Failed a quiz, exam, or course in math? Personally, It is OK!

When we think of the word fail.. the word failure comes to mind.
Sure, a failing grade on a quiz, exam, or course is not the best thing ever, but it's nothing to necessarily beat yourself to the curb about. Just because you receive a failing grade on something, doesn't mean you are a failure. If you are giving this course, exam, or quiz all you have, you've studied, you've gone for extra credit, you've done your homework, and yet you're still getting a failing grade, it's okay. You shouldn't consider yourself a failure when you're doing all you can to try and understand the content you're struggling with. A failure is someone who stops trying, doesn't do their work, and just gives up.
I would have to say, I considered myself to be a failure around this time about a year ago. I was enrolled in this math course. I had a great, positive attitude about it when it first began. Once I started to take the quizzes and exams, and was flunking them, I immediately gave up on not only the subject, but myself as well. I had such a negative outlook on everything that we would learn about, to the point where I wouldn't even understand what was being taught. I stopped doing the take home assignments, would not attend class some days, stopped studying for the exams and quizzes, and hardly even took notes or looked over them.
I look back now and realize, by not doing anything to improve my grade or trying to pass the course, I caused myself more stress then I would have if I just tried harder, cared, and put in the effort to pass.
Instead of focusing on the negatives, it was time to start focusing on the positives.
I knew I needed this course for my major. So I knew I was going to have to retake it. When I decided to retake it, I told myself, You can do it this time. Make math a priority.
It's the littlest things that matter the most. Now, when I sit down to do some homework, I always make sure I get my math done first. I make sure math is my main priority. Yeah, my other classes matter, but I really knew I needed to put a lot of focus towards this math class. I took advantage of doing all of the textbook homework assignments.. not only to receive the 5 extra points on the exam.. but they were extremely helpful!! I'm sure if you ask anyone who also took the time to complete the homework assignments they would agree. At times, they were time consuming and some problems were tricky, but in the end, getting a 90 something on my exam made all that time spent on doing homework worth it. The textbook work was also a great study tool for the exams. Especially the short answer word problems. That was one thing that made a difference in my grades.
Another thing that made a difference in my grades was paying attention during class, taking notes, and going over the notes once I got home. Doing this really helped with all the quizzes that we've taken throughout the semester. It's amazing how just by paying attention and actually caring could receive you a better grade on a quiz.
So, bottom line, my theory is.. If you ever fail a math test or course, don't let it be the last time you care about your grades. Retaking this course has really made me learn from my mistakes and better myself as a person who now cares about math class and math grades. It's never too late to fix or learn from a mistake, Strive to succeed!

Kindergarteners and Mathematics

In today's world, we must stop for a moment and think to ourselves about this topic- Kindergarteners and Mathematics. 

What do you think of? 

What was mathematics like back when you were in kindergarten? 

As much as I can remember from when I was in kindergarten, things are A LOT different now then they were then. Back then, we were taught the basic concepts of math through structures of play. Play was everything in young children's lives of learning years ago. Today, not so much. It seems to be that kindergarteners are being taught not only math, but every subject in a more structured, strict way, with little to no play involved. 

When I say little to NO play.. I kid you not. It's sad to notice and observe how the standards and curriculums have changed drastically over the years. All these education courses I'm enrolled in are always stressing how important it is to link play to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners learning. Reading through multiple articles that I stumble upon on the internet, it astonishes me that these children are learning math concepts such as geometry, algebra, statistics, and probability.

Thinking of all those concepts, jeez, I don't think I was introduced to them until at least the sixth or seventh grade!! Another funny thing is, you hear some of these students' parents talk with other parents about their children. What do you hear? "Oh, little Johnny pulled out a math worksheet he had to complete for homework and asked me for some help on it. I took one look at it and had no idea what to do!" Now isn't that just terrible? A young child's own mother is unable to help him with his math homework. Something needs to be done here. Either parents meet at the school with the teacher to get an understanding of what the children are learning so they can know how to help them when they need it, or the children's work needs to be a little less complicated for them to work on at home without guidance from a teacher. 

Although mathematics is not one of my favorite or best subjects out there, I would do anything to make mathematics more fun for these young children to learn! When learning is linked to play, it is linked to fun. When children are having fun, they want to keep doing whatever it is that's fun for them. If you make learning fun, the children will want to learn more!