Comments on: What kind of Math did they teach you?

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:19:16 +0000

Hi, I studied at the Lycee Francais in Mexico City, many years ago. When I was 15, I could solve all of the problems you posted, and some more. The math proficency of the group of students I was in was considered above average, and that involved lots of intellectual as well as emotional pressure . Hence, even if back then as a High School student I was able to solve a few math problems, I was terrified. This was a french school, and in France, if you wish to succeed professionally, you must pass a selection based on math problems solving skills. This selection starts quite early in life… I finally ended up hating the subject, and opted for a “non-math-degree” in my final High School year (Philosophy). Then I became a Psychologist. Now, at 45, my math skills are lousy… You see, I do not think the only question here is “what kind of math did they teach you”, but also “how did they teach you”: According too which pedagogical standards? Our teacher might have been a great mathematician, but he was an awfully bad teacher… I think this can be often the case while teaching science: You can have a great scientist in front of the classroom, but a terrible teacher indeed… When I wanted to be a language teacher, I was asked to learn “how to teach languages” (Teacher´s Diploma Course), INDIPENDENTLY of my own language skills. Is there such a “teaching degree” for math teachers, focused on developing “math teaching skills” ?

By: Joel Reyes Noche

Joel Reyes Noche — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:11:22 +0000

I was asked to compare the elementary and high school mathematics curricula of the Philippines and Singapore, and the result is the following paper:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/21869627/A-Comparison-of-the-Content-of-the-Primary-and-Secondary-School-Mathematics-Curricula-of-the-Philippines-and-Singapore

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:59:42 +0000

I went to a private middle and elementary school near Cleveland, Ohio before transferring to public school in 8th grade. My math education was as follows:

7: Algebra – didn’t really understand it or get much out of it, did badly in the class
8: Algebra – this time I did very well
9: Geometry (learned a few theorems, did some “proofs”) and Honors Algebra II (basic linear algebra and analytic geometry)
10: Honors FST (Functions, Statistics, Trigonometry)
11: Honors Precalculus (basic logic/set theory, proofs, basic differentiation/integration), AP Statistics
12: AP BC Calculus (more differentiation/integration, infinite series) – I also borrowed my teacher’s book for a few weeks at the end of the course to teach myself multivariable calculus

aaand in college so far (started in engineering, switched in my second year to applied math/physics):

13: Calculus AGAIN (had to do it, despite a 5 on the AP BC exam, but on the bright side, did more multivariable/vector calculus), set theory/combinatorics, number theory (self-taught)
14: Probability theory, differential equations, linear algebra, complex analysis, more combinatorics (discrete mathematical structures)

15 (anticipated): Partial differential equations and boundary value problems, abstract algebra, more linear algebra, more combinatorics (discrete mathematical models), more statistics
16 (anticipated): Numerical analysis

That just about wraps up my undergraduate maths education – not very much math my senior year, since I am taking a bunch of physics and general education required classes.

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:30:43 +0000

I attended a school in a suburb outside of Detroit Michigan, and am currently a middle school math teacher.

These are the following courses I took while in school:
9th Grade- Honors Algebra
10th Grade- Honors Geometry/ Honors Trigonometry
11th Grade- Honors Pre-Calculus
12th Grade- AP Calculus

I took your refresh your math skills quiz, and because I don’t use all of these skills now, there were a few questions I was unable to answer. However, if I looked over a book to refresh my skills, I know I wouldn’t have any problem answering them.
In this article you mentioned that some people believe that these skills are middle school level, and others believed they were above high school. Being a middle school teacher, I know that many and almost MOST of these concepts are above the level of all my students. (I teach grade level, and no advanced courses). I think that all of these concepts are suited for high school students.
Something that might be useful to know, every child in the state of Michigan must take Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and another elective math course to graduate from high school!
I’ve enjoyed reading a lot of your blogs!

By: John D

John D — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:54:51 +0000

I am currently in high school in Colorado as a senior(12th year), and compared to what the rest of you are saying, my school is doing quite poorly(or at least, it’s worse than it was in 1960. Heh).

For normal students, it is usually Algebra 1-2, Geometry, then Integrated Algebra 3-4(basically a re-hash of the last 2 classes…) and then 12th year is optional(The students usually don’t take any).

I was in the normal classes until last year, because they’ve been too easy and repetitive, so I am starting to take calculus on my own(and getting my own books, the school textbooks and classes are at best mediocre, and at worst downright pitiful..).

I love math, and I’d like to thank you for your book recommendations. I’m going to buy some of those books myself(unless I can find them at the library, but the good ones usually aren’t there. Usually they have ones that were used for school.. You know, the sad ones that make your eyes bleed.).

My school has omitted a large amount of information… In the refresher, I was only able to do 1,3 and 10, so I’m going to get a real precalculus book(How do schools manage to get such shitty textbooks and teaching?! Agh!), and actually learn this.
(I’d write something about how much schools suck nowadays(at least in America), but that’s for other sites)

Thanks for the links and books, I’ve put your site on my favorites.
~John(Colorado, America. 17 years old in 12th grade(senior))

By: Jim Dodd

Jim Dodd — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:30:56 +0000

I went to school in western Pennsylvania in the late 60′s. We got algebra in the 9th and 10th grade, geometry in 11th grade and trigonometry in 12th grade (last year of high school). I did poorly in arithmetic and algebra because I was too lazy to check my work. But I fell in love with the elegance of geometry and did well. That continued into trigonometry. Some of the better students were offered the chance to take calculus in our 12th grade but I was not one of them. When I finally took calculus in college (1969), everyone else had already had it and I was the “dummy” of the class. I never recovered after that. I still love math but have no confidence now.

By: Leo Petr

Leo Petr — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:57:46 +0000

I went through the pre-Harris Ontario curriculum.

Grade 9 and 10:
- Quadratic equations
- Factoring
- Plotting

Grade 11 and 12:
- Geometric proofs
- Trigonometry
- Logarithms

Grade 13 Calculus:
- Differentiation
- Integration
- Max/Min

Grade 13 Finite:
- Matrices
- Systems of linear equations
- Combinatronics
- Probability

Grade 13 Algebra & Geometry:
- Systems of linear equations
- Geometric proofs
- Hyperbolas and ellipses

I think that the new curriculum introduces things faster rather than slower. My girlfriend teaches grades 7 & 8 and they do things I didn’t get to touch until grade 9.

Cheers,

Leo

By: Roberto Alamos

Roberto Alamos — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 20:31:01 +0000

Ah! and basic trigonometry

By: Roberto Alamos

Roberto Alamos — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 02:53:16 +0000

Antofagasta, Chile, class 2000: Matrices, analytic geometry, complex nubers, calculus (derivatives and a little of integration).

I must say that my teacher did so well that I wanted to keep studying math after high school, so I got a BS 4 years later

By: Jeremy Boyd

Jeremy Boyd — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:03:43 +0000

My high school in north central Texas had a sequence similar to Cade’s. Importantly, though, there were massive personnel problems, and in the end we were advised not to waste our money on the Calculus AP Exam. Sadly, I can also echo Cade’s experience with regard to the Exam – a foreign exchange student was the only person who decided to take it that year, and she of course received a 5. None of us would have fared as well.

Also, now – a full 10 years after Algebra II and Geometry – I’m learning that my sequence (the “advanced” one!) somehow skipped both geometric proofs and matrices. Which is a shame, since I would have gotten interested in math far sooner, especially if proofs had been a major component of my high school program.