As Smart-ish As a 5th Grader

A bit of background information:


I was an excellent math student through junior year of high school which happens to be the last time I was a math student. I did take statistics in college, but that doesn't really count. I did not to take calculus my senior year of high school as I did not enjoy the calculus teacher that I had suffered through geometry with and I had fulfilled the math requirement for college, so I opted out. I was not required to take any real math in college so I did not.


Scott took various calculus classes in college. Yay him! This gives him the impression that he's better in math than me. You be the judge.


Last night:


Our 5th grader was doing double digit long division and she asked Mr. Math for help. 


Scott to me: "Do you remember the secret to double digit long division?"


Me: "I don't know any secret. It's like single digit, but with 2 digits."


Scott: "It's been a long time since I've done long division. It's like this right?" He then leans over and shows me the paper where he's started a problem like this:

Me: "Why are you starting on the far right?"


Scott: "That's where you start."


Me: "That's not where I'd start. I'd do it like this.":

I started at the furtherest left that the 6 was divisible into like you are supposed to.

Scott then tries to complete the problem his way and realizes he's.... wait for it....WRONG.

Me: "How sad is it that I'm feeling totally superior right now?"

Scott: "I'm glad you get to feel like that for once."

While all this was going on the girl, our 5th grader, is saying things like:

"Give me back my paper."

"This isn't helping me."

We ignored her of course because what mattered was which one of us was right.

About 5 minutes later Scott bested me on a chemistry question so my superiority in the realm of 5th grade homework was short lived. 

It was lovely while it lasted.

peace & love ;-)

CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FAMILY... Science Night

I did a lot of relearning this afternoon. My 5th grader had prime number homework. I was able to recall from the recesses of my mind what those are so I proved to be rather helpful. I did not even have to google it. Also, she is studying for a states test as in name all 50 states on an unmarked map. I couldn't quite do this cold, but after only a few online map games I was all over it. Then my Kindergartener says "We did that pledge thing again today, but I don't know it." So me and the 5th grader start reciting it, but got stuck the first few times at the "and to the republic" part. We agreed it's much easier to say in a group.

So when after dinner/wine, the following conversation took place I was tapped out and not at the top of my game.

10 y/o to 5 y/o: "Gravity is why we stay on the ground. Like when you jump up you come back down. There's not as much gravity on the moon."

5 y/o to me: "Is there gravity on the moon?"

Me: "Um, there's less gravity on the moon or maybe no gravity. Hey Scott, is the moon zero gravity?"

Scott: Rounding the corner and laughing, "Did you fail science?"

Me: "Don't the astronauts wear weights in their spacesuits on the moon?"

Scott: "Yes, cause there's less gravity than on the earth. Do you know what would happen to someone trying to walk in zero gravity?" walking away, shaking head and still laughing.

Me: "Yeah, I know."

Awesome comeback, right? So, I'm not entirely sure, but I think the answer is you would just float off into oblivion in zero gravity if not tethered to something. Apparently I should google that.

Peace & Love :-)