1. Having a Good Attitude About Math But WHY Should We? Presentation prepared by former SSS Math Specialist Mrs. Brooks SSS Math Specialist Mrs. Brooks

2. Why is your attitude about math what it is today? A teacher you didn’t like A class with a bad memory A class you made a bad grade in People making fun of you for asking questions Society’s outlook on math, for instance, males dominant in math courses

3. Let’s face the facts We are all in college or we wouldn’t be in this seminar We are in college with the goal of earning a degree All degrees require us to take math We must take math in order to reach our goal of a college degree No matter what college you attend, math is REQUIRED Math is not going away

4. What good is math anyway? Math will help to make you a more well rounded student Math helps you in everyday life Math helps you in other courses, such as science, statistics, and accounting Math is a prerequisite for many courses

5. When will I ever use math again? Balancing a checkbook Managing a household budget Comparison pricing while shopping Other courses, such as, science, accounting, and statistics Helping your kids with their homework Grading test papers and computing grades if you become a teacher

6. How to face your math fears Put negative feelings about math behind you Stay positive from this moment on Know that you can succeed in whatever you do Keep your goal in mind and know you must get through math to reach your goal Don’t be afraid to ask questions Don’t be afraid to get help

7. Where to begin Before registering for a math class, all students must take the math placement exam given by Troy University Students need to contact Ms. Sha’nah Martin in room 116B of Malone Hall at (334)983-6556 Ext. 286 or email to ssmartin@troy.edu to schedule their math placement examssmartin@troy.edu No other university’s placement exam is accepted Don’t be afraid of the results The results do not affect your GPA, it is only a way for the university to place you in the appropriate class Don’t be upset if you didn’t place as high as you would have liked

8. continued The placement test is a very good tool for judging what level you should be placed on Placing in Fundamentals of Algebra isn’t an indication that you will fail math, it strictly means that you need to start at the basics because you might never have taken algebra or it has been years since you last took a math class If you are a student who has never had any algebra, or it has been awhile since you took algebra, then fundamentals and intermediate algebra are a great place to start These two courses provide an excellent foundation in which to move on to the pre-calculus algebra class

9. Tips for succeeding in math class Always take good notes, even if you think you follow and understand everything well Chances are when you get home, you might not remember the material as well as you thought you would Ask questions even if you think others will make fun of you or you think it is a stupid question Haven’t you heard that the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask Start out the class with an “I can do this attitude” If you start out with an attitude that you won’t succeed, then chances are you won’t

10. tips continued Don’t study the night before the test Math is a subject that builds on previous concepts Cramming for a test the night before will probably not help you remember material for the long haul Always complete your homework A wise teacher of math once told me that math is not a spectator sport You cannot expect to learn to do math just by watching the instructor or your tutor work problems You must practice math, and practice often

11. tips continued Always take your time when you are working on math problems and check your work when you are finished Always read the directions completely and carefully Remember SSS offers free tutoring to their participants Study with a partner or group if that will help

12. In conclusion Math is not your enemy, so don’t be afraid. Math cannot hurt you in any way. Make sure that you always keep your goals in mind. You can overcome your math fears in time.

13. Important Note You have concluded this academic seminar. Remember to either come by the Student Support Services office to complete an academic seminar evaluation or complete the online version so that we may document your participation. https://forms.troy.edu/forms/dothan/sss_Academicseminarevaluation.html