Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Mathphobic

It's back to school for me today, folks.

(Insert gleeful dancing and singing here)

And get this...I am taking half as many classes, but getting double the amount of time away from home. Don't ask me how I pulled that off. I'm just going to pretend I don't notice so as not to draw attention to it. If the Stay-At-Home-Mom Police hear I'm not actually home two days a week, the jig will be up, and I'm certain they'll shackle me to the stove, or something like that.

This semester will not be without it's share of excitement, though, as I will be taking Basic Math.

Yes. That's right. I am taking an HONORS Literature course and BASIC MATH.

My name is Supermom and I am a Mathaphobe.

It all started in the eighth grade when I took Algebra 1 from Mr. Y. Mr. Y was your average, run-of-the-mill, aging seventies disco lounge throwback, complete with gold chain and hairy chest. To make it even better, he was a smoker who enjoyed Funyuns and coffee in the teacher's lounge between classes.

During the first week of school that year, I happened to raise my hand to ask Mr. Y a question, as I was a good suck-up, I mean, student who hungered and thirsted for every golden nugget of knowledge thrown my way.

Mr. Y sauntered over to my desk, leaned in close, putting an arm on either sides of my desk, and said with aromatic breath, "Talk to me, Babe."

Ew.

I never asked another question again.

And what's really sad, is that I had to have him for Algebra 2 and Geometry as well. The only time in my life I ever made a D.

Ever since then, I've had a love/hate relationship with Math.

That's not true. It's more like a hate/despise relationship.

Before I enrolled last semester, I took a placement test to see which classes I needed, as I had been out of school for thirteen years. I scored so low on the Math part, I could only take College Algebra if I signed a waiver saying that the school had advised me against it and if I took it and bombed, it would be my own stupid fault and they had nothing to do with such a hairbrained idea.

So I'm taking Basic Math/Beginning Algebra. From there I will take Intermediate Algebra. And then finally College Algebra, which I have to have to graduate. I'm approaching this as a self improvement exercise. I figure if I'm teaching my children, it might be a good idea to know how to add 2 and 2.

That's 5, right?

Wish me luck!

7 comments:

Mama of 2 said...

I never much cared for math myself. Geometry was the worst for me. I think that was the first class I ever was close to failing.

So good luck with your college math classes and let us know how they are going.

Anonymous said...

I hated math because I wasn't taught it right when I was young. When I got to jr. high I did really well. But I was taught it right.

It will probably come back to you pretty quickly. Make sure you ask lots of questions this time. =)

Kelli said...

Congrats on the HONORS, did I say, HONORS English :) You rock, chickadee!

As far as Math- you have my email, so grab me anytime you need help. I actually get the algebra thing enough to have taught the 12 and 14 year old without killing myself :)

Seriously- I'm here to help!

Kelli said...

Congrats on the HONORS, did I say, HONORS English :) You rock, chickadee!

As far as Math- you have my email, so grab me anytime you need help. I actually get the algebra thing enough to have taught the 12 and 14 year old without killing myself :)

Seriously- I'm here to help!

Melissa Angert {All Things Chic} said...

ugh, you poor thing. i HATE math.

and i married a math major who cannot possible understand why i do not find calculus fascinating....

zephyrsbound said...

Let me know if you need any help...I actually really like math. If you don't know who I am, ask Literature Lover...she can tell you.

LiteratureLover said...

No wonder you never asked another question! Double eww! I'm glad you get to take this class though because you'll see how much you really DO know. :)