Teacher not giving class any work at high school

[Anonymous]

My 9th grader is taking an elective at high school. Unfortunately, the teacher seems to have no idea what the class is about and there appears to be no syllabus. DS has contacted his counsellor about the class but has had no response. I've spoken to the teacher directly, and he informed me that they will be doing some "nice things" with some "nice computer packages". Would it be appropriate to contact the principal? In my country, the schooling is left up to the teachers and the parents don't get involved, so I've no idea what I should or shouldn't do.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader is taking an elective at high school. Unfortunately, the teacher seems to have no idea what the class is about and there appears to be no syllabus. DS has contacted his counsellor about the class but has had no response. I've spoken to the teacher directly, and he informed me that they will be doing some "nice things" with some "nice computer packages". Would it be appropriate to contact the principal? In my country, the schooling is left up to the teachers and the parents don't get involved, so I've no idea what I should or shouldn't do.

Thank you.

Troll.

[Anonymous]

If it’s true, name the school and elective. My kid is always looking for easy electives that don’t require work. Many kids want classes like this.

[Anonymous]

Is the teacher new? They could’ve been a last minute hire and are trying to quickly learn the curriculum and what to do but focusing on establishing rules and stuff while they work on that? I know that would stink but I’d be patient for a few weeks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader is taking an elective at high school. Unfortunately, the teacher seems to have no idea what the class is about and there appears to be no syllabus. DS has contacted his counsellor about the class but has had no response. I've spoken to the teacher directly, and he informed me that they will be doing some "nice things" with some "nice computer packages". Would it be appropriate to contact the principal? In my country, the schooling is left up to the teachers and the parents don't get involved, so I've no idea what I should or shouldn't do.

Thank you.

Troll.

Yep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the teacher new? They could’ve been a last minute hire and are trying to quickly learn the curriculum and what to do but focusing on establishing rules and stuff while they work on that? I know that would stink but I’d be patient for a few weeks!

This was my thought, too. Our school had several last-minute hires. Other staff members were pulled from offices to teach classes right before school started, too. There are plenty of schools just trying to get adults in rooms right now. Making sure those adults have access to curriculum comes next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader is taking an elective at high school. Unfortunately, the teacher seems to have no idea what the class is about and there appears to be no syllabus. DS has contacted his counsellor about the class but has had no response. I've spoken to the teacher directly, and he informed me that they will be doing some "nice things" with some "nice computer packages". Would it be appropriate to contact the principal? In my country, the schooling is left up to the teachers and the parents don't get involved, so I've no idea what I should or shouldn't do.

Thank you.

Troll.

Yep

I'm not a troll. The class is STEM Design at Langley. Most of the class is spent doing nothing. My kid wants to learn something.

So, anyone have a good answer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the teacher new? They could’ve been a last minute hire and are trying to quickly learn the curriculum and what to do but focusing on establishing rules and stuff while they work on that? I know that would stink but I’d be patient for a few weeks!

Thank you. My son just said that the teacher is still waiting for a computer. He's just disappointed because he thought he'd be doing something interesting in the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader is taking an elective at high school. Unfortunately, the teacher seems to have no idea what the class is about and there appears to be no syllabus. DS has contacted his counsellor about the class but has had no response. I've spoken to the teacher directly, and he informed me that they will be doing some "nice things" with some "nice computer packages". Would it be appropriate to contact the principal? In my country, the schooling is left up to the teachers and the parents don't get involved, so I've no idea what I should or shouldn't do.

Thank you.

Troll.

Yep

I'm not a troll. The class is STEM Design at Langley. Most of the class is spent doing nothing. My kid wants to learn something.

So, anyone have a good answer?

I suggest waiting. The school year is just getting started.

You can always reach out to the counselor yourself if that makes you feel better, but I’m guessing they are busy worrying about core classes right now.

[Anonymous]

Request a schedule change. The STEM electives sound good in theory and have impressive-looking classrooms, but there's little to nothing being taught. Anyone with a grade less than 100.0% had to really f--- up to earn it.

PP with the lazy kid - I promise they will thrive in any STEM elective.

-HS teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Request a schedule change. The STEM electives sound good in theory and have impressive-looking classrooms, but there's little to nothing being taught. Anyone with a grade less than 100.0% had to really f--- up to earn it.

PP with the lazy kid - I promise they will thrive in any STEM elective.

-HS teacher

I'm curious why that is? Are those teachers not interested in STEM themself? Like were placed told they have to teach that but don't even know where to start?

I'm the PP who suggested waiting a bit. I have a friend who just started teaching and she doesn't want to burn out so she did not even start really looking at curriculum resources until her third week. She's been getting to know the kids and has them do work but it's not exactly covering the standards yet. She's first year and has to look at those.

At most schools, it is true that you really get "thrown to the wolves." I am not surprised that teacher is waiting for a computer and I wouldn't be shocked if no one reviewed how to even access the standards or anything like that yet.

If you're really concerned, you could try to tell an admin you understand the teacher is new and you heard they are great, but you worry they have not been provided with all the tools they need to really dive in yet! That way you aren't attacking the teacher and you're trying to be understanding. In cases like this I blame admin because they need to know a new teacher in a new school or position is going to need some assistance getting started, but you'd be surprised how little they tell you. They kind of just throw you in. And as an elective it's possible they don't have a mentor or team to plan with. Just be sure admin knows you aren't laying any blame on the teacher as you don't want them coming down hard on the teacher and scaring them off! The blame is on the admin 100%. I know people who were screamed at for not doing attendance but they were never given a computer log in, never mind shown how to use the attendance system where they just started teaching...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader is taking an elective at high school. Unfortunately, the teacher seems to have no idea what the class is about and there appears to be no syllabus. DS has contacted his counsellor about the class but has had no response. I've spoken to the teacher directly, and he informed me that they will be doing some "nice things" with some "nice computer packages". Would it be appropriate to contact the principal? In my country, the schooling is left up to the teachers and the parents don't get involved, so I've no idea what I should or shouldn't do.

Thank you.

Troll.

Yep

I'm not a troll. The class is STEM Design at Langley. Most of the class is spent doing nothing. My kid wants to learn something.

So, anyone have a good answer?

Sorry your kid is unhappy with his easy elective. Communicating with the counselor iw your best bet, but you might have to be persistent. Try and stay polite, though, as you don’t want to burn bridges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Request a schedule change. The STEM electives sound good in theory and have impressive-looking classrooms, but there's little to nothing being taught. Anyone with a grade less than 100.0% had to really f--- up to earn it.

PP with the lazy kid - I promise they will thrive in any STEM elective.

-HS teacher

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader is taking an elective at high school. Unfortunately, the teacher seems to have no idea what the class is about and there appears to be no syllabus. DS has contacted his counsellor about the class but has had no response. I've spoken to the teacher directly, and he informed me that they will be doing some "nice things" with some "nice computer packages". Would it be appropriate to contact the principal? In my country, the schooling is left up to the teachers and the parents don't get involved, so I've no idea what I should or shouldn't do.

Thank you.

Troll.

Yep

I'm not a troll. The class is STEM Design at Langley. Most of the class is spent doing nothing. My kid wants to learn something.

So, anyone have a good answer?

I think that this is a new hire? I remember seeing STEM design teacher being one of the vacant positions.

The 9th grade class at Langley is huge this year. There are kids from all over the county that did not get into TJ that transferred in. FCPS needs to step up and either 1) increase the academy offerings to expand coursework or 2) add targeted resources to help the influx of students or 3) make the TJ sophomore application process easier.

[Anonymous]

We had a similar experience in a Marshall STEM design class. I'm not sure FCPS has teachers qualified to teach this type of curriculum.