Honors Algebra Struggles 2022/23

[Anonymous]

My 10th grader very nearly failed Honors Algebra 2 first semester, and will be dropping down to on-level for second semester. It's been a shock to student and to us - has otherwise As in honors level/AP classes. Student was told by counselor that as many as 1/3 of the Hon. Algebra 2 students were at C grade or lower and would drop down to on-level and/or try and retake in summer school to undo GPA damage (which the counselor said colleges will both see and frown upon). We were too late in getting a tutor - thought student would be able to turn things around given past history. Looking to see if we are alone in this experience or maybe isolated to this HS or teacher. If it is true that so many kids are in this boat, what is MCPS doing about it?

[Anonymous]

You're not alone. The math scores for MCPS are in the gutter and many kids are struggling to catch up or be on-level.

I'm curious about the part about colleges seeing your son's retake attempts and frowning. I thought if you retake the class for original credit, then they would only see the replacement grade on the transcript not the original failing grade?

[Anonymous]

As for what MCPS is "doing about it," they're throwing virtual tutors from a third-party company at the problem. Even though only 15% of kids are using it.

It's engendering much confidence in my books that MCPS is serious about closing the learning loss gap from the pandemic at all. But when you press them, they insist that "tutoring isn't all we're doing."

[Anonymous]

I posted before about my child's struggles with a particular teacher's very rigorous AP Calc BC course. After straight As in math every year, and indeed in every course he's ever taken, including all his AP courses, he has a C in that course.

In our situation it's quite clearly the teacher, but his school can't do anything about it since there are teacher shortages, they can't hire anyone else, and can't persuade the teacher to change - they've tried.

I'm sorry this is happening, OP. Since your child had Honors Geometry last year, do you suspect that Algebra I instruction was lacking two years ago, during the pandemic? It might not be entirely the current teacher's responsibility in your case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for what MCPS is "doing about it," they're throwing virtual tutors from a third-party company at the problem. Even though only 15% of kids are using it.

It's not engendering much confidence in my books that MCPS is serious about closing the learning loss gap from the pandemic at all. But when you press them, they insist that "tutoring isn't all we're doing."

*correction

[Anonymous]

The current teaching including no textbooks, lack of repetition in terms of classwork/homework doesn't work for a lot of kids. You aren't too late to get a tutor. We have a really good one through Tutor Me - some aren't great but you can always ask to change. Get a tutor 2-3-4 days a week for an hour or so and help them catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for what MCPS is "doing about it," they're throwing virtual tutors from a third-party company at the problem. Even though only 15% of kids are using it.

It's engendering much confidence in my books that MCPS is serious about closing the learning loss gap from the pandemic at all. But when you press them, they insist that "tutoring isn't all we're doing."

Our virtual tutors have been a huge lifesaver and we are really appreciative of them. This has nothing to do with the learning loss gap. It has to do with the teaching style and curriculum and it isn't working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for what MCPS is "doing about it," they're throwing virtual tutors from a third-party company at the problem. Even though only 15% of kids are using it.

It's engendering much confidence in my books that MCPS is serious about closing the learning loss gap from the pandemic at all. But when you press them, they insist that "tutoring isn't all we're doing."

Our virtual tutors have been a huge lifesaver and we are really appreciative of them. This has nothing to do with the learning loss gap. It has to do with the teaching style and curriculum and it isn't working.

Kids who are struggling with Algebra 2, which builds on foundations in pre-algebra and algebra, which many were half-awake for on Zoom during the pandemic, has nothing to do with why kids are struggling with math material today? That's what you're sticking to?

I agree with you that the lack of homework and a textbook is an issue too, but it can be a BOTH/AND situation and not an EITHER/OR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted before about my child's struggles with a particular teacher's very rigorous AP Calc BC course. After straight As in math every year, and indeed in every course he's ever taken, including all his AP courses, he has a C in that course.

In our situation it's quite clearly the teacher, but his school can't do anything about it since there are teacher shortages, they can't hire anyone else, and can't persuade the teacher to change - they've tried.

I'm sorry this is happening, OP. Since your child had Honors Geometry last year, do you suspect that Algebra I instruction was lacking two years ago, during the pandemic? It might not be entirely the current teacher's responsibility in your case.

I'm curious about the school. My kid is in BC at WCHS and claims that the other teacher has much higher grades. I'm not sure which is the 'better' teacher, but the grades seem quite different. Older sibling didn't have this teacher but said the same thing-- one teacher with much lower grades than the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're not alone. The math scores for MCPS are in the gutter and many kids are struggling to catch up or be on-level.

I'm curious about the part about colleges seeing your son's retake attempts and frowning. I thought if you retake the class for original credit, then they would only see the replacement grade on the transcript not the original failing grade?

I don't have info on this, but it seems like at a minimum colleges would see
a) a change in course -- honors in fall semester and non-honors in spring, and
b) the dates of a course (if made up in summer, the course dates would show summer rather than academic year).

Maybe they see more than that, but even if not, the above would enable them to draw a conclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're not alone. The math scores for MCPS are in the gutter and many kids are struggling to catch up or be on-level.

I'm curious about the part about colleges seeing your son's retake attempts and frowning. I thought if you retake the class for original credit, then they would only see the replacement grade on the transcript not the original failing grade?

I don't have info on this, but it seems like at a minimum colleges would see
a) a change in course -- honors in fall semester and non-honors in spring, and
b) the dates of a course (if made up in summer, the course dates would show summer rather than academic year).

Maybe they see more than that, but even if not, the above would enable them to draw a conclusion.

Got it! Yes, the change in level would definitely be a dead giveaway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted before about my child's struggles with a particular teacher's very rigorous AP Calc BC course. After straight As in math every year, and indeed in every course he's ever taken, including all his AP courses, he has a C in that course.

In our situation it's quite clearly the teacher, but his school can't do anything about it since there are teacher shortages, they can't hire anyone else, and can't persuade the teacher to change - they've tried.

I'm sorry this is happening, OP. Since your child had Honors Geometry last year, do you suspect that Algebra I instruction was lacking two years ago, during the pandemic? It might not be entirely the current teacher's responsibility in your case.

I'm curious about the school. My kid is in BC at WCHS and claims that the other teacher has much higher grades. I'm not sure which is the 'better' teacher, but the grades seem quite different. Older sibling didn't have this teacher but said the same thing-- one teacher with much lower grades than the other.

PP you replied to. No, this is at WJ, and there is only one BC teacher, who has been there for years. I'm sorry this is also happening to your kid.

[Anonymous]

+1 lack of HW. Math is about repetition, and they don't get enough of it. Kids read in all classes, so they don't necessarily need HW for "reading'. But math is a different story. I can *maybe* understand why they don't want to give out HW in early ES, but at this level, math HW is a must.

Very very disappointed in MCPS though I know lack of HW is an issue across a lot of school districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for what MCPS is "doing about it," they're throwing virtual tutors from a third-party company at the problem. Even though only 15% of kids are using it.

It's engendering much confidence in my books that MCPS is serious about closing the learning loss gap from the pandemic at all. But when you press them, they insist that "tutoring isn't all we're doing."

Our virtual tutors have been a huge lifesaver and we are really appreciative of them. This has nothing to do with the learning loss gap. It has to do with the teaching style and curriculum and it isn't working.

Kids who are struggling with Algebra 2, which builds on foundations in pre-algebra and algebra, which many were half-awake for on Zoom during the pandemic, has nothing to do with why kids are struggling with math material today? That's what you're sticking to?

I agree with you that the lack of homework and a textbook is an issue too, but it can be a BOTH/AND situation and not an EITHER/OR.

That's on you if your kids didn't pay attention or you didn't help them. Mine did fine but we helped, got a textbook, and worked through it and we also utilized the free tutoring as soon as it was available. The curriculum and the way it's taught is an issue for my child but they can get through it with no issue with the proper teaching style for them.

Most kids have been back in person for almost two years. Stop blaming covid. What has changed is the teaching style and curriculum and it's not working. What has changed is the lack of homework and other expectations.

Pre-Algebra is no big deal. Algebra is. This child that OP is talking about just isn't strong in math if they are in Algebra 2 in 10th grade as that is the slowest track (and nothing wrong with that track but math isn't their thing). So, OP needs to work with them or get a tutor or use the free tutoring as MCPS isn't going to change for their child or any of our kids so its up to you to make sure your child is successful. MCPS give you the tools now if you need them.

[Anonymous]

Really depend on the kid, older DD never need much help with math(AP Calc BC in 11th with a 5), younger DD have been struggling since algebra 1