Why math is so important?
Math is vital. I have the wonderful example in class as to why it is such a dire need.
I am teaching electron configuration. The main support of this particular part of chemistry is the ability to subtract electrons as you use them. So if you have 30 electrons and use 4 of them, you have 26 left, naturally. Not so much apparently. I have a student that can't subtract. She gets the answer but always the negative of the number. She gets -26. This held up my class for about 10 minutes the first time she got the wrong sign. Finally, in frustration, I just told her to change the sign. Wow. Why the heck did I do that? Now she was REALLY lost. Why can you just change the sign. Students were flocking to her desk trying to demonstrate exactly where she went wrong. Calculators flew like made. Many brain cells were lost. It was with relief from both myself and the student when the friggin' light bulb came on above her head. Not because it was stupid not to know how to do but because she has a voice that can shake the very foundations of the world and the class MUST not move a nanometer away from a topic until she gets it.
So back to quantum...she is not getting the concept of subtraction. It is there somewhere. I promise. But why are we doing it. What do you mean by used. This time, the class made a concerted effort to remain in the seat and I was better prepared for her. It still took three minutes of my precious class to untangle her...and she tangled another student. grrrrrr!
Please, please...JUNIORS in HS should be able to add and subtract. *goes to grab a really big mallet to pulverize myself with*
I am teaching electron configuration. The main support of this particular part of chemistry is the ability to subtract electrons as you use them. So if you have 30 electrons and use 4 of them, you have 26 left, naturally. Not so much apparently. I have a student that can't subtract. She gets the answer but always the negative of the number. She gets -26. This held up my class for about 10 minutes the first time she got the wrong sign. Finally, in frustration, I just told her to change the sign. Wow. Why the heck did I do that? Now she was REALLY lost. Why can you just change the sign. Students were flocking to her desk trying to demonstrate exactly where she went wrong. Calculators flew like made. Many brain cells were lost. It was with relief from both myself and the student when the friggin' light bulb came on above her head. Not because it was stupid not to know how to do but because she has a voice that can shake the very foundations of the world and the class MUST not move a nanometer away from a topic until she gets it.
So back to quantum...she is not getting the concept of subtraction. It is there somewhere. I promise. But why are we doing it. What do you mean by used. This time, the class made a concerted effort to remain in the seat and I was better prepared for her. It still took three minutes of my precious class to untangle her...and she tangled another student. grrrrrr!
Please, please...JUNIORS in HS should be able to add and subtract. *goes to grab a really big mallet to pulverize myself with*