a bit. Secondly you obviously suffer from extreme exam stress.
Most universities provide workshops through their student services department that deal directly with exam anxiety. Some people have found these quite helpfull.
You might want to spend a lot of time going to your professors office hours. This can be helpfull in two ways; one you can always get rapid feedback to problems, two if you get a marginal mark your professor might bump it up if he/she see's that you have been constantly coming for help.
It is also usefull to consider the fact that exams are as much psychological as academic. It is easy to know the material yet fall apart as soon as you see the exam. You need to take care if your mental/emotional status before writing a test..for example;
> Get a good nights sleep. Do not cram all night (diminishing returns on that)
>Realise that if you are reviewing it the morning of, you will likely forget it all even if you knew it the night before. This is normal, all knowledge will return if you relax.
> Do not keep reviewing right up untill the exam. Stop at least an hour or so before or you will fry yourself.
>Do not enter the exam room until the last minute or you will simply sit there surrounded by other people whose stress will affect you.
>Expect that everything on the exam will look different from the homework and you will initially draw a blank. This is normal. Relax, start working on what you can and a picture will start coming together.
>Even if the exam is going to shit, stay relaxed.
You should also ask to speak to a learning strategist (free consultations at most universities), so as to determine your learning style. There are several different styles of learning and if the way you have been taught to approach things is not consistent with your style then you are not getting as much cognitive understanding per unit of study as you could.
If you do not know where to start finding these resources, approach your professor and ask him/her. I always find it a shame when otherwise bright people keep stumbling due to a learning problem that may very well be correctable.
Sorry for being longwinded but I felt compelled to offer my input.
Good luck with your studies.
Richards
My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.
Michele 1
Thank you, Richards. I have taken advantage of her office hours, the class has a tutor assigned to it (who informed me she didn't know how to help me, as I knew how to do all the work...), and there is a math lab available. I will be hitting the lab tomorrow, as that's the only thing I haven't taken advantage of.
And I plan on speaking with the professor tomorrow after class...surprisingly, I can handle word problems; can't handle straight equations on exams. I think it's because I'm very, very comfortable with words, and it gives me something else to do rather than just stare at numbers which make no sense.
I don't think I did well on the test yesterday, however. There were 9 problems. The exam started at 6:30. I left the room about 8 pm, having done all the problems at least three times (and often arriving at different solutions each time. Sigh...). I was the last in the room, to my shame (I'm usually in the first group out), and felt badly at the end because it felt like I was making the professor wait on me. She's so kind, and very clear that I wasn't wasting her time, but it sure felt that way anyway.
I will look into the other avenues you mention. I am also going to see my RXing Dr, and see what we might be able to do about the anxiety I get. And I will be talking to my therapist about it, as well.
I've got lots of avenues of attack; I just don't know which one will work...and I am feeling so frustrated about all of this.
I hope it is correctable...I'd hate to have this end my college career.
Ciels-
Michele
~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~
And I plan on speaking with the professor tomorrow after class...surprisingly, I can handle word problems; can't handle straight equations on exams. I think it's because I'm very, very comfortable with words, and it gives me something else to do rather than just stare at numbers which make no sense.
I don't think I did well on the test yesterday, however. There were 9 problems. The exam started at 6:30. I left the room about 8 pm, having done all the problems at least three times (and often arriving at different solutions each time. Sigh...). I was the last in the room, to my shame (I'm usually in the first group out), and felt badly at the end because it felt like I was making the professor wait on me. She's so kind, and very clear that I wasn't wasting her time, but it sure felt that way anyway.
I will look into the other avenues you mention. I am also going to see my RXing Dr, and see what we might be able to do about the anxiety I get. And I will be talking to my therapist about it, as well.
I've got lots of avenues of attack; I just don't know which one will work...and I am feeling so frustrated about all of this.
QuoteI always find it a shame when otherwise bright people keep stumbling due to a learning problem that may very well be correctable.
I hope it is correctable...I'd hate to have this end my college career.
Ciels-
Michele
~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~
Richards 0
Hi Michelle,
Glad you are taking steps to get help. In particular get assessed for learning stlye. That can be critical. It sounds like you put a lot of effort in and that usually pays off in the end. Even if this difficulty prevents you from getting the exact mark that you want, it sounds like you have a strong work ethic so I wouldn't worry about this problem ending your academic career .
Cheers,
Richards
Glad you are taking steps to get help. In particular get assessed for learning stlye. That can be critical. It sounds like you put a lot of effort in and that usually pays off in the end. Even if this difficulty prevents you from getting the exact mark that you want, it sounds like you have a strong work ethic so I wouldn't worry about this problem ending your academic career .
Cheers,
Richards
My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.
Michele 1
Just wanted to let you all know that I got my score last night in class.
The test was 9 questions, with 6 bonus questions. I did all the questions, multiple times. I took over 2 hours, and used 6 full pages of paper. I checked and rechecked my answers, plugging in the values and starting over when I needed to.
On the test, I received a score of 95. I got all the bonus questions correctly, and so scored 101 out of 106. I looked at the paper last night, and I swear, my professor was incredibly generous. She says not, and the class tutor says not, but I think she was.
I have an appointment with the school's disabilities counselor, but it's not for about 10 days. I told the professor and the tutor about the anxiety, and that I was taking steps to remediate that, including getting the counseling from the school, and seeing what needs to be done. They are both fully behind me, and both have offered to help however they can.
I am very surprised at my score. And I must say, I'm pretty proud of it, too. I think that it's my highest score in any math class ever. It has also shown me that even though I get very anxious and have problems thinking clearly when faced with a test, that I can do it anyway, and that there is hope for me after all.
For all those who've offered tips, advice, tutoring help, and just general commiseration, I appreciate it greatly. I have, as I said, taken this seriously this time, and will be taking steps to find out how to address this more effectively and with less mind-blowing stress, and get help from those who are there to help. I appreciate the encouragement to do so...and it might just mean that I get through this class without a major cardial infarction (which would, you understand, suck).
YAY ME!!!!
Ciels-
Michele
~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~
The test was 9 questions, with 6 bonus questions. I did all the questions, multiple times. I took over 2 hours, and used 6 full pages of paper. I checked and rechecked my answers, plugging in the values and starting over when I needed to.
On the test, I received a score of 95. I got all the bonus questions correctly, and so scored 101 out of 106. I looked at the paper last night, and I swear, my professor was incredibly generous. She says not, and the class tutor says not, but I think she was.
I have an appointment with the school's disabilities counselor, but it's not for about 10 days. I told the professor and the tutor about the anxiety, and that I was taking steps to remediate that, including getting the counseling from the school, and seeing what needs to be done. They are both fully behind me, and both have offered to help however they can.
I am very surprised at my score. And I must say, I'm pretty proud of it, too. I think that it's my highest score in any math class ever. It has also shown me that even though I get very anxious and have problems thinking clearly when faced with a test, that I can do it anyway, and that there is hope for me after all.
For all those who've offered tips, advice, tutoring help, and just general commiseration, I appreciate it greatly. I have, as I said, taken this seriously this time, and will be taking steps to find out how to address this more effectively and with less mind-blowing stress, and get help from those who are there to help. I appreciate the encouragement to do so...and it might just mean that I get through this class without a major cardial infarction (which would, you understand, suck).
YAY ME!!!!
Ciels-
Michele
~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~
jimmytavino 16
Yay You !!!!!............... is right..
101... !!!!!!!!!!! very good.
I had a science teacher in HS.... back so many years ago,, that i can't believe i remember it.
but she used to say.
"hard work, rich rewards"...
seems like that applies to You.
keep up the good study habits...
jmy
101... !!!!!!!!!!! very good.
I had a science teacher in HS.... back so many years ago,, that i can't believe i remember it.
but she used to say.
"hard work, rich rewards"...
seems like that applies to You.
keep up the good study habits...
jmy
skybytch 273
Quotesurprisingly, I can handle word problems; can't handle straight equations on exams. I think it's because I'm very, very comfortable with words, and it gives me something else to do rather than just stare at numbers which make no sense.
Have you tried turning each equation on the exam into a word problem in your head?
Congrats on the A.
mnealtx 0
Outstanding work, Michelle!!! You should be proud of yourself!!
Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706
What if you created an alter ego and "taught" her the math using the quiz/test as the problem sheet?
I can offer the following though~
1. The secret to taking tests is aim for an F and miss.
Ok, Ok...so I stole the idea but ya gotta admit it was funny.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239
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