What is the advantage of students learning calculus in 10th grade or even earlier?
What is the advantage of students learning calculus in 10th grade or even earlier?
There are actually two main ways to do math. You can understand the reasoning and apply that reasoning to problems (theoretical approach) or you know the procedures and where to apply them (mechanical approach).
So I have tutored Calculus at the college level. I was a successful tutor because I could do either approach and could determine what approach was a student’s primary method (theoretical or mechanical).
What is the advantage of students learning calculus in 10th grade or even earlier?
You are going to have to decide which you are in order to be able to advance in Calculus. My guess from the question is that you are more than likely mechanical which means if someone showed you how to do it you could repeat the procedure but have problems conceptualizing the theoretical concepts of Calculus.
If that is the case, just go into a Calculus text and see how the problems are solved and skip the theoretical explanation.
Can I learn calculus even if I suck at math?
How do I know this works? Well in fact I had a college student that came to me (as a tutor) the day before Mid-terms and admitted they had done nothing. Of course I was overwhelmed, because we were only scheduled for an hour. So I told the student upfront that I could not teach five chapters of Calculus in an hour, but I could stress the important procedures that would allow the student to “pass” but not to expect an “A.” It took about two or three hours and I thought I made my point but, the student came back for Finals with the same situation. Apparently pass was enough to warrant repeat business, even though nothing was actually learned.
Essentially, I showed the student the mechanics of calculus which can be taught to a student with only a basis in Algebra and then only in limited situations.
If you really want to learn Calculus, you can. It is important for you to know “why” you want to learn Calculus. For me, the reason is meaningless, but for you, it will be the driving factor that will motivate you when it gets tough.
An example from my own life is that when I asked about mathematics that was not part of the curriculum, I was told, “You don’t need to know that.” Of course being young, I took it the wrong way which was that since I was poor they expected me to grow up to be a farmer like the rest of the adults in my family.
Also I thought to myself, “I know I don’t need to know it, I want to know it.” So without the help of my teachers, I went to the library and taught myself from books and encyclopedias - I was too stubborn to allow anyone to prevent me from learning what I wanted, even my parents.
Your self evaluation that you “suck at math” may only be you repeating what others have told you to the point that you have internalized it. I find that insults and put downs are generally methods of control, so listen to what they say and then ignore them. You decide for yourself what you want to do and whether or not you can be good or not, rather than allowing others to tell you what you are good at or not.
People have a tendency to put down other people to prevent them from succeeding as in, “You cant’ learn to do that, you are too old.” Two things about this type of statement: 1) this what they think about themselves; 2) they are trying to control you.
Finally, remember math is a skill like playing baseball. The more you practice the better you get at it. When you start at bat you strike out most of the time until you get better “skilled” at swinging that bat.
What are the benefits of students learning calculus in 10th grade or lower grade?
- In math, you are going to get more problems wrong at first, but look at how you got them wrong and then you will increase your skill and get most of the answers correct.
- Avoid multiple choice questions these really do not teach nor evaluate your math ability. Work out the problems and ignore the answers until you are satisfied with your answer and then check it.
- Sometimes answer keys are wrong. Be careful to not fall into the trap that “answer key must be correct” (it is not far too frequently - ask someone with more “skill” why the answer is what it is).
- Time and practice makes you good at Math or the lack of practice makes you suck at it as in any skill. I suck at hockey because I never practiced skating, so if you never practice solving math problems how can you possibly be good at it.
- Remember, you can succeed at what you are determined to learn. The question really comes down to - how badly do you want to learn it? (Thus the reason why you want to learn Calculus being important).
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