re: #291 Jadespring

Wish I had had you as a teacher or someone like you because it would have saved some grief. Using my own experience as an example again I think it’s an example again that IQ isn’t the be all an end all, how people learn is another. I was one of those “I suck at math’ people and was even told as much by teachers. Even though according to the test I should have been great at it I wasn’t. In elementary it was no problem but as things got more complicated in highschool my ability fell. Still I persevered because I also really liked science. It wasn’t until grade 12 when a great physics teacher who recognized what was going on and pointed me in a better direction. I had no problem whatsoever understanding meta concepts and theories but fell down on the technical mathmatical aspects. I wasn’t dumb in math I was just dumb in the context of how it was conventionally taught.

Then in university it was discovered that I have what is considered a mild learning disability though I don’t consider it a disability it’s just slightly different way that my brain works cognitively then what is considered ‘normal.’ They named it mild dyslexia. I do things like transpose numbers, particularly 2 and 7’s and it explained the problem I’ve always had with spelling. Before this came to light and was explained I was always told my issues in these areas weren’t because I wasn’t intelligent I was just lazy academically and didn’t apply myself enough. Interestingly my sisters do the same sorts of things which makes me feel that their is some sort of genetic component at work as well.

My sister is noticing the same sorts of ”spelling’ issues with her son as well. He’s smart, reads and comprehends far above his grade level but falls down on the ‘spelling’ component of English academics.

Math —-ugh! I hate math, but have always “tested” well on standardized tests.

I’ve come to the conclusion that it is a language of ideas I can’t translate well. Put it in a logical equation and I do fine, make those P’s and Q’s numbers and I’m lost.