I am having a freakin panic attack over this class..

[Jengirl]

I am NOT getting Algebra. This is exactly was has happened EVERY other time I've taken it. I do so so for a couple weeks and then as the basic skills build upon one another, I get lost. I have a test today, and I'm on my class, reviewing the material and taking practice tests and am doing horribly. I just need to get through this damn class and pass it and I'm done with Algebra for this degree. Everything else is sciences and business classes which I have no tgrouble with at all.
I am sitting here in tears, because I am doing horribly. DH is NOT being understanding as to why I'm crying over this. THis is going to be $995 down the drain if I fail this course. It also is going to majorly pull my GPA down.. It's at a 3.71 right now.
I want to puke.

[collier]

(((((Jen)))))) Can you get a tutor? I am really sorry that your DH is being unsupportive. That is not very kind or appropriate behavior. :-( Math phobia is a significant road block for a lot of people. I wish I coud help more.

Best,

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

I am NOT getting Algebra. This is exactly was has happened EVERY other time I've taken it. I do so so for a couple weeks and then as the basic skills build upon one another, I get lost. I have a test today, and I'm on my class, reviewing the material and taking practice tests and am doing horribly. I just need to get through this damn class and pass it and I'm done with Algebra for this degree. Everything else is sciences and business classes which I have no tgrouble with at all.
I am sitting here in tears, because I am doing horribly. DH is NOT being understanding as to why I'm crying over this. THis is going to be $995 down the drain if I fail this course. It also is going to majorly pull my GPA down.. It's at a 3.71 right now.
I want to puke.


{{{Jen}}} I'm so sorry hon. I took college algebra **4** times before I finally passed it.

[Bickery]

(((Jen)))

Is the a tutoring center available? Does the instructor have office hours? Would you like to try to get some help from posters here? (I personally find math more difficult to learn via internet, but not impossible by any means. Ymmv, of course!)

Another idea: if you're taking this online and it's not working for you, do you have a classroom option, even if it's a different institution?

Is it too late to drop and back up a class level or two? Do you have a repeat/delete or grade replacement option?

You can do this! Figuring out how is the challenge.

I'm sorry that your dh is not sympathetic. Is there someone else you can talk to about this?

[indigo]

I am NOT getting Algebra. This is exactly was has happened EVERY other time I've taken it. I do so so for a couple weeks and then as the basic skills build upon one another, I get lost. I have a test today, and I'm on my class, reviewing the material and taking practice tests and am doing horribly. I just need to get through this damn class and pass it and I'm done with Algebra for this degree. Everything else is sciences and business classes which I have no tgrouble with at all.
I am sitting here in tears, because I am doing horribly. DH is NOT being understanding as to why I'm crying over this. THis is going to be $995 down the drain if I fail this course. It also is going to majorly pull my GPA down.. It's at a 3.71 right now.
I want to puke.

Get Borenson's Hands-On Equations. I think it does a really good job of making it all make sense. (Although the areas you're having trouble with may be beyond Borenson's. It is just about solving equations, not graphing, etc. But if you don't have a really, really solid handle on solving equations, i'd still suggest it. It's a good start.)

[kokoro]

In my experience it does help to let them know you are really trying hard and not just goofing off. The professor might also be able to help you or recommend good help.

[Peggyann]

((((Jen))))

Mike says to def. go talk to your professor and let him/her know where you are having troubles, so maybe they can show you how to "tweak" it and have it work better for you.

~PA~

[gfrach]

Hugs, Jen!

I second Jody's recommendation for Hands on Equations.

Also, MIT has online courses and lectures you can download--it could well be that with someone else explaining it to you it would make more sense. Some people can really teach math and some simply cannot,

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/index.htm

Lastly I don't know if you need to go back this basic, but The Teaching Company has high school algebra I and II that are supposed to be good and many libraries carry their courses (on dvd and vhs).

[indigo]

Hugs, Jen!

I second Jody's recommendation for Hands on Equations.

Also, MIT has online courses and lectures you can download--it could well be that with someone else explaining it to you it would make more sense. Some people can really teach math and some simply cannot,

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/index.htm

Lastly I don't know if you need to go back this basic, but The Teaching Company has high school algebra I and II that are supposed to be good and many libraries carry their courses (on dvd and vhs).

Oh, also Teaching Textbooks has a super-adorable-sounding geeky guy give the lessons on the computer. But it's probably not the answer at this point because you need help right away and you'd have to go through a lot of lessons before you got to what was hanging you up.

[lunita]

You've gotten good advice and encouragement already. I just wanted to tag on here that community/jr. colleges usually have a good support system available for free or at a very low cost to the student for things like algebra. If you're taking it at a private online college, I'd find out what the transfer agreement is and whether you can take it somewhere else with more help.

[libbylibbylibby]

Jen, if you can identify specific areas that you are having difficulty with (graphing, factoring, laws of exponents), I will be happy to help you.
I strongly recommend purplemath and sosmath as well for online resources.
How far into the class are you?
Email or pm me if you like, we are out of school now and I have a couple weeks pretty free.
And ((((hugs))))

[Storymama]

I absolutely concur with the advice to get a tutor. It is a big fallacy that only dummies need them; I've sought out help in every class I've ever taken, and so has every other SUCCESSFUL student I know. There is absolutely no rule that you have to learn everything on your own, or it doesn't count.

Successful students ask for extra help when they need it. It's time to ask. Even with extra cost, it's worth it to protect your already spent $995, and to have this off your plate forever and ever.