I’m sure many people have been in this kind of situation before and I’m wondering what the best course of action is.
A teacher at my school is EXTREMELY intelligent and understands physics very well. He knows the material, but cannot convey it simplistically. Often times there is confusion about due dates and when quizzes/tests are.
You can use online tutoring or other study guides to help you figure out concepts. For due dates and quiz dates, ask for clarification often, double check assignment page on website, etc to make sure you are up to date on when things are supposed to happen.
After class or school go in and ask him to explain it in a different way. My bio teacher was also one of the most intelligent people I’ve met, yet could easily simplify the lessons so everyone could understand. If he doesn’t help when he simplifies it, find another teacher to talk to after school with questions.
Just ask. Don’t be afraid of looking stupid when you ask a question because chances are everyone else is as lost as you are. There were always kids in my math class that acted smarter than the rest, rushed to turn in their tests first and never bothered to raise their hands to ask a question. They were usually the ones who flunked the tests. I learned early on to ask questions. This has only made school a better experience for me.
@thestudent3467 , I have to commend you for the very respectful way you phrased your post.
For starters, see whether his website is clear on test dates. Or whether teachers in the same department tend to test on the same days.
Plan B: always assume there will be a pop quiz. Your teacher may not see it that way, confident that you were warned. But if you feel he’s unclear, then assume you’ll be getting a quiz.
And to be honest, if one teacher in the department is unclear, you can always go to another teacher for extra help. I’m constantly giving extra help to kids I don’t know; it’s absolutely no issue. And I’ve told my own students that if my explanations aren’t making sense to them, they can be free to go to someone else. It’s not like I’m going to get my feelings hurt or anything.