<p>Columbia4life, my daughter is in the exact same boat as you. She is in 9th grade, got her first F in life(test) in Honors Geometry. Her teacher is new to this school(high achieving school district), who came from a low achieving school district, told all parents(at back to school night), she expected these smart kids to teach themselves. I don't know if the fact that she is in her first tri-semester has anything to do with it, but it was unbelievable. D is not strong in math, but she score very well in California STAR exam(499/500)last year, well above the 99 percentile, so I really think there is a problem with teaching. Proofs in Geometry is very difficult and it needs to be explained well. I hired a tutor,got all the geometry books I could find online, and I also personally tutor her over the Christmas break.She is now able to gain some confidence in her ability to think through a difficult geometry problem and has said to have no problem with recent test(will just have to wait and see what grade she'll get). I think she will get a B at end of the semester in this class, but that is alright, it's actually a blessing in disguise(lol), she will never ever going to study for 10 minutes and expect to get an A again in any subject.</p>
<p>Well columbia4life, i understand what you are going through. Math is also not my subject. The only thing that i can say to you is that you should just take it as a lesson learned. Your teacher will always be your teacher and he is not going to change because you want him to. Life doesn't go like that. Do you that there are other kids in your class also, so you are not the only one going through this situation. Just BREATHE and everything will be all right.</p>
<p>Math is objective, not subjective. Don't blame anything on your teacher. You can teach yourself the material because the book should say everything the teacher does (or doesn't) say. Stop whining.</p>
<p>mesaboogie, I disagree with your comment "Don't blame anything on your teacher". Teacher is supposed to teach not just test. Some teachers pass out worsksheet, don't often follow the textbook,give hard test and don't return test papers, so there is no clue as to what's not understood. If you don't understand this subject and you need more time however you have other classes(tons of homework) you have to keep up with, it can be difficult and challenging.</p>
<p>We all have our different point of views, but when it comes down to it it's all on you.</p>
<p>You think at Columbia your professors are going to hold your hand through Linear Algebra and Knot Theory?</p>
<p>I'm def. with mesa on this topic in sentiment, if not in tone. I understand that it's rough to not get the grades you may think you "deserve" in math, but it's really just a matter of knowing how to do it. Math isn't my best subject either, but I make a point of understanding the concepts before I take tests in my AP Calc class. If I don't "get" something the first time, I take a deep breath, do something else, and come back to it later until I thoroughly understand it. I don't know about the original poster of this thread, but following posts have referred to advanced math classes, and in honors or AP math courses the teacher really does have every right to expect you to do a lot more on your own to achieve some level of mastery. These are supposed to be college preparatory courses, and as mesa says, there will be no one there in college to give you guided notes and special consideration and the grades you think you ought to get. I don't buy the "i'm not a math person" excuse either; it's intellectual laziness. There is no topic covered in high school that is so incredibly specialized or difficult that the average student can't master it with some effort.</p>