How can i get to university?

postingalwaysposting

dmg24 wrote: »

Best of luck pap,

If you need any help on the maths, feel free to PM me ... I'm a trainee maths teacher! x

ohh dmg thanks... the thing i struggle on is my x's tables. What would you suggest i do before september? As i am worried i will go in there and not have a clue what the poor teacher is trying to teach me. I was looking at maybe getting a few work books (gcse wise) and have a flick though/go at them. The problem with me is i dont seem to 'click' with numbers. If you give me a pattern of numbers i couldnt tell you if they were linked in someway however the person next to me could ~ if that makes sense. btw the ou course relises hevily on numbers however i could prob get away with using a calculator but i want the basics there :rolleyes:

eira

Co-ordinating Group have fantastic workbooks for virtually all GCSE subjects-heavily used by teachers. For Maths they range from KS2 to KS4 -no book costs more than roughly £3.50. In one page they define the terms and give you examples. Superb resource.All bookshops stock them although you may have to ask.
Check that you don't have dyscalculia-a specific maths disability related to dyslexia. There is little help or advice for the condition. One thing I've found useful is to have a very simple calculator to help with the arithmetic. I've bought myself a Scooby Doo cube with the tables on different sides !.If you can't learn your tables learn the 2, 5 and 10 as basic and then add on the numbers you want. There is also a free downloadable tables game called TimezAttack-fun to do and kids like it. You have to battle a monster and snails with times tables.
There are ways round dyscalculia but maths difficulties seem to be swept under the carpet-unlike dyslexia. I have sat through Maths lessons with special needs kids ansd wondered what the he.. the teacher was on about. And they always end the lesson with (like It people tend to do) 'easy-now you try it'. Why don't schools teach real life maths-like the issues you get on this site.

postingalwaysposting

eira wrote: »

Co-ordinating Group have fantastic workbooks for virtually all GCSE subjects-heavily used by teachers. For Maths they range from KS2 to KS4 -no book costs more than roughly £3.50. In one page they define the terms and give you examples. Superb resource.All bookshops stock them although you may have to ask.
Check that you don't have dyscalculia-a specific maths disability related to dyslexia. There is little help or advice for the condition. One thing I've found useful is to have a very simple calculator to help with the arithmetic. I've bought myself a Scooby Doo cube with the tables on different sides !.If you can't learn your tables learn the 2, 5 and 10 as basic and then add on the numbers you want. There is also a free downloadable tables game called TimezAttack-fun to do and kids like it. You have to battle a monster and snails with times tables.
There are ways round dyscalculia but maths difficulties seem to be swept under the carpet-unlike dyslexia. I have sat through Maths lessons with special needs kids ansd wondered what the he.. the teacher was on about. And they always end the lesson with (like It people tend to do) 'easy-now you try it'. Why don't schools teach real life maths-like the issues you get on this site.

hi eira, do you mean these type of books? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CGP-GCSE-Maths-Revision-Workbook-Exam-Practice-Guides_W0QQitemZ320147289842QQihZ011QQcategoryZ27325QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem i have downloaded the free version of that game and it does look fun, a little childish but fun. Anything to get me to remember my x's tables would be great

eira

Those are the books-superb value for money. If you are very rusty/very new or just nervous get the complete set. Keep them with you and use them to clarify terms you aren't sure about

Rallya

Why not check to see if your local university does a foundation degree course, thats a 4 year degree instead of 3 years where the first year is mainly for mature students who dont have the qualifications to get into university the usual route.

I did this with Durham University who have a campus just a few miles from where I live, they do foundation degrees, I contacted them as I was interested in doing a degree in Psychology starting October 2008. About a week later I got a phone call to go for an interview and was offered a place starting in October 2007.

Just got my confirmation letter from UCAS on Tuesday to say I have a place at Durham for Applied Psychology with Foundation Year, leading to a BSc Degree. Am so pleased, just need to sort out student finance and im good to go

I have 9 CSE's taken in 1985 which was pre GCSE and this was fine according to the university, they were looking mainly for commitment to the course and enthusiasm to complete it which I have in abundance!!

Anyway, worth a shot

dmg24

Excellent point by eira on dyscalculia, and certainly worth looking into. Wherever you decide to enrol at, they will have a Special Needs/ Learning Support Officer, who should be able to help you further in this area.

Times tables and mental arithmetic seem to be becoming more popular again. I agree that 2, 5 and 10x are the most important to know. I really think the only way to learn them is to just repeat them over and over again. I look after my friend's kids quite a lot and we make games out of times tables, me asking them and then them asking me more difficult ones, sounds really boring but it can be really good fun (honest!). You can practice them all the time - sat on the bus, watching tv - just reciting them over in your head.

Finally, don't be afraid to use your fingers ... I still do! x

Bamber19

You should contact the uni's and speak to them to see what they suggest. What's written down or displayed on a webpage abou entrance requirements isn't always the same as the reality and many courses and uni's will be willing to make adjustments to their requirements.

Burlesque_Babe

hiya pap!

My ex did a 1 year access course after getting 1 O Level many years ago. After that he did a Sports Science degree and is now a teacher. He has 22 when he started his degree.

I got my degree at the same time, but since then I've dabbled with the OU and done a few random courses. I find them very good. The work does seem more intense than going to lectures etc but the courses are good.