English or Math?

Question

All of my life I've excelled in English, my teachers have called my writing beyond my age/level, and I loved to read and appreciate the beauty in art and literature. Now I'm in the 8th grade and have quite a mean English teacher, who calls my writing under-par and generally dislikes me, and did not reccomend me for Honors english next yr. I was very angry. I find I don't like to read as much anymore, and because of that I'm not really writing beyond my level anymore. On the other hand, I have a great Math teacher who encourages me. All my life I've been weak in math. This year I'm practically positive I got a perfect score on one of the parts and maybe 1 or 2 wrong on the other parts, and I usually do well in it, altho sometimes I freeze up on tests causing me to get C's or B's. Should I work on my English or Math skills more? This year I'm enjoying math a lot more then English but my talents lie in English. What should I do??

By 'perfect score on one of the parts' etc I mean the State Mathematics Test we just took a few days ago.

Answer 1

I would prefer english for you, but you should work on them both. Level it out or pick what you feel most comfortable with.
They are both equally important subjects.

In order to excel in math you may have to know some english. Some math questions take alot of thought process because the wording could be tricky.

Just go with what you and your parents think, but english sounds like a good choice for you.

The only thing is, math will be easier but colleges will like english and it will help you with your SAT's.

Answer 2

You could try and work on both English and Maths. although this may be really time-consuming but that way you would get to develop in both areas.

If you only want to choose between English or maths, then I would advise you to think about the future and things such as what you want to do as a job. You may find that you need maths and not english so then would spend time on maths.

If you are talented in English, I would try to ignore the fact that you have a mean English teacher and try and get back to the subject like you did before. Try improving further in maths if you can as well. Which ever option you choose try not to hate the other subject too much and let your talent slip either.

Good luck

Answer 3

Math

Answer 4

Who said you can't excel in both? Don't you think it could really make your mean English teacher mad to see you do so well, even though s/he thought you were bad? AND can't you imagine how proud your Math teacher will be knowing that you struggled with math before his/her class, and now, because of his/her class you are doing great?

I say do your best in both, because you have shown competency in both.

Answer 5

Continue to work on both! Trust me- I'm graduating high school this year and to get into the college that you want to, you need to be well balanced in everything you to. To work on one and ignore the other would mean a decrease in standardized test scores, lower grades, and a lack of something you love. Good luck!

Answer 6

Why not both? Just work a little in both subjects ;) And don't take what your English teacher said personally. I'm in the eighth grade, too, and your writing is much better than mine, lol.

Answer 7

I can so relate! It shows how influential teachers can be. That is both good and bad though.

I had great teachers growing up and when I had a "mean" teacher, I didn't enjoy that subject as much, or do as well. Careful what you consider a "mean" teacher though. Is she really after you or is she just a tough grader with high expectations? Is she trying to get more out of you? It can be hard to deal with these teachers but do hang in there. Let them teach you the material and let the unkindness roll off.

What I would say is lean heavy on your past experiences with English. Boost yourself emotionally if your teacher isn't nice to you. But at the same time, try to listen to what she says about how you can improve without being insulted or hurt by her criticism. You may get even better at English trying to meet her high standards.

Re: Honors English, you can talk to your previous teachers and see if they can help you dispute it, you can also include the principal and your guidance counsellor, and if you can talk to the honor's English faculty and see if they will allow you in despite this teacher's opinion that will be great. This is something that if your teacher is holding something against you personally, you don't want to let it affect your future, as in having the right high school transcripts to get into a good college or developing your ability as much as you can.

Another place to go is your special ed department. Talented and gifted classes, including honor's or advanced placement classes offered at your school, fall under special education guidelines because they are providing services that ordinary students don't need. So while a kid with learning disabilities might need remedial help, or a kid with dyslexia might need adaptive methods or equipment, a kid with advanced abilities needs extra stimulation in the classroom, up to and including being in honor's classes. This is every student's right in every public school and many private, charter schools...to get an education that meets their individual needs. It is the special education department that makes it happen when there are special circumstances, regardless of whether you are above and below average abilities, in and out of the regular classroom.

Re: your normal activities, I know it is hard but don't let any teacher make you uninspired to enjoy that subject. IF you always loved creative writing, and reading, KEEP doing it! This is when you need to decide to do it for yourself because of the joy you get from it in your SOUL. Try to let literature and writing be their own reward and not let them remind you of this teacher.

Re: math, I can relate as well. This sounds like a time to soak up your new found ability in math, make the most of having this teacher, and then see if you can look back on your time with this teacher if math ever gets hard again.

If it helps you, I had many of these same experiences. When I was in elementary school, I was not recommended for the talented and gifted after school programming and many of my teachers thought it was absurd. My mom always thought it was because we were poor and my family didn't know the right people...which does happen. Overall though, I loved my elementary and middle school and most all my teachers. I consider myself to have had a very solid education.

In high school, I went in very solid in almost all subjects including math and English...and my performance and enjoyment of the material, like yours, changed some with the teachers.

Here is the funny part, is that at different times, I thought about careers in teaching all through school, including math, English, and science because at those times I loved the material and was good at it...because of my relationships with my teachers. On the other hand, I almost always found social studies very boring...HATED it in school. What did I end up doing? I got a social work degree...sociology, history, psychology, people skills...and everything I ever did with it boils down to teaching! I have worked with educating battered women, homeless people, people with disabilities, people with emotional problems, and I have been a nanny with all ages of children. No math or English or science jobs, no classroom jobs. But I work them all into my job by teaching how these things matter in every day life and relationships. I also fell in love with history on a personal level...to help me understand current events, music, civil rights, and my own religion.

I don't know if that reassures you at all but for the most part, I am a really well rounded and happy adult, and I was in your shoes as a kid. Your experiences now are the soil...complete with poop and worms...that will allow you to bloom later. You just have to get through high school. ugh.

Answer 8

you should focus on your two subjects..not that you are doing great in one you focus to that..you are studying so you should focus..coz you need to maintain your grades as higher as you can..its very difficult to get a high grades for others..maybe you are just upset to your English teacher because she dislike you..maybe because she's insecure to you..^_^ coz you are great English student..just focus to your studies..not just one subject..

Answer 9

It dependeds on what job you want , if it's engineering, go for math, if it's writing, go read some more, I hope you find your way! -CIFI10-

Answer 10

Math, thats what gets the bitches1 :)