Looked at Khan Academy, glanced at the basic math section, realized my utter ignorance of fractions. Now want to hide under a desk with my pathetic brain and just read smutty fic all day.

I'm not sure whether the tone would amuse you or totally turn you off (everyone I know either loves this or hates it, and I've not yet been able to predict who will do what), but Danica McKellar -- Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years, who later got a doctorate in math -- published a few books explaining middle school math specifically for girls. One of them is called "Math Doesn't Suck," and I can't remember the title of the other. If you can get beyond the overly cutesy tone, the explanations are actually really good, and it explains the upper-elementary and middle school topics -- especially fractions -- that tend to be the sticking point for understanding algebra. It's peppered with lots of "You can do it!" and "You're doing great!" types of things.

I just looked at the "Look Inside" on Amazon for "Math Doesn't Suck," and the fraction page it gave me starts with "Personally, when I work on fractions, I like to think of pizza. But then, I really like pizza. (C'mon, who doesn't like pizza?)" But then that's followed by a pretty clear explanation, using the pizza to illustrate it.

Danica McKellar -- Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years, who later got a doctorate in math -- published a few books explaining middle school math specifically for girls. One of them is called "Math Doesn't Suck,"

I heard her interviewed on Science Friday about her books a couple of years back. They sound great.

Just ran through the Lattice Multiplication video. This is a completely new approach to me. When did this show up?

My brain keeps going "You know how to multiply! You are perfectly capable of carrying numbers." But I keep reminding myself that I need to scout out the floor of this stuff and remember where all the trip hazards are before I get adventurous and start climbing. If I hadn't skimmed over this stuff 40 years ago, I wouldn't be having to do it again now.

And it's appalling how often I'm using my fingers on basic addition. Though considering how rarely I actually have to do basic addition in my head, I shouldn't be too hard on myself.

On the heels of the academic discussion, I just had the following conversation with a student:

Student: Ms. M. You're a really lucky teacher.

Me: Why?

S: You don't have to teach anything.

Me: What? You think I don't teach anything?

S: You don't.

Me: Really? You don't learn ANYTHING in here?

S: Well, yeah. But it's fun stuff. So it doesn't count.

Dear me. I don't know if I should be offended or sad that he thinks learning can't be fun.

I am on jury duty. The jackson dr trial is here as is occupy la. Its a zoo outside. Essays? Ive written two collections and i have no idea how they are supposed to be structured. Start at beginning finish at end. Middle is a lot of bullshit.

My sister comes up against so many students that don't want to learn. As a university student, would you ever tell your teacher you didn't like reading? An anthropology teacher?

She wouldn't let me mark in red pen, because she says they find it dispiriting. Is that common practice?

Also, why the fuck shouldn't they be dispirited? They were wrong.

Okay, perhaps it's possible I shouldn't take the lead in anyone's education.

Green is easier to read. They made me rewrite my juror survey. Because it was in green. I filled it out online days ago. If you make me fill out redundant paperwork i get to choose the ink i think.

Omg so bored. So bored.

Just ran through the Lattice Multiplication video. This is a completely new approach to me. When did this show up?

About 10-15 years ago, I think. I hate it -- it's the sort of thing that would be interesting to teach as an extra thing to kids who already know multiplication, but most of the teachers teaching it don't actually understand it well enough to explain correctly why it works, and so they just teach it as a series of steps to follow, which leads to all sorts of problems down the road.