[Blindmath] intro

Sat Nov 21 01:59:47 UTC 2009

Hi Jamie and all --
Yes, I suppose my mail sounded like I was blaming the student when sometimes 
the lack of preparation is on the part of the system or the teacher or both. 
But the result of this is that kids don't learn and that's extremely 
unfortunate.  I think math is a great subject for blind students looking for 
a major -- the reason I neglected to mention for deciding to make math my 
major was that math is so concise -- you can fit more in 2 pages of math 
than you can in 40 pages of history or sociology... I was partially sighted 
and had a lot of trouble reading. I hired readers for all except the math 
and science classes, which I enjoed doing myself.
I always like to say that a page of math symbols is worth a thousand 
pictures...*snicker*
Anyway, happy figuring...
--le
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jamie Prater" <jdprater at bellsouth.net>
To: "qubit" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>; "Blind Math list for those interested in 
mathematics" <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 5:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] intro


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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