ArticlesBase.com - Free Articles Directory
Free Online Articles Directory
08.09.2008 Sign In Register Hello Guest
Email:
Password:
Remember Me 
forgot your password?


Math Help for the Adult Student Returning to School

Author: Ann Knapp Author Ranking Gold | Posted: 10-03-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 8 | Rating:  (50) Article Popularity - Green (?) Got a Question? Ask.
Sign Up Now!

More adults than ever before are returning to formal education. Some want to learn what they have failed to learn in high school. Some have made the momentous decision to earn a high school diploma or to go to college for the first - or second or third - time. And some, particularly those in mid-life, want additional education in order to recharge a stalled career or start an entirely new one.

The growth of adult literacy programs, both online and community-based, has made it even more possible than ever for adults who want to learn to do so in the comfort of their own homes and communities. The decision to return to an educational environment brings with it expectations and fears, both real and imagined.

One of the more prevalent fears is math phobia. Math phobia is real, harmful and often reality-based. It is often based in one or more experiences in a person's life which caused him pain, such as being ridiculed by powerful people or losing an important position or even a loved one because of a perceived deficit in mathematical ability. It is a serious impediment to success in the social and economic world we live in and it can devastate its victims by making it impossible to succeed in career searching or in solving problems of daily living.

Unlike language, which is heard, seen, spoken and used every day, or science, which is often taught a with hands-on approach, one does not often remember the finer points of a subject like geometry or trigonometry or algebra if they are not applied on a regular basis toward solving the practical problems of one's life after leaving school. The fact that most math courses are taught in an abstract manner, often using mostly visual cues which are not concrete, makes it less likely for students who learn primarily by hearing or moving to remember techniques and principles.

While it often takes simply a jolt of courage and determination to return to studying math for literacy or for career advancement or for pleasure, there is help available to alleviate the pain of math phobia:

- Talking with a trusted friend about the fear is one way to proceed. People who harbor fear and do not share it are less likely to feel that it is possible to overcome the fear.
- Purchasing a book or video to be in control of the subject, literally to keep it under wraps until you are ready to look at it, gives a sense of mastery from the beginning.
- Exchanging lessons with a student who is stronger in math but less able in an area of your own strength may work. For instance, if you are a skilled baker or carpenter or tailor and a friend is stronger in math than you are, you might exchange services and tips. This will enable you to work from a position of strength rather than form weakness.
- Purchasing a short-term or long-term tutoring service to gain control over your own time and privacy while re-introducing math into your life.
- Starting with small victories, such as adding a column of figures on a grocery receipt or calculating the tip on a meal with a calculator, may help. The longest journey begins with the first small step.
- Being self-compassionate is essential. As with any phobia, one anticipates fear of loss or pain when the essence of the fear is experienced. Understand that the fear is due to a traumatic event or to a series of events which were beyond your control at a time when you did not have the power you now have.
- Don't expect your concerns to dissipate overnight. It may take an extended period of time with ups and downs to gain control over this fear. Be patient with yourself.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that others have faced this difficulty before you and many have overcome it. Building the mathematical part of you might be an experience similar to starting an exercise plan or taking vitamins: good for you in the long run, gives you aches and pains and side effects at first, and something that might be priceless for your future well-being.

Rate this Article: Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/math-help-for-the-adult-student-returning-to-school-355652.html

Print this Article Print article   Email to a Friend Send to friend   Publish this Article on your Website Publish this Article   Send Author Feedback Author feedback  
About the Author:

Math Made Easy provides Math help for Algebra help, Geometry help, math homework help using math online tutorial services and math tutorial cd so you can watch your math scores soar.

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Comment on this article Comment on this article
Your Name
Your Email:
Comment Body
Enter Validation Code: Captcha


Related Articles

Saving Our Dropouts By Saving Math: Math Grades May Predict Who Survives High School
By: Ann Knapp | 29/12/2007 | Online Education
Research conducted in 2005 by Johns Hopkins University and the Philadelphia Education Fund revealed that as many as half of all Philadelphia high school dropouts showed signs predicting their early departure from school as early as the sixth grade.

Finding A Skilled Math Tutor for Math Homework Help
By: Ann Knapp | 01/01/2008 | Online Education
Math tutors toot no flutes but they do have to know how to tutor tutees in a variety of areas. The work involves diagnosing and understanding the nature of a student's strengths and weaknesses as well as explication of sometimes complex concepts and procedures in mathematics.

Math Tutorial: Finding the Greatest Common Factor and Factoring Squares
By: Ann Knapp | 29/02/2008 | Online Education
Greatest Common Factor: of two numbers is the result of two numbers being factored into their smaller factors individually and the of all the numbers that are factors, the one that is greatest is the greatest common factor:

Math Answers That Can Save You Money
By: Ann Knapp | 07/03/2008 | Finance
Everyone knows that saving money is about the numbers. The math formula for savings ultimately comes down to how much you earn minus how much you spend. Here are a few math tips to help you spend less and save money.

The Numbers: What Are They?
By: Ann Knapp | 29/03/2008 | Education
There's a question asked by any number of bored sophomores - and hard-working, frustrated adult learners as well - a question many math teachers dread, and that a few of the best welcome: "What does this math stuff have to do with everyday life?"

The Math Hidden In Your Living Room
By: Ann Knapp | 29/03/2008 | Home Improvement
A question that vexes math students and teachers alike - "How does this apply to the rest of my life?" - turns out to have some surprising answers. Geometry in the living room? Statistics in your ledger? Yes, and yes.

Beating Mr. Visa: How A Little Compound Interest Can Save A Lot Of Money
By: Ann Knapp | 29/03/2008 | Credit
A question that vexes math students and teachers alike - "How does this apply to the rest of my life?" - turns out to have some surprising answers. Geometry in the living room? Statistics in your ledger? Yes, and yes.

Mathematics: A Beautiful Evolution
By: Ann Knapp | 09/05/2008 | Education
Most of the mathematical concepts we encounter every day - numbers, addition, subtraction - seem so basic, so hard to avoid in discussing reality on even the most basic level, that it's hard to imagine someone having to sit down and invent them.

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the character code sequence in base two ...
By: hadley9317@aol.com | 16-08-2008
What is the character code sequence in base two Binary of (123)?qt=q

Questions
By: miguel | 15-08-2008
i have 4 foot barriers how many would i need to conect a 985 feet  

How do you know when an equation has no solution ...
By: Aim | 08-08-2008
how do you know when an equation has no solution?qt=q

I need to group the numbers into 2 groups. What ...
By: cgray | 07-08-2008
i need to group the numbers into 2 groups.  What rule or pattern can you find.   53,6,72,9,14,38,22,4,1

Math question
By: ckma2101 | 03-08-2008
What should the selling price be for an SUV with a cost of $29,865 and a 42% markup based on selling price?

Statistics / Math
By: Virgeline | 03-08-2008
what is measurements that fall beyond the standard deviations from the mean

Q&A Powered by:
Powered by Yedda 

Latest Self Improvement Articles

The Significance Of Anger Management Techniques
By: Stephen Campbell | 08/09/2008
Anger management techniques are put in place to give encouragement to individuals to work on their anger. Anger management programs are generally educational in nature and help the victim to take control of their emotions-- the anger.

Catalysts For Achieving Real Success
By: Stephen Campbell | 08/09/2008
There are 4 important things which everyone should etch within their heart and mind--success secrets., leadership development, business success, abundance and prosperity.

Laboratory Experiments With Subliminal Messages
By: Michael McGrath | 08/09/2008
Do subliminal messages really work? Can your brain even record messages that you are consciously unaware of? This is a debate that has been raging since the 1950s and recently we have some scientific evidence to give us the answer!

How to Become Successful and Financially Free
By: Richard van Beek | 08/09/2008
There are many different ways to become wealthy. You can inherit money, win money, save up until you reach a substantial amount, or work really hard to get it. But a lot of people lack one element to create wealth. In this article I'll explain this secret.

The Awesome Power Of Gratitude
By: Jules Hawk | 06/09/2008
The expression of Gratitude has the capacity to transform your life, to develop the connection with Divinity, with your true inner self and the profound power within, to inspire, and to bring forth bounty and joy into your life.

Discover Your Destiny: Finding Your Path of Light
By: Michaiel Bovenes | 06/09/2008
The concept of destiny can excite you at the core of your being and can also become a source of frustration that renders feelings of impotenia and longing. When you learn these secrets you can easily find greater peace and fulfillment in your life.

Angelic Forces are Here Now
By: Kate Loving Shenk | 06/09/2008
Angels Are Known To Visit Where Catatrophe Looms. ER's, Hospitals and Hospices All Come To Mind (But Not Limited To). This Article Is A Review Of Dr. Robert D. Lesslie's New Book, "Angels In The ER."

Buy One, Get One Free or Bogof
By: Elsabe Smit | 06/09/2008
We believe that the illusions that other people create, but we do not believe that we can create our own reality. We then live the reality of someone else and complain about not getting what we want.

More from Ann Knapp

Spa-Goers Discovering More Rest, Organic-Inspired Products And Infused Treatments At Their Local Spa
By: Ann Knapp | 07/09/2008 | Health
Like most service-oriented industries, the spa industry is keen to stay on the cutting edge of its services - fulfilling what their clients demand - sometimes before the client even realize it's in demand. As more Americans incorporate physical and mental wellbeing into their daily lives, the spa industry is already poised to show them the most effective methods to a balanced life.

Zit Zapper and Face-Washing Brush Make the List of 2008 Skin Care Trends
By: Ann Knapp | 07/09/2008 | Wellness
Now that organic beauty products can receive the USDA seal to indicate its degree of purity, look for a regulatory standard and seal for natural beauty products. Burt's Bees, which launched the initiative, has indicated that the Natural Standard Seal will require at least 95 percent natural ingredients and pure processing methods to make the mark.

Entrepreneur Enterprise: Finding a Bank for Your Small Business
By: Ann Knapp | 06/09/2008 | Banking
Starting one's own business can be the fulfillment of the American Dream. But it's also a risk that should be carefully calculated. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), more than 50 percent of new businesses fail in the first five years.

Boxing: An Ancient Tradition, A Necessary Skill
By: Ann Knapp | 06/09/2008 | Sports and Fitness
Obviously, no one knows when the first fistfight took place; nor do we have much of a clue when the art of smacking folks in the face began to be codified, the rules written down, judges and evaluators brought in.

Cigar Bars To The Rescue
By: Ann Knapp | 06/09/2008 | Art and Entertainment
When, in the early 1990s, the premium cigar industry rebounded after years of stale sales figures and slackening consumer interest, it faced a new social climate. More and more municipalities and states had passed anti-smoking legislation throughout the eighties, and this trend only continued through the 1990s and beyond.

Cigars And Music: A Natural Combination
By: Ann Knapp | 05/09/2008 | Music
Perhaps it's because there's a close cultural connection between great music and smoky bars. Anyone who knows anything about jazz knows that its truly legendary improvisers - Coltrane, Bird, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie - cut their teeth playing in bars so smoky that it's a good thing everybody was too busy improvising to need sheet music.

The ABCs of Office Inventions: From Staplers to Safety Tools
By: Ann Knapp | 05/09/2008 | Technology
We use them all the time, but most of us don't know the history of those useful objects that cover our desks. Did you know that the mother of ex-Monkee Mickey Dolenz was the inventor of Liquid Paper? Read on to learn more about the fascinating history of some of your other favorite office supplies.

Camping: A Necessity And A Luxury
By: Ann Knapp | 05/09/2008 | Nature
Camping - it's a brute necessity, and one of the most refined and civilized of pleasures.

Article Categories






Give Feedback

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below