Friday. First period. Learning center.
I got a call from the other learning center. Would it be okay if they sent someone over for me to assist? Um, sure...
The student had homework to complete. Integrated math three (read: algebra 2/junior math). The problems: logarithms.
Uh oh...
Okay, so I've had all the math. I took three semesters of calculus in college. I even took senior level math classes in applied analysis. You can throw most math topics at me, and I have at least a basic working knowledge of it.
But not logarithms.
They didn't bother with logs in my high school. (I think that's pretty much what all the schools did at the time.) We did natural logs and the e function, but that's as far as it went.
But, pretty decent working knowledge of math, so I can fake it pretty well. Where were the student's notes? Uh, yeah, no notes.
Deep sigh.
Third period, IM3. Ms. B went over their homework, the homework I couldn't help the kiddo with. And, after her brief explanation...
Yeah, if only I had had third period before first period. Because after seeing the example, yeah, I totally could have done those problems.
Because if the kiddo had had the notes so I could transform the problems, I knew how to solve once the logarithm was handled.
The one topic I couldn't help with. Naturally. Sigh.
My brain only has one side and it doesn't include math. I don't know what's on the other side of my brain. Maybe lots of leftover liquor and chocolate.
ReplyDeleteChocolate definitely takes up a part of my brain.
DeleteWell, we didn't do that in school either. I had to google exactly what it meant.
ReplyDeleteI tried to find a quick explanation to link to. I figured many wouldn't know what I was talking about.
DeleteI also like math and algebra, but I know nothing about calculus and logarithms...
ReplyDeleteCalculus is just a way of measuring infinitesimal sections of irregular figures. Once you know what you're doing, the problems aren't too terrible.
DeleteGosh! I am reading the word 'Logarithm' or the first time since my school days in the early 1980s! We had those logarithm tables. Thanks, Liz, for bringing those memories back!
ReplyDeleteI stopped at high school geometry! Didn't need to take math for my library technology certificate. I love Sharon's comment!
ReplyDeleteAw. It gets more fun the higher you go ;)
DeleteI don’t have a clue about that type of math.
ReplyDeleteit's not too bad, really.
DeleteI hit a math wall in 6th grader and never recovered. Fortunately, I didn't need any math for my college because I don't even have any idea how I learned enough math to pass the NY State Regents tests.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad. I hit a wall in 5th grade that turned out to be me needing glasses. I somehow recovered in 9th grade.
Deletethecontemplativecat here. Logarithms? Hmm. Like you, I had some pretty good understanding of math but I would be shaking my head at this.
ReplyDeleteYeah, notes would have been helpful.
DeleteHow frustrating! It's hard to do good work without all the resources!
ReplyDeleteOh, I felt this. It’s always the one topic we haven’t looked at in years that shows up at the worst possible moment. And of course it had to be logarithms.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the fact that you cared enough to feel frustrated says a lot. We’ve all had those humbling classroom moments where timing just isn’t on our side. If anything, it’s a reminder that even seasoned teachers are still learning too. Next time logs won’t stand a chance.
It's not likely I'll run into this issue again. Naturally, now that I know what to do.
DeleteOne of the scariest subjects for me when I was in senior high school was math. To be honest, I wasn’t very good at it
ReplyDeleteAll of this - logarithm - is hidden deep within my brain. Very, very deep ;)
ReplyDeleteI did math in high school but not geometry or calculus.
ReplyDeleteI didn't do calculus in high school, either.
DeleteDon't be too hard on yourself. ~nods~ Be well!
ReplyDeleteI just prefer to be able to assist. Any other math topic...
DeleteI HATED math in school. Anything else was fine. Math? Nope.
ReplyDeleteI thought logarithm was outdated by the calculator.
ReplyDeleteThat might be why they didn't teach it to us when I was in school. Here they used it as a way to solve problems when the exponent was the variable.
Delete