Shannon Miller: My Child, My Hero by Claudia Miller

[Matilda23]

Interesting strategy by Steve at 91 Worlds Trials to try to get Erica Stokes on the Worlds team! Could have cost Shannon her place on the team

 

[Aeris]

• Was surprised to have a B in geometry–she'd gotten the answers correct. Teacher said it was because she had to write out the homework problem on the page before working it and she didn't. She replied she hadn't been in class when he told them the policy and didn't know–he said it was her responsibility to find out what was required. Ron talked to the teacher, but the grade stood. It was Shannon's only B in high school

How rude. Should have introduced the teacher to a Baseball Bat if they were so attached to that B.

 

[Kittentoes]

That was normal then. I struggled desperately with math, despite having the correct answers.

 

[irichluck21]

It is still normal now, showing your work to receive credit has been since the 90s.
Mental math can still be used for some assignments like fluency, but certain algorithms necessitate the work being shown out.
For example the distributive property in multiplication. An example 16x5, my students had to show their work and demonstrate the application of the property.
Students were free to come up with their own ways of solving, as there are multiple ways. This also helps if you don't know your rote facts.
So 16x5 could be broken down into 2x (8x5) so 2x (40) or (10x5)+(5x5)+(1x5) so 50+25+5.
Students with exceptionalities that would otherwise struggle with operations now had strategies that allowed them accessibility.

 

[Kittentoes]

It is still normal now, showing your work to receive credit has been since the 90s.
Mental math can still be used for some assignments like fluency, but certain algorithms necessitate the work being shown out.
For example the distributive property in multiplication. An example 16x5, my students had to show their work and demonstrate the application of the property.
Students were free to come up with their own ways of solving, as there are multiple ways. This also helps if you don't know your rote facts.
So 16x5 could be broken down into 2x (8x5) so 2x (40) or (10x5)+(5x5)+(1x5) so 50+25+5.
Students with exceptionalities that would otherwise struggle with operations now had strategies that allowed them accessibility.

That was my problem. I tend to break things down because it is easier on my dyslexia. I'm just less likely to flip something.

 

[makam]

That was normal then. I struggled desperately with math, despite having the correct answers.

I got deducted in geometry because however I solved the problem (correct answer) wasn't "proper etiquette ." Like, what? Might be why I disdain geometry and proofs to this day. Not that I have done proofs in many years and my geometry is the simple and practical kind.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

I feel like writing proofs would be right up Shannon’s alley given how detail-oriented and type-a she is.

Nunno comes off as just a total psychopath. Interesting that Claudia’s tone seems to be so neutral about him and very little is said about Peggy.

 

[makam]

Makes you wonder if she thinks the stuff he did was normal and is just writing about it as it happened, nbd, or if she feels it was batshit and is writing like she thinks it is normal to draw attention to how batshit it is.

I know it was the style of the times for coaches in all sports to get unhealthily involved in the performance of their athletes, but it looks extra insane when the athlete is a tiny adolescent gymnast and the coach is an adult. Football and basketball players shouldn't have to put up with the verbal abuse either but at least it usually wasn't some adult guy yelling at or freaking out over a child.

 

[flappergirl]

How rude. Should have introduced the teacher to a Baseball Bat if they were so attached to that B.

This happened to me too. I was so good at math in fifth grade. But then when training for the GED, when I had lost my edge, they expected the opposite. I was dinged twice.