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Christine Selby

Light at the end of the tunnel

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Leading into my final weeks now and I'm collecting and working on my TMA02. Fallen a bit behind these last couple of weeks and could do with xmas break now to just type up some notes and relax a little. But first TMA time. T - 12 days. 

Mathematical problem is making my head spin and thinking and rethinking which formula to use to solve the problem. I know I know it but I just keep doubting myself. 

First, day school today and that helped a lot with getting to grips with algebra. Fingers crossed I'm making a breakthrough. 
I don't know what I'm going to do when I get exams...It is clear I can't seem to prosses and work out the maths quick enough. So slow. I read and re read, answer then doubt the answer, change it, change it back - argh! 
Need more confidence from somewhere. 

This week has been quiet. Covid cases have shot up, school stayed closed for 2 days as a precaution while the LA worked their way through contact tracing. Football and rugby cancelled. However, the eldest managed to get to his first swimming lesson since March. At last he is back in the pool if only for a few weeks. After all the fuss that he didn't want to go - he came away beaming and cant wait to go back. 

Changes are looming in work with unions wanting schools to revert to online learning for the last week of term (welcome to my world kids) to allow for potential positive cases to be identified or those needing to self isolate to do so before Christmas break. Not a bad idea. Last week of school before xmas term is pretty quiet and chilled anyway in schools. BUT, no xmas concert and no xmas party. This is so sad for staff and kids. But what will be will be for the coming months in the hope we can get out of these tough times safely and soon. 



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Christine Selby

First Tutorial and awaiting results

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Edited by Christine Selby, Thursday, 29 Oct 2020, 20:51

Well that was a great experience for my first tutorial last night - MATHS SUPPORT. Thought yeah I can nail this iCMA. 

OOOOOPPPS! 

Note to self - DO NOT attempt an iCMA late at night. What an epic fail. clown

We had a great tutor and all maths totally anonymous. Great for when I was too slow to work out the answers or getting them wrong. Ha Ha

But using his notes for revision I'm sure I will get there. Still weirdly feeling positive (ish)

iCMA attempted again this evening and a slight improvement to 89%

Just that 1% to go for that minimum target I set myself and still a couple of weeks left to practice and improve. 

Must give myself a little rest from this iCMA for a few days to try and absorb the maths required, hit myself hard this week with so much revision to try and understand things up until now - before things get harder. 

Weather has sucked this week - no activities or sports and we are still in that blooming lockdown here. 

Kids probably thinking I have abandoned them with my head stuck in a book most of the time. But the studying must be wearing off onto them as they seem happier to sit and read and colour much more recently. 

I'm done for this evening - glass of red awaiting me in front of the fire. big grin

Oh yeah must not forget that first TMA mark and feedback is due within the next few days. Feeling a bit nervous about it. Be interesting to see whether I did mess up the maths or not. Time will tell.  

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Christine Selby

The struggle is real!

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Edited by Christine Selby, Thursday, 29 Oct 2020, 20:48

It's LOCKDOWN here in Wales again. Roads quiet, nowhere to go. Perfect time to study - MATHS - Arghhhh! Why?

What on earth made me take a math heavy course. We are only just getting started. 

Stuff I should know, stuff I should have covered in school - GCSE stuff. why am I finding it so difficult to rack around in my brain for those little clues that helped me get through those my exams?

Even looking at GCSE/A level revision books is making me think - there was no way I knew how to do all this to sit an exam. 

Oh yeah - it was over 20 years ago and I have had 2 kids since then. Brain mushed!!

Evenings are getting harder to concentrate and I find I don't have enough time in a day to revise.

Something has to change - revamp of that study plan. 

Although, I do have a maths tutorial on Wednesday - hoping for some lightbulb moments there or it will be 1:1 tutor call for me. 

Despite somehow getting 86% in the iCMA so far - I was too heavily reliant on the books with me. 

TARGET: iCMA51 = minimum 90% with less use of the books. 
I have just over 2 weeks to get myself up to speed
 and I'm a week ahead of schedule. (Hope to get week 6 out of the way this week as well) then that will give me some good groundings before I return to work - if kids will ever leave me to get a few hours peace during the best time of the day to study. 

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Christine Selby

Missed blog

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Edited by Christine Selby, Thursday, 29 Oct 2020, 20:48
Sunday the 25th October. 

Missed blogging for this date. 
Managed to get almost a whole day of studying done. General stuff after submitting my first TMA - reading and completing activities for the weeks ahead. 

However, I sense my maths abilities are going to put me under some intense pressure. Already struggling to embed what I have learned. All those rules and equations to try and remember. Trying my best to do practice quizzes without checking the books. I just want it to stick! Is that too much to ask. 

Onward to try and conquer this hurdle the best I can. 

Today, trying to get some reading And revision in. Near impossible with a 2 year old that is so needy. Argh! 
Hmmm childminder offering Wednesday - so tempting to get a decent day of study in. Really want to try and keep to being a week ahead minimum. 

Exercise is lacking And patience with kids home wearing thin. 
So much for getting a hard push on things during the holidays. 

Need to get a plan of action set up for next couple of weeks. 
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Christine Selby

Study - any time, anywhere

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Edited by Christine Selby, Thursday, 29 Oct 2020, 20:43

This week kicked off a bit of the new routine. Rugby and football training with the eldest is back on. 

As a result my timetable has changed already. 

Due to new restrictions I am now not allowed to leave the training venue and must wait in the car. 

Cha--ching! and hour of peace for some reading. Or so you would think. Cue my little monster child! 

Many kids these days like to sit in front of an ipad when you don't want them to....but when you would like them to watch something just for an hour for me to read in peace - nooooooo way! angry

So I have come to the conclusion that this plan will not work as I had hoped. 

Well battle on I shall with my quest to study anytime, anywhere. 

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