The DU Lounge

3catwoman3

(29,340 posts)

55. My senior year of high school had an optional math class they called Math 12X - a little bit of exposure to...

Sat Feb 28, 2026, 09:02 PM

Feb 28

...higher concepts beyond the required 9th grade algebra, 10th grade geometry, and 11th grade trig. My 9th grade algebra teacher, who was fresh out of college, was so bad she got fired after her second year. I had thought it was me, and that I just didn't "get it." Turned out that most of the students who had her also didn't get it.

The final marking period of Math 12X was 6 weeks of intro to calculus. In attempting to explain that calculus had everyday usefulness, the teacher gave the following example - imagine you are a kindergarten teacher, and your students are going to make Easter baskets from a standard 8x11 piece of construction paper. If you know calculus, you will be able to figure out how they can make a basket with maximum capacity so they can fill it with the most candy.

She then handed us a slender black volume and said, "Here. This is all self-explanatory." It was not. Only thing I ever got an F in was that 6 weeks of calculus.

Many years ago, my husband gave me a book entitled Math Without Tears. When I got to page 6 and re-read it 3 times and it still didn't make sense, I closed that book and never opened it again.

I would have so appreciated a teacher like you.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

quaint

62 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Subbed A Freshman Math Class Yesterday [View all] ProfessorGAC Feb 28 OP

Thank You!! My first feel good thing of the day....... IA8IT Feb 28 #1

As a math teacher J-9 Feb 28 #2

That is great, ProfessorGAC. Thank you for sharing with us. debm55 Feb 28 #3

Please point me to a multiplication of fractions refresher. quaint Feb 28 #4

These should help justaprogressive Feb 28 #5

Thank you. quaint Feb 28 #15

Being un-educated in math, tell me popsdenver Feb 28 #23

yep. justaprogressive Feb 28 #40

A Suggestion ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author quaint Feb 28 #12

Wait... llmart Feb 28 #17

I merely reported the Professor's answer. quaint Feb 28 #39

My Fault ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #20

See My Edit ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #21

it is 6 2/3 OUNCES -or- 5/6 of a CUP (n/m) Soul_of_Wit Feb 28 #18

That must be a satisfying feeling. Good for you 👍 surfered Feb 28 #6

Thanks ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #8

You're a good man Charlie Brown surfered Feb 28 #28

kind of made my morning there. Thanks! needed that! - - - - - - -(nt)- stopdiggin Feb 28 #9

When I was in high school... GiqueCee Feb 28 #10

Most folks use the most basic algebra almost every day Soul_of_Wit Feb 28 #19

That's one way to look at it... GiqueCee Feb 28 #30

You probably have used algebra, but don't think of it that way COL Mustard Feb 28 #22

I Had A Circular One ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #24

That reminds me... GiqueCee Feb 28 #32

I had to take an algebra class at local JC. Sequoia Feb 28 #36

This is for you! Beartracks Feb 28 #47

HA! GiqueCee Feb 28 #48

Very cool! 1WorldHope Feb 28 #11

I've been doing a lot of tutoring and hearing the same thing JT45242 Feb 28 #13

I love it when they say they want me to teach them full time! QED Feb 28 #14

Weird! ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #25

It seems that most on-level classes follow the same sequence of topics. QED Feb 28 #35

I have a story about substituting ... aggiesal Feb 28 #16

Your Last Line Is A Beauty! ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #26

I am a retired US History/ Government teacher and have had similar experiences Chasstev365 Feb 28 #27

Double Good For Me ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #29

Yep; done the same to a local organization Chasstev365 Feb 28 #51

I love subbing WinstonSmith4740 Feb 28 #31

I Had That Dilemma, Too ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #42

Good for you! snot Feb 28 #33

I am currently a substitute teacher ... Fiddlelady11 Feb 28 #34

Good on you! BobTheSubgenius Feb 28 #37

It's nice to get feedback from students NJCher Feb 28 #38

Shit, That ain't nuthin'. I can get to 20 3Hotdogs Feb 28 #41

Apparently... ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #43

No accidents. 83 and all original parts 'cept a couple'a tooth crowns. 3Hotdogs Feb 28 #45

I can't count to 21... GiqueCee Feb 28 #49

Maybe just tske on one or two to tutor Figarosmom Feb 28 #44

Not A Bad Idea ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #46

You did the math? airplaneman Feb 28 #50

I taught my kids fractions using measuring cups - TBF Feb 28 #52

It takes a special type of person to teach. Laffy Kat Feb 28 #53

I'm No Teacher ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #54

But you were teaching those kids, right? Laffy Kat Feb 28 #58

Screenname Is A Long Story ProfessorGAC Mar 1 #61

My senior year of high school had an optional math class they called Math 12X - a little bit of exposure to... 3catwoman3 Feb 28 #55

I've Heard Similar Stories ProfessorGAC Feb 28 #57

I subbed for a calc class many, many years ago BlueSpot Mar 1 #59

Love reading this! highplainsdem Feb 28 #56

Never got that far in school to learn any of that not that I probably would have still understood any of it if I had. cstanleytech Mar 1 #60

I wish you would have been my mat teacher Clouds Passing Mar 1 #62