[ExI] algebra

[Adrian Tymes]

The person is describing an alternate method of handling a sum that that
person's daughter was better able to understand.

While the existence of people who can handle a sum backward but not forward
is questionable, the underlying message is true enough: there are many ways
of solving the same problem, so if a student doesn't understand one method,
having the student try other methods might be useful.

On Wed, Nov 11, 2020 at 11:26 AM William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> Can anyone figure out what this guy is saying?    bill w
>
> my daughter.
>
> She was excluded from school, long story, and having home tutoring. Said
> tutor was trying to teach my daughter all about algebra. For 7 months, I
> watched the tutor struggle to make sense enough for my daughter to grasp
> the concept.
>
> I got a bit worried when the tutor started yelling at my daughter. So, I
> asked if I could try. She let me have a go, as she smugly stepped aside and
> said that if she couldn't, with her specialist knowledge, I sure as hell
> couldn't do any better, but as time was wasting, go ahead.
>
> *First thing I said to my daughter was…. Do the sum backwards. If it shows
> plus, you minus, and if it shows division, you multiply. So, start with
> what you know, and work backwards.*
>
> Daughter got it in an instant!! Tutor tests her with more complex
> equations, daughter got it right! Tutor spen over an hour testing her, and
> finally had to agree that my rather daft method, although it went against
> all her teaching, actually worked!!
>
> Tutor asked me how I knew this. Just told her that that is how I do it?
> She asked if she could use it to teach others. I said of course she could,
> I don't own the method!!
>
> We later had a chat and I said that because 7 of my 8 kids had
> disabilities and additional needs, I had had to be creative about how each
> child learned. And that if they aren't learning, I'm not teaching them
> right. She thanked me and actually became a much nicer tutor after that. I
> guess I opened her eyes a little.
>
> There are no bad students, only bad teachers!!
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