Taking a break for math

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I failed Elementary Algebra this past fall. I really couldn't keep up and since I never went to high school other than pre-alg last spring I didn't know the tricks that many other students seem to know. I will be 32 this month and have 2 kids 13 and 6. I am thinking of taking next spring off from my cc to go to an adult school and take a math class there so I am better prepared. I get A's in everything else (A-'s still learning to balance home and school). I just feel overwhelmed when it comes to math I'm having anxiety just writing about it. I went to tutoring center, I paid a girl from class to help me, what else can I do? Is there any workbooks I can buy that anyone highly recommends?

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Specializes in PCT, PCA, Phlebotomy.

I feel the same way about math. I have used algebra for dummies, and all the dummies books to comprehend the math I don't understand. I have even used chemistry for dummies. It helps. However I found the best math help books as of late are by the old wonder years actress Danica mckeller. I am not kidding and she is a genius and takes away math anxiety. The series starts with "math doesn't suck" and every book is a higher math class. She teaches you easy and takes away all the crap you just don't need. She is hilarious too. I have all the books in her series and on the waiting list for the new one coming out. Trust me, and get the first book. If you love it like I do-you are golden. I loathe math but she has taught me not to fear it anymore and how easy it is to do. Good luck!!!

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I second the books by Danica McKeller. They are great!

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I took elementary algebra and college algebra as online classes and got A's in both. The classes used an online course, Pearson's Mymathlab. It's a combination of instructional video and math problems you do online. The videos were kind of boring but they did explain the concepts well. Each time you did a math problem you could see if you got the right answer- if not, you could select help me w/this problem and the system would walk you through it. That sort of step by step structure really helped me. I was horrible at math in high school.

Also, khan academy online has great free math instruction videos with interactive problems.

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I failed Elementary Algebra this past fall. I really couldn't keep up and since I never went to high school other than pre-alg last spring I didn't know the tricks that many other students seem to know. I will be 32 this month and have 2 kids 13 and 6. I am thinking of taking next spring off from my cc to go to an adult school and take a math class there so I am better prepared. I get A's in everything else (A-'s still learning to balance home and school). I just feel overwhelmed when it comes to math I'm having anxiety just writing about it. I went to tutoring center I paid a girl from class to help me, what else can I do? Is there any workbooks I can buy that anyone highly recommends?[/quote']

Watch YouTube videos on parts in Algebra that you find confusing....I'm 50 and have been out of school since 1980....YouTube has helped me out in every subject, from A&P to Chemistry to Algebra....

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Make sure you get uninterrupted study time away from the kids. I got a few books and went to a conference room at work for about 5 hours on a Saturday and slogged through Algebra until I understood it better.

The Danica McKellar books are good.

I really like Algebra for Dummies because I could borrow it from the library. I ended up buying the workbook and appreciated that it has an assessment test, so you can quickly see which areas you understand and which you need help with.

Doing this got me an A in Chemistry. Am hoping I'll also be prepared for the Statistics class I start tonight...

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I am 34 yo and have a 14 yo an 8 yo and an almost 2 yo. I am getting my pre-nursing prereqs for my BSN. I have not done math for many many years. My community college has remedial courses. I was suppose to test my ability in math and then be placed where I test into. I did not even do that pre test for math. I just started out in math 0300. That is the first level math they offer at my college. Math 0300 starts with 3rd grade math and goes into fractions and maybe finishes in 7th grade math stuff. It is so important to understand fractions. Anyway, I continued on to 0301, 0302, and 0303. Now I will soon be starting college algebra. There maybe something that you are missing. Something that is not understood, a gap that is making it hard to get through math. Maybe you should just take math all by its self, not with other classes or very easy classes with math. Maybe you need to start in a lower level math. Do what ever you need to do to get your dream done. I know it is discouraging but I am sure you can do this.

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Thank you for all the support. It's reassuring to know that I am amongst many dreaming of a nursing career that have dealt with at least a few issues in math. I remember being in pre algebra in 7th grade but never liked word problems. I will be online shopping for those books. I loved the wonder years ;) I will put aside the summer for some serious studying!

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