Hi everyone,
I am doubling up my math and taking honors geometry and honors algebra 2. Geometry is going great, but unfortunately, in algebra 2 not so well.
I did really well in algebra 1 and had a 97 year average with almost no studying at all. I felt like I really understood the subject. However, in algebra 2, I am struggling because my math teacher just can’t teach. To make a long story short, he didn’t get his undergraduate in anything related to teaching or teaching math. Anyway, he doesn’t do group lessons at all, and will only go over one question with like no explanation (when clearly it needs more). He gives us packets and just goes around asking if you need help. When you do, he doesn’t explain anything very well (he’s really smart but can’t explain step by step procedures).
Even the homework he gives us is not related to what we are actually learning. He forgot to post the answer key to our review questions to the test review, so I couldn’t tell if I was doing anything right. When I actually took the test test I felt like I didn’t know 45% of it.
Help! I’ve never had this much of a struggle with math. I’ve always been naturally good at it but we just aren’t being taught information! I don’t have enough time outside of school to self study it. (As I am taking other honors courses and having to work around medical stuff.)
Everyone who has him as a teacher is struggling. Should I confront him about it?
Are you really planning on confronting your teacher with your accusation that he can’t teach?
Then what will happen?
Instead, perhaps you can tell him that you are concerned about your grades so far and ask for advice on how to do better. There are always supplemental materials out there that you can use (like Khan Academy).
No, that is not what I meant. I mean confront him and ask him if there is any possible way he can try and teach us in a different way. The homework he gives us is on Kahn Academy, actually. But it’s not related to what we’re learning. Like I mentioned before, I don’t have any time to self study algebra 2 because of my other classes and I have medical stuff. @CheddarcheeseMN
Do not confront the teacher. What happens if you get stuck with him for the rest of the year and he is angry at you? I had to transfer one of my sons out of a class after he confronted his teacher and we were lucky there was another class to put him in. He really didn’t get that he could have been stuck in that class with an angry and resentful teacher.
A better option might be to speak to your parents and enlist their assistance in approaching the guidance counselor or the chair of the math department to see if you can be switched to another class.
Another option might be to just drop the class and take it next year with a different teacher.
I think everyone is misunderstanding me here. I am not going to be disrespectful, I am just going to be straightforwardly tell him that a lot of people are struggling and that he should see if there is any way he can possibly change how he structures his class. I meant it as sort of an idea exchange. I wasn’t going to tell him off. And yes, he teachers two higher level math classes, and people are struggling in all of them. His is a new teacher.
Also, there are mutiple meanings to the word ‘confront’. The meaning I meant was ‘to speak about something in a honest or direct way’ not to ‘question the authority of someone’. I think you guys are getting the wrong idea.
Also, are you trying to say that he might take it the wrong way no matter what? Or that’s there’s no natural nice way to talk about it? Most of the time teachers appreciate ideas to help make the class overall better (at least in my experience.)
In school, the first thing you should do is talk to the teacher. It may not work, but if you escalate then you can say you did. You could tell him that “I, and many of my friends, are struggling in this class. Is it possible that you could over more example before you give us the packets to do?”
Then also talk to the Department head (or have your parents do it). Tell them that you are a strong student in math but are struggling in Alg 2. Don’t talk about how he isn’t trained (the dept head is aware)…just talk facts about how he teaches. Ask if s/he could observe a class.
Go to Khan Academy and watch videos on the topic. Read the chapter.
Go the the teacher’s office hours and have them go through some of the problems with you. See if they can.
Form study groups and teach each other. Get a tutor.
As a parent, I have had my children complain about a class. When they are complaining that they are not being taught (as opposed to too much work or something) I take action. I had a case where my daughter as a beginner German student was lumped in with the Intermediates. She would be given a simple worksheet, complete it in 5 minutes and hten have nothing to do. We brought it up with the principal and soon there was a new teacher for the beginners.