What is Your Bete Noire?
Bete noire wasn't on my official vocabulary list this week, but it is a word I have to learn. Keep reading, if you want to learn why! We were driving back from piano lessons yesterday, and my mother used "bete noire" in a sentence. She paused. My brother and I looked at each other and waited. We knew what was coming next.
My Mom asked my brother and me if we knew what "bete noire" meant. Hey, I knew it was of French origin! I told her I should get Brownie Points for knowing that! "OK, a half point awarded to Elizabeth," she replied.
Bete noire is pronounced \bet-NWAHR\. It is a noun that means something or someone particularly detested or avoided. Have you ever heard of it? If not, you just learned a new vocabulary word. Who says blogs aren't educational?
My bete noire has been mathematics. I always dreaded math time. Lately, it hasn't been too bad. Sometimes I even enjoy it. (Ok, Mom. Don't faint or anything.) We use Math-U-See now, and that definitely has something to do with it.
Math-U-See is a homeschool math program that uses nifty manipulatives and DVDs. Steve Demme is the creator and teacher of Math-U-See. Mr. Demme's photo is on the Math-U-See website. He makes learning math fun, though I suppose there are some math teachers in the world who might be thinking that "math fun" is an oxymoron. (You have to give me TWO Brownie Points, Mom, for finding a way to use this one. Oxymoron consists of two words that seem to contradict each other, or actually do contradict each other. An example would be a "wise fool.")
I have been working harder on math for a number of reasons. One, it was part of the deal to get Sailor. Two, I want to take some correspondence horse equine classes. I already have them picked out! But I can't start something new until I finish the budget for Sailor, get the fencing and barn put up, and finish another Math-U-See level. (I did get the grass planted!) Three, there is more math than I imagined involved in equine science. My mother reminds me that I don't have to be Einstein in math, just competent. Sounds doable.
What is your bete noire?
My Mom asked my brother and me if we knew what "bete noire" meant. Hey, I knew it was of French origin! I told her I should get Brownie Points for knowing that! "OK, a half point awarded to Elizabeth," she replied.
Bete noire is pronounced \bet-NWAHR\. It is a noun that means something or someone particularly detested or avoided. Have you ever heard of it? If not, you just learned a new vocabulary word. Who says blogs aren't educational?
My bete noire has been mathematics. I always dreaded math time. Lately, it hasn't been too bad. Sometimes I even enjoy it. (Ok, Mom. Don't faint or anything.) We use Math-U-See now, and that definitely has something to do with it.
Math-U-See is a homeschool math program that uses nifty manipulatives and DVDs. Steve Demme is the creator and teacher of Math-U-See. Mr. Demme's photo is on the Math-U-See website. He makes learning math fun, though I suppose there are some math teachers in the world who might be thinking that "math fun" is an oxymoron. (You have to give me TWO Brownie Points, Mom, for finding a way to use this one. Oxymoron consists of two words that seem to contradict each other, or actually do contradict each other. An example would be a "wise fool.")
I have been working harder on math for a number of reasons. One, it was part of the deal to get Sailor. Two, I want to take some correspondence horse equine classes. I already have them picked out! But I can't start something new until I finish the budget for Sailor, get the fencing and barn put up, and finish another Math-U-See level. (I did get the grass planted!) Three, there is more math than I imagined involved in equine science. My mother reminds me that I don't have to be Einstein in math, just competent. Sounds doable.
What is your bete noire?
posted by Elizabeth | 7:41 AM
2 Comments:
Elizabeth,
I am glad to know you take your vocabulary lessons seriously! You'll be glad you have an extensive vocabulary when you have to take the SAT in a few years!
I am very proud of how hard you have been working on your math (and your writing!) You are becoming competent in both subjects!
My bete noir is dealing with the pile of papers on my desk in a timely manner. I am working on it!
Love you lots,
Mom
Liz,
I admire your recent devotion to 'math', but feel it is important to point out the difference between arithmetic and what I see as math.
Arithmetic is basic skills such as adding, subtracting, algebra, etc.
Math is mathematics which is the domain of some of the most brillaint people on this earth. It is an attempt to explain things that you see (or don't in many cases) in mathematical terms. It may surprise you to learn that the equation to describe (this is a loose interpretation) the shape of a bagle was only completed in the last two years.
So the ability to add 2 and 2 is vitally important in one's life, math is a differnt thing. I had an infinite series teaching fellow in my college math course who would arrive at class absolutely exhausted because he was consumed thinking about a 'math' problem that had occurred to him - for example - why is 2 and 2 always 4. He was a great teacher as it turns out.
Math and arithmetic are totally different IMO. That doesn't mean one should forget about learning their squares though.
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