[Blindmath] intro

Fri Nov 20 23:14:19 UTC 2009

Hi, Le, I got numbers reversed and had teachers who raised their voices and 
got impatient, and when older, some years I had a braille textbook and some 
years I didn't.  Not sure how to answer your question but am interested in 
the answer.  Happy figuring yourself and have a blessed day.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "qubit" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>
To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics" 
<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 3:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] intro


> Hi -- let me enter another view if I may...
> I also was a math major in school--my undergrad degree, and almost a
> masters, but I switched to computer science.
> I have heard that a lot of people have math anxiety.
> I think it is caused by a (sometimes slight) lack of preparation for a new
> topic, thus leading to excessive memorization rather than learning the how
> and why in order to solve a problem.
> I think the best way to dispel math anxiety is to look at something in
> alternative ways until you find a way that you understand completely --  
> then
> try to see why the alternatives also work -- then eventually as you read 
> the
> text book or lister to the professor, you will find yourself a step ahead,
> and that is exciting.  I also like to see how the pieces fit together --  
> it
> is elegant.  In fact that is why I majored in math -- in high school, my
> teachers all said "it has been proven in higher math that you can't 
> trisect
> an angle using only a straight edge and compass".  I wanted to see why. 
> The
> answer came my second semester in abstract algebra.  Once I studied the
> proof and understood how it worked, I felt a feeling of accomplishment; 
> and
> that's how I felt about most math classes -- except possibly statistics --
> That was the one branch of "math" that I hated.  You know the old saying,
> ask an engineer what time it is and he'll explain how the clock works; ask 
> a
> mathematician and she'll graph the time t+h as h -> 0 ; ask a statistician
> what time it is and he ask "what time do you want it to be?"
>
> Anyway, I just got a call from a local blind resource teacher for the
> district who may refer blind kids to me for tutoring. Since I had print
> vision when in school and don't know Nemeth well, what would people on 
> list
> recommend I do to interest these kids in math?  What was the biggest 
> problem
> you had in k12 learning math?
>
> Happy figuring.
> --le
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jamie Prater" <jdprater at bellsouth.net>
> To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics"
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 1:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] intro
>
>
> Hi, what is latex or whatever you call it?  I had a hard time with math in
> elementary school and actually all through school but I'm willing to give 
> it
> another go.  I do admit to math anxiety though.  Thanks and have a blessed
> day.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jose Tamayo" <jtblas at hotmail.com>
> To: "'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'"
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:48 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] intro
>
>
>> the first suggestion I have for you is to begin embracing Math and 
>> putting
>> the subject in a better perspective.  The next step is to do as you are
>> doing just now; asking the questions of this group.  I just started my
>> revival of Mathematics and have discovered that  love its elegance and
>> will
>> not stop.  Like you, I had little interest in Mathematics early on but I
>> can't say I hated it.  I would like to think that it was not a 
>> requirement
>> for me at the time.  Now it is a requirement and I just see it as such.
>> There are many tools available and this wonderful group will have many
>> things to say to the effect.
>>
>> I can speak about my experience with Math thus far and since I lost my
>> sight.  It has been challenging and I decided one year ago that Nemeth
>> Braille would be a necessity for many reasons.  Given that, you must
>> consider several other options such as LaTeX which many here recommend as
>> a
>> basic necessity.
>>
>> I am sure this group can definitely add to my comments as I know such
>> comments are mostly  personal perspective.  Your mindset  is more
>> important
>> than the tools.  If you learn to love Math, you will learn to figure out
>> how
>> to do it whether it is with LaTeX, Nemeth Code, and any other tool.
>>
>>
>> I wish you well.
>>
>> regards
>> Jose Tamayo
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On
>> Behalf Of Jamie Prater
>> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 4:39 PM
>> To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Blindmath] intro
>>
>> Hi, all, I've always had trouble with and hated math.  I never made it to
>> college algebra but did remedial while at college.  I considered getting
>> into the BEP program for vendors but decided not to for other reasons.
>> While being evaluated for BEP, I learned that I had an eighth-grade math
>> level.  Had I not reviewed some online and with friends, this score would
>> have been lower.  I didn't find enough online resources.  I did enrole in
>> Hadley's Nemeth code class but need more reinforcement as if I want to go
>> to
>> college this could be a problem as I forgot how to do high school math. 
>> I
>> am open to any suggestions to learning tools and such and I use jaws and
>> braille.  Thanks and have a blessed day.
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>>
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>
>
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