Comments on: “I Hate Geometry Proofs. They’re Stupid.” http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/ DrLindasBlog.com is all about parents and kids, packed with up-to-date information for helping your child with school success. Linda Silbert, Ph.D., an education specialist, covers everything from reading to test preparation, from ADHD to homework. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:16:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Dr. Al Silbert http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2059 Dr. Al Silbert Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:16:05 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-2059 John, I'm impressed that you searched for the reason for studying geometry. It's easier to simply gripe about things that are challenging than to learn about possible benefits. I hope you reap the benefits of your hard work and good attitude. John,

I’m impressed that you searched for the reason for studying geometry. It’s easier to simply gripe about things that are challenging than to learn about possible benefits.

I hope you reap the benefits of your hard work and good attitude.

]]> By: Dr. Al http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2058 Dr. Al Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:09:49 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-2058 Bob, Your last sentence speaks volumes. I hope you reap the benefits of your hard work and good attitude. Bob,
Your last sentence speaks volumes. I hope you reap the benefits of your hard work and good attitude.

]]> By: Dr. Al http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2057 Dr. Al Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:04:10 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-2057 Bob, Your last sentence speaks volumes. I hope you reap the benefits of your hard work and good attitude. Bob,
Your last sentence speaks volumes. I hope you reap the benefits of your hard work and good attitude.

]]> By: John http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2054 John Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:40:11 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-2054 I'm currently a sophomore in high school studying geometry. I searched for the reason why proofs were necessary, and stumbled upon this article as well as the other one you've written. I agree wholeheartedly with your statements. Proofs still annoy me massively as I can easily solve geometry math problems when I don't have to present every little modicum of evidence that I come across and memorize every single rule out there - but as it's all for the sake of building myself a better brain, so to speak, in my mind it really is worth it in the end. Truthfully, I'm grateful that I even get this chance and look forward to cultivating myself further in the future, in both body and mind. I’m currently a sophomore in high school studying geometry. I searched for the reason why proofs were necessary, and stumbled upon this article as well as the other one you’ve written. I agree wholeheartedly with your statements.

Proofs still annoy me massively as I can easily solve geometry math problems when I don’t have to present every little modicum of evidence that I come across and memorize every single rule out there – but as it’s all for the sake of building myself a better brain, so to speak, in my mind it really is worth it in the end.

Truthfully, I’m grateful that I even get this chance and look forward to cultivating myself further in the future, in both body and mind.

]]> By: bob malito http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1792 bob malito Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:23:51 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-1792 The three headings, Organization: Logical thinking: Self-discipline: Are really good choices i thought. I believe that doing proofs helps you in life because it gives you insight on how to think through problems in a logical way. "Once developed, these neural connections remain, ready to “jump into action” in real-life situations, long after how-to-do-geometry-proofs has faded into mental oblivion." this quote describes my feeling for proofs. I dont like them but they are useful later in life. The three headings,
Organization:
Logical thinking:
Self-discipline:
Are really good choices i thought. I believe that doing proofs helps you in life because it gives you insight on how to think through problems in a logical way. “Once developed, these neural connections remain, ready to “jump into action” in real-life situations, long after how-to-do-geometry-proofs has faded into mental oblivion.” this quote describes my feeling for proofs. I dont like them but they are useful later in life.

]]> By: Dan Morris http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-604 Dan Morris Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:42:10 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-604 Jessica, I hope your parents don't read what you just wrote. I think your father would take offense to your statement that he doesn't know geometry. I'll agree he probably doesn't use proofs, but he regularly uses geometry - and you'll likely do so as well. Inches are part of geometry. I bet your dad knows and uses the 3, 4, 5 rule. If you're building a square or rectangle and you need to make sure that you've created a right angle (so books don't slide off your shelves), you can use this simple geometry rule. Measure 3 inches down one piece of wood and draw a dot. Measure 4 inches down the other piece of wood and draw a dot. Then using your tape measure make sure the two dots are 5 inches apart - and the ends of the wood come together at the corner. Now you have a right angle - and you can finish building your house, shelves, picture frame, etc. . . He knows that vertical angles are equal because he builds roofs. The back has to have the same angle as the front. He cuts molding so he understands how to cut and measure angles, how to calculate square footage and much, much more. If you spoke only of geometry proofs, I'd have agreed. But your parents use geometry, ratios, and algebra more than you know. Jessica,

I hope your parents don’t read what you just wrote.

I think your father would take offense to your statement that he doesn’t know geometry. I’ll agree he probably doesn’t use proofs, but he regularly uses geometry – and you’ll likely do so as well.

Inches are part of geometry. I bet your dad knows and uses the 3, 4, 5 rule. If you’re building a square or rectangle and you need to make sure that you’ve created a right angle (so books don’t slide off your shelves), you can use this simple geometry rule.

Measure 3 inches down one piece of wood and draw a dot. Measure 4 inches down the other piece of wood and draw a dot. Then using your tape measure make sure the two dots are 5 inches apart – and the ends of the wood come together at the corner. Now you have a right angle – and you can finish building your house, shelves, picture frame, etc. . .

He knows that vertical angles are equal because he builds roofs. The back has to have the same angle as the front.

He cuts molding so he understands how to cut and measure angles, how to calculate square footage and much, much more.

If you spoke only of geometry proofs, I’d have agreed. But your parents use geometry, ratios, and algebra more than you know.

]]> By: jessica http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-601 jessica Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:12:29 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-601 GEOMETRY IS STUPID! we are NEVER going to need to know geometry proofs!!! you DON’T open a child’s mind for life with proofs! there’s no such thing as teaching useless things in school to “open a child’s mind” because it doesn’t work! all it does is make kids go to school twice as long as what they would normally have to if they could just learn stuff they actually need to know! i’m a sophomore (10th grd) and i’m in geometry and i know that i will NEVER use ANY of this! my dad builds houses and etc. and he doesn’t use geometry! he uses inches for measuring! that’s all! he doesn’t know that vertical angles are equal and what 4x-3=23x+9 and all that mumbo jumbo for figuring out a proof! he uses common sense! in fact, my mom was a banker and both my parents NEVER even took PRE-algebra in high school! if you need to know how much liquid to pour in a container with a circumfrence of 7 and a height if 9, then instead of doing that math, just fill up the container until it’s full! DUH!!!!! why do you have to make everything so hard on yourself and people! just do things with what you were born with…..common sense and you’ll be perfectly fine! if you are going into some weird math major then learn math in college! don’t make EVERYONE learn it for the less than 1 percent who will ever need to know it!!!!!!!!!!! that’s what college is for isn’t it???!!!!! GEOMETRY IS STUPID! we are NEVER going to need to know geometry proofs!!! you DON’T open a child’s mind for life with proofs!
there’s no such thing as teaching useless things in school to “open a child’s mind” because it doesn’t work!
all it does is make kids go to school twice as long as what they would normally have to if they could just learn stuff they actually need to know! i’m a sophomore (10th grd) and i’m in geometry and i know that i will NEVER use ANY of this! my dad builds houses and etc. and he doesn’t use geometry! he uses inches for measuring! that’s all! he doesn’t know that vertical angles are equal and what 4x-3=23x+9 and all that mumbo jumbo for figuring out a proof! he uses common sense! in fact, my mom was a banker and both my parents NEVER even took PRE-algebra in high school! if you need to know how much liquid to pour in a container with a circumfrence of 7 and a height if 9, then instead of doing that math, just fill up the container until it’s full! DUH!!!!! why do you have to make everything so hard on yourself and people! just do things with what you were born with…..common sense and you’ll be perfectly fine! if you are going into some weird math major then learn math in college! don’t make EVERYONE learn it for the less than 1 percent who will ever need to know it!!!!!!!!!!! that’s what college is for isn’t it???!!!!!

]]> By: Dr. Al Silbert http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Dr. Al Silbert Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:35:56 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-561 Thanks so much for your comment. Your comment inspired me to write a new blog post. You'll see that I agree with you in principle, and look forward to seeing changes in education that result in the same benefits with less of a down side. Here's the link. http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-proofs-problems/ Thanks so much for your comment. Your comment inspired me to write a new blog post. You’ll see that I agree with you in principle, and look forward to seeing changes in education that result in the same benefits with less of a down side.

Here’s the link.

http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-proofs-problems/

]]> By: Ed Hale http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Ed Hale Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:00:35 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-558 I am of the general opinion that Geometry proofs are not necessary. I have a degree in Engineering and a Master's degree in liberal arts. there are many other ways to exercise and train the brain without using geometry proofs, including syllogisms, logic and rules of evidence. debate, and expository writing. I excelled in math...until I hit proofs, and once I was allowed to move on to Calculus, Differential Equations, Laplace transforms....I never, ever needed to use proofs to excel in mathmatics again. Since it is not required to do well on the ACT or SAT test, I did not require my daughter or son to do them. And they are doing very will in all of their subjects, including science and theology, thank you very much... I am of the general opinion that Geometry proofs are not necessary. I have a degree in Engineering and a Master’s degree in liberal arts.

there are many other ways to exercise and train the brain without using geometry proofs, including syllogisms, logic and rules of evidence. debate, and expository writing.

I excelled in math…until I hit proofs, and once I was allowed to move on to Calculus, Differential Equations, Laplace transforms….I never, ever needed to use proofs to excel in mathmatics again.

Since it is not required to do well on the ACT or SAT test, I did not require my daughter or son to do them. And they are doing very will in all of their subjects, including science and theology, thank you very much…

]]> By: George http://drlindasblog.com/geometry-school-success/comment-page-1/#comment-239 George Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:17:33 +0000 http://drlindasblog.com/articles/geometry-proofs-three-reasons-kids-need-to-learn-how-to-do-them.html#comment-239 I'm a Sophomore and all I can say is that proofs suck. Waste of my time and all the engineers and stuff mentioned above can better society while I'm getting rich on math that makes the world go round. Thats right, making money in the stock market. So when I am done with geometry it can burn in hell for all I care. End of my rant. I’m a Sophomore and all I can say is that proofs suck. Waste of my time and all the engineers and stuff mentioned above can better society while I’m getting rich on math that makes the world go round. Thats right, making money in the stock market. So when I am done with geometry it can burn in hell for all I care. End of my rant.

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