Help With Early Elementary - PLEASE!!

[Nomad V]

OK, I'm working on my MS in Engineering, but I'm having trouble with getting my 6 year old to enjoy science and math. She says that her teacher doesn't pick her when she raises her hand.
My first thought is to go in there and clean house, but I don't want to cause trouble for my daughter. I always thought that gender bias was bogus. Apparently Not!
There is a Central PA Science Fair up at Penn State, and by GOODNESS my daughter will be there.
I only have to figure out how

 

[Kaziarl]

Depending on how much you're allowed to help, have her design one of those machines. The ones that have like 20 steps to butter toast. Sorry I can't remember what they are called, but I always thought they were cool

 

[M'Sharak]

Depending on how much you're allowed to help, have her design one of those machines. The ones that have like 20 steps to butter toast. Sorry I can't remember what they are called, but I always thought they were cool

I think you may be referring to a Rube Goldberg machine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine

See also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfEkPgfA7wo

 

[Rhody the Ram]

Have you talked to her teacher about this yet? I'm a third grade teacher and have been in a several situations where parents are upset about a situation that turned out to be a misunderstanding. It's not that the student is being dishonest, but sometimes they don't recognize the context.

For example, I had a student whose parents were upset that I rarely called on their son. The truth was that he was a very bright student who VERY FREQUENTLY had his hand up. So even though I called on him periodically (just as often as others), he internalized all those times when I called on other students instead of him and perceived that I rarely chose him.

If your daughter's teacher is worth half their salt, he or she will appreciate you bringing this concern to his/her attention so that you can all solve the problem and make the school year a success for your daughter. That's the key part.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

She will enjoy science and math if she enjoys it with you at home. Teachers come and go, she will have good ones, middle ones and the occasional bad one.

Do things with her, for example if you use flash cards, let her test you with half the deck and you take turns. Let her see you having so much fun doing this that she can't wait to do it again tomorrow. More than anything she will enjoy it if you sit on the floor and play math and science games with her.

 

[Kaziarl]

Depending on how much you're allowed to help, have her design one of those machines. The ones that have like 20 steps to butter toast. Sorry I can't remember what they are called, but I always thought they were cool

I think you may be referring to a Rube Goldberg machine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine

See also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfEkPgfA7wo

Yup, thats it. I always loved those, even tried making a couple. Never could get it QUITE right, but mistakes are half the learning process right?

There was also a car comercial I recall seeing where they did that. Went through all the different car parts to eventually open the rear hatch of a whole car.

 

[M'Sharak]

Depending on how much you're allowed to help, have her design one of those machines. The ones that have like 20 steps to butter toast. Sorry I can't remember what they are called, but I always thought they were cool

I think you may be referring to a Rube Goldberg machine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine

See also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfEkPgfA7wo

Yup, thats it. I always loved those, even tried making a couple. Never could get it QUITE right, but mistakes are half the learning process right?

There was also a car comercial I recall seeing where they did that. Went through all the different car parts to eventually open the rear hatch of a whole car.

There's a certain amount of trial and error involved in getting it just right, to be sure. There were a lot of attempts before they got this one to work, and they still ended up fudging it a bit, here and there (though the supposed "606 takes" figure is apparently an exaggeration.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cog_(television_commercial)
http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/181579/