I cried after College Algebra class today:(

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Ugh, I am soo frustrated. Here's my problem....I'm trying to enter the accelerated program at my school. So, I'm retaking college algebra to get a better grade (when I took alg for my undergrad, I got a C). Well, as u can guess, my math skills are a bit rusty. We started Chapter 2 this week, and bypassed all of the basic concepts of algebra (which I soooo desperately need!!) I guess I'm the minority in the class because I'm not right out of high school, and I don't remember the basic stuff. They don't really give us "older" people a chance to review anything. It's like, "Ok, they should know this stuff, so let's just start with graphing equations". It's very frustrating....so, right now I am going thru 2 chapters of basic concepts. Wow, I have alot to cover. Ugh, just needed to vent......

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Oh man...I'm sorry!!

I know what you mean - in High School, math was my worst subject!!!

I did take a basic algebra class in college and got an A, but that would be the stuff that you were hoping to review.

Is there anything in your book that you could possibly use to review quickly? What is on Chapter two?

I hope you are able to grasp it!! Can you maybe email the teacher or talk to him/her after class?

Good luck to you!!!

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Specializes in Trauma/Burn ICU, Neuro ICU.

Hi,

I have a suggestion for you, because a long time ago, I was in the same position. {First, congrats on taking algebra again - you will be glad you did it}

Get a tutor immediately. There are lots available this time of year. Please don't think you can't afford it - find the funds somewhere.

The tutor lists are all over bulletin boards on campus, and you should also call the student affairs office (or whatever it's called at your school) and they can hook you up.

Schedule time with a tutor at least once per week. Really sweetie, be good to yourself and do this.

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Specializes in SRNA.
Hi,

I have a suggestion for you, because a long time ago, I was in the same position. {First, congrats on taking algebra again - you will be glad you did it}

Get a tutor immediately. There are lots available this time of year. Please don't think you can't afford it - find the funds somewhere.

The tutor lists are all over bulletin boards on campus, and you should also call the student affairs office (or whatever it's called at your school) and they can hook you up.

Schedule time with a tutor at least once per week. Really sweetie, be good to yourself and do this.

Many schools have free tutoring offered through school organizations (e.g. Math Study Center, or private tutoring that is subsidized by the school). I would definitely second the suggestion to get a tutor, to assist you with the rusty concepts and guide you through the new material. Seriously! You have to fight for every grade you earn! ;)

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

The chaper 1 stuff might not be so bad. You might be able to get what you need by diving in (with an open mind and good attitude) and working through the example problems.

If you have trouble with anything specific, post it on the "algebra" sticky thread at the top of this forum.

As suggested above, get a tutor, NOW. Every school I've ever been at (four and counting...) has had a tutoring center and there have a been some "math labs" sponsored through the math department.

Get some help at the outset and stick with that tutor. I've done a bunch of tutoring and I can guarantee you that it doesn't work to come see a tutor several weeks in when you're completely lost.

Post specific questions here and you'll probably get some very good help.

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Thank u guys soooo much for ur suggestions. My school does offer tutoring thru the math dept, but that doesn't start until Tuesday. I really wanted to conquer the basics and be up-to-date with the homework he assigned from Chapter 2 by Tuesday (our next class). Oh yeah, did I mention I'm taking Micro too! This math class seems so consuming right now, but hopefully it will get better. I'm relying on math links and my memory to help me thru the basic concepts part of the book. Alot of the skills I do remember, so I'm not totally lost. But the tears made me feel a whole lot better...I guess I just felt so overwhelmed. Well, I guess my Friday night will consist of my head buried in my algebra book:)

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I'm so sorry. I just want to agree with the suggestion to use a tutor. I'm sure it won't be as bad as you think :)

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Oh man...I'm sorry!!

I know what you mean - in High School, math was my worst subject!!!

I did take a basic algebra class in college and got an A, but that would be the stuff that you were hoping to review.

Is there anything in your book that you could possibly use to review quickly? What is on Chapter two?

I hope you are able to grasp it!! Can you maybe email the teacher or talk to him/her after class?

Good luck to you!!!

Lmm,

Although I'm not a nurse (nor have any intention of becoming one), I was directed to this thread by a friend and since this question comes up so often in regards to the students I teach, I decided to offer my two (if even!) cents.

Unfortunately, it's a problem that I haven't been able to solve. I've tutored a few students (Biology and Business majors, mostly) who suffer from the same problem. They ask me to teach more complex concepts when they struggle with the basic tools.

However, for the short college or university classes involved, the option of going back and relearning the material isn't an option. Students have to solder on and either fail or 'learn' the complex stuff badly -- knowledge that they simply forget a week after the course ends.

The only tactic I've found that works when I teach these students is to condense the material -- remove everything but the essentials -- and force the students to do enough examples so that they learn only these few essential problems to scrape the grade.

Unfortunately, you have to have a fairly knowledgeable tutor to guide you in this. It's sometimes hard to find what are the essential things students should be taking from a class.

In your case, I recommend you to look over the class notes and try to extract the essential problems. Find a good book to provide exercises and only practice these few problems. With enough practice, you'll eventually relearn the basic tools you forgot.

It's very time consuming, unfortunately. Which is why it's important you learn to only study the essential material.

I hope that helps. At least a little bit. Like I said, it's a problem I've seen more times than I care to mention, and it's something I haven't been able to solve. I've actually discussed the problem with others in the Math department, and it seems nobody's found a solution. Almost always, it comes back to our complaints regarding the current state of high school education -- but as a mature student, you're exempt from this criticism!

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It's not you, it's your teacher, and you need to go up to your teacher and REMIND them that some of you are taking the class to refresh/reteach skills. If that doesn't work, see if there is another instructor you can switch to.

Algebra is NOT hard..and I'm about as Math illiterate as they come. However, a good Math teacher will make or break your ability to understand it.

I too, took Algebra years after I graduated from high school. However, I had a great teacher and I kept looking at my book saying, "That's it? This is what I had so much trouble with in high school?"

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Thank u guys soooo much for ur suggestions. My school does offer tutoring thru the math dept, but that doesn't start until Tuesday. I really wanted to conquer the basics and be up-to-date with the homework he assigned from Chapter 2 by Tuesday (our next class). Oh yeah, did I mention I'm taking Micro too! This math class seems so consuming right now, but hopefully it will get better. I'm relying on math links and my memory to help me thru the basic concepts part of the book. Alot of the skills I do remember, so I'm not totally lost. But the tears made me feel a whole lot better...I guess I just felt so overwhelmed. Well, I guess my Friday night will consist of my head buried in my algebra book:)

Here hun, I am SO sorry u are having a hard time.

ALGEBRA

ALGEBRA ALSO

try these sites....they will walk you through the basics. I hope it helps you.

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Being an "older" student it had been literally around 20+ yrs since I had Algebra. Before I took my entrance exam into LPN school, I wanted to brush up on the basic concepts of Algebra before I took the test. My school suggested going to www.math.com . it was a life saver for me. It jumpstarted my mind again and I aced the Math section of the test.

since you can't get to a tutor now, give it a shot, it might joggle your memory on algebra. Best of luck.

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My suggestion is to go to Borders or Barnes n Noble and get a "how to" book for basic algebra. You can find these books for ANY subject. Look through it first to make sure it has the info you need. I am actually planning on purchasing the "Chemistry for Dummies" book here soon.

Never feel bad about asking questions. I used to be one of the students that would hide behind my fear of looking stupid in front of others and it was the only thing I got good at while my grades suffered. This past summer, I took algebra which I hadn't taken in 6 or 7 years. I didn't understand a lot of what our instructor was talking about at first-so, I asked questions until I was blue in the face. I was sure my classmates hated me. I don't care!!! Being in class is my time away from my family and money out of MY pocket between tuition and daycare and I wasn't going to let my chances of nursing school slip from my fingers b/c of a popularity contest. I remember apologizing to some of the others in the breakroom about the question asking and they THANKED me for asking b/c they themselves did not get it. It got to the point that the instructor would start every class by saying, "Becky, any questions from homework?" LOL. I got an A in the class.

Just remember too, that the people you are taking the class w/ scored at the same level that you did. No one in there is any smarter than you.

Hang in there!

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