<p>I'm actually supposed to be in Pre-Calculus right now but I did online school during my freshman year and did badly in Geometry (you had to print out assignments and scan them when they were completed). I had to retake it during my sophomore year. I'm a junior and currently in Algebra 2. I'm one of those people who does really well with certain teachers and really badly with other ones. My Algebra 2 teacher's teaching style isn't for me but I currently have a 98% in his class, as I rely on other people for help. I had Algebra 1 Honors when I was in 8th grade and I had 90% A. I thought it was a bit hard but not overwhelmingly so. I undersood stuff for the most part. Sometimes I had trouble with substitution and elimination (and I still do) but I did REALLY well with graphing. </p>
<p>For some reason, I want to take AP Calculus my senior year. I started really well so I want to end well. What do you think? Would I be able to handle it? </p>
Oh wow, I come off so arrogant in this thread. I need to mention other things too. I got an 86 for the first quarter of Algebra 2 as I failed an Algebra 1 review test. I also haven’t been in an Algebra class in 3 years so I’ve forgotten some stuff. Would it better to take it slow?
In my humble opinion, Precalc could easily be called “Algebra 3.” it’s a LOT of Algebra!! If that’s a subject where you’ve struggled in the past
, I would be very hesitant about taking it online over the summer. You say you struggled in a geometry course where the assignments had to be printed up and scanned, so it seems to me that perhaps this system doesn’t mesh well with your personal learning style. And this would be a class where there’s no face to face learning-- it would ALL be online.
Would your school support the idea? I can tell you with absolute certainty that the school where I teach would NOT accept the credits.
It sounds to me as though your issue is with basic algebra-- I’m covering substitution and elimination this week with my freshman Algebra I classes. Those basics are going to come into play in Calc-- they’ll be the middle part of a problem that the teacher is going to expect you to handle without an issue.
I can’t tell you whether you’ll be able to handle it or not. Why not make an appointment with your guidance counselor Monday morning?? He or she will know your academic record, what’s acceptable in your school, and will be better able to advise you as to the best option.
But if I were your mom, I would urge you to look at other options.
I feel like I struggle with really basic algebra but I do really well with more advanced slgebra. Does that make any sense? Yeah, that’s why I’m wondering whether it’d be a good idea considering I’ve had bad experiences with an online math class before. I do SO much better face-to-face with math. I’m the kind of student who constantly relies on her teacher for help since I tend to confuse myself when I’m on my own lol. I need people to set me up a certain way and then I do really well. That’s why I don’t do well with my own Algebra 2 teacher but do well with other people.
I live in Florida so we have FLVS.
Definitely, though I usually know how to set things up so on tests, I plugged answers in all the time. My current teacher doesn’t give out multiple-choice tests so I ended up getting a 55% on my first test in his class. I’ve gotten 100s on tests and quizzes ever since we started learning Algebra 2. It’s so odd. Yeah, and I really do want a solid foundation in math first before I tackle algebra.
My guidance counselor is somewhat obsessed with standardized tests since most people don’t do well on them at my school so I’m afraid she’ll say that it’s best that I take Pre-Calculus without really looking at my situation.
I think I’m just going to take Pre-Calculus next year. Honestly, looking back at my high school career, I wish I would’ve continued going to public school and been on the track to take Algebra as a freshman instead of as an 8th grader. I feel like I would’ve learned much more at a slower pace.
It sounds to me as though you’re a great test taker-- you’re good at Guess and Check and can do it within the time it takes to get through a test.
And it sounds to me as though you’re getting a real handle on your own personal learning style… that’s HUGE!
Take PreCalc next year. Life is not a race; there’s no prize for taking the most courses as quickly as you can. Life is a journey… enjoy it. Take PreCalc in a classroom with a teacher, where the teaching style meshes well with your learning style.
And, for what it’s worth in math this year: the internet is a fabulous place for help. Take a look at teachertube the next time your teacher leaves you confused on a topic. Or, probably better yet, simply go to another teacher in the math department for help. I suggest it to my students all the time- if my explanation doesn’t make sense, PLEASE try someone else at school. My aim is to get my student to understand the material. So if I give extra help to kids I don’t know, and my own students get extra help from someone else, who cares? The point is to get everyone to understand.
Yeah, I relied on that throughout Algebra 1. Though I was also VERY slow whenever I took tests. I’m still really slow right now in Algebra 2. I feel like I took an average amount of time on tests/quizzes in Geometry though and that I’m much more of a Geometry person than an Algebra one.
I will. I actually want to understand things. I don’t want to rush through everything and end up doing badly.
Hmm maybe I will. I’ve been going to teachers all the time but I think they get annoyed and wonder why I don’t ask my own teacher for help. And my own teacher doesn’t seem to like it much either. I might just try to rely on one teacher but I don’t really know any math teachers well enough.
I can’t tell you how often a kid shows up at my door after school and says “I heard you’re a math teacher and you give extra help.” (There are 2500 kids in my school, so it’s not like each kid knows who all the teachers are.)
I can imagine getting annoyed over a kid going to another teacher for help.
Yeah, and sometimes I feel bad about it but I really can’t help it. His teaching style just isn’t for me. Even when I do try and take notes and pay attention in class, I don’t get stuff. I learn things much faster and easier with other people (teachers and a few other students).
I had this same issue, my math credits got messed up, had a crappy teacher, had to retake Alg I and Geo, etc. If you get an A or B, possibly a high C I would say go for the pre-calc if you’re comfortable. You can honestly do anything if you put your mind to it. However, I would make sure you have an in person math tutor you could go to over the summer if you need help, like a teacher. I strongly recommend that. Also Barnes and Noble has some good study books you could use too.