Personally, I think that Algebra II & Trig, particularly Common Core, is right up there with the most difficult courses in high school for most kids. There’s a LOT of material, much of which you’re supposed to remember from 2 years prior (with very little review of it in the Geometry year in between.) And everything that anyone wants you to learn in high school that doesn’t belong somewhere else is shoved into that course. As a result, it HAS to be taught quickly if you have any hope of finishing the course. (And that’s without the prospect of a winter like last year’s-- the type of winter that has been forecast for some parts of the country this year. Losing 6 snow days in a course like Algebra II & Trig is a HUGE problem. You and I both know that not everyone shows up when snow day makeups are added onto the calendar.)
So I can absolutely understand your issues, particularly if you have a teacher you don’t think is strong.
I’ll disagree with the previous poster-- it doesn’t matter to me whether others are having similar troubles. I’m going to take your post at face value and assume that you really are trying, and simply having difficulty in a difficult course. And complaining that a teacher is difficult won’t accomplish anything… you’ve admitted that the work that is causing you trouble is work that technically you’re supposed to know. (Realistically, I know how difficult it is to remember. But she’s going to have a good argument, on paper at least, for holding you accountable for knowing it.)
So let me throw some ideas out there.
First and foremost, drop down to regular from honors if you want, but TAKE Algebra II & Trig. You’ll need it (both as a pre-req and in terms of being familiar with the actual material) for just about any other math course, and several science courses, you’ll need to take. NOT taking it will severely limit your options down the road.
You mention changing to regular math. Speak to kids in that course-- what do they say about the teachers who teach it this year? I realize that no 2 kids perceive the same teacher in the same way, but is the same teacher you currently have also teaching regular? If so, then dropping down might leave you with the exact same issues, but without the “honors” tag on your transcript. Is there even a course offered the same period with seats to spare? If not, then dropping down might mean changing your whole schedule, possibly even sacrificing some courses you want to take. I’m not trying to talk you out of it, simply cautioning you to consider the options before putting in the request.
Whichever version of the course you take, spend some time at www.regentsprep.org . It’s a site run by the city school system of Oswego NY, to prepare kids for NY’s Regents exam. Spend some time this weekend on the Algebra I tab. Review factoring until you can do it in your sleep-- the odds are pretty good that it’s what’s causing you grief this year. Then take a look at rational expressions (Not sure whether it’s in Algebra I or II or both) – that uses factoring and is probably one of the more difficult chapters you’ll cover this year. Make sure you can solve a linear equation, a quadratic equation, and a system of linear equations.
The suggestion of forming a study group with some friends is a good one. (Make sure it doesn’t become a gripe session.) But one of the best ways to really internalize material is to explain it to someone else. And you can certainly have a mix of honors/non honors kids working together. Different teachers give different notes-- you can share the wealth and the mix of explanations.
My daughter is taking the same course-- non-honors-- this year. We’re going to spend some quality time this weekend on factoring.
If you have particular issues, I’ll be happy to help. Let me know.