Turning things around (when one class is a diaster)

[Anonymous]

8th grader is BOMBING his science class this year (50s or below on quizzes). He just got a 504 for dyscalc/dysgraphia/possible ADHD but there are not a ton of accommodations (yet) for science.

He was always a decent science student (and back in preschool/elementary loved it). In previous grades, when he studied effectively could get 85+ on quizzes/tests, almost anytime he did poorly we could easily figure out why. Ended 6th/7th grade with Bs as end of year science grades. Needless to say he his feeling so upset and hard on himself.

This year he has
-a brand new teacher (e.g. '25 grad)
-has not been able to bring home quizzes, before taking the next one (e.g. because of kids who missed didn't take it)
-content feels like a massive step up; also have a 10th grader and the depth of material is pretty close to her honors chem.
-he said that for one quiz the class average was below a 65

Is it safe to say this isn't just on him? I feel like there must be A students freaking out over 88s...but for my kid we need major help or input to turn this ship around, and we haven't gotten there yet.

Maybe this is a vent, but I'm just looking for any ideas to help (even just reassure him we will figure something out)

I've already tried reaching out to the teacher but have yet to see the quizzes. I called his counselor to talk and get input but we haven't connected yet.

[Anonymous]

OP how are your kid's social skills? Can he find out whether his classmates are having a similar experience so he knows he's not alone?

[Anonymous]

His social skills are good, and he has friends in his class. He often doesn’t want to talk about grades as he feels others are smarter. I also do not think they (at least most boys) are at an age of working together/helping friends with HW (DD points this out to as general boy/girl differences)

[Anonymous]

Is he able to self advocate? Can he talk to the teacher about what kind of content he's missing and ask for advice on what he needs to work on? Does the teacher have office hours?

If that's within his grasp, that's where I'd start. I know other parents who would be emailing the teacher immediately, but I try to let my kids handle it first, especially in middle school where I view self advocacy as a more important skill than a lot of the subject matter content, especially for my 2e AuDHD kid.

[Anonymous]

the teacher will mostly raise everyone grade by the end of the marking period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the teacher will mostly raise everyone grade by the end of the marking period.

UM what school are you at? None of my kids teachers have ever done this. (1 2025 grad, one 2027 parent)

[Anonymous]

Based on one test where everyone did poorly, I would t assume the whole class is struggling. It’s a single data point.

If I were you I’d be talking to the school counselor or 504 coordinator to see if they can give you insight and set up a meeting with the teacher. I always found that teachers were willing to help us try to figure out how to get on track. But it was most effective going through the counselor.

[Anonymous]

"Teacher is the class of '25" says it all. When I started teaching, I didn't know my bottom from my elbow. I had no idea how kids should actually perform on my assignments, much less if my assignments were at the right level. Even if this is a good curriculum from a box, your kid's teacher needs a year at the very least to figure out what parts of it to augment so the kids will understand it. Plus, I'm betting that the teacher is figuring out their classroom management skills and is tested and frizzled and fried (this is 8th grade. Every day is 6-7 and 69.)

If it were me (and I'm not saying you should do this, but hear me out)--I'd ask the teacher in a friendly way if I could come in and talk. Say you know your kid's doing badly and you want to come in and see some of the materials so you can help explain it to them better. While you're there, say brightly, It's your first year! How are things going? You're so brave! etc etc.--and just see where you can gently influence things like you would with a younger colleague. Like, "Yeah, I heard that all the kids got a 65 on that quiz. Is it possible for me to see that? Wow, that's a good question.... Is this one that kids did poorly on? I feel like it might be confusing the way it's ...." Etc.

Don't expect to get anywhere per se. Just plant seeds of ideas that you, who knows how kids this age learn, can share with her. Ask if you can check back in a month and see how things are going. And then at home, find some way to appropriately share with your kid that all teachers are new at some point and this is his year for a new teacher and don't take the grades to heart so much. Hope that by December or Feb, she'll have some things sorted out and his grades will improve. If that, plus the 504 stuff, hasn't improved, then you can see if you can talk to the instructional coach or AP at the school. The bummer about science is that, unlike reading and math, they don't always get a special ed teacher in there, so the teacher is on their own for adapting materials and even knowing what kids need. But maybe with your input, this teacher could get some special ed support.

Sorry to write a novel here, but I hope this behind-the-scenes look was somewhat helpful. I feel for your son and you--just know that you're not alone and that everyone gets a new teacher sometimes who is figuring stuff out.

[Anonymous]

It’s 8th grade so grades don’t count. Just be positive and stop worrying so much. The teacher is going to figure out the quizzes need to be easier. Just keep staying positive and encouraging and helping your son study.

[Anonymous]

I am just here to say that science teachers have been the weirdest teachers my NT had, for years! It started in 4th grade, he is now in 10th and it’s the first time he has a decent chem teacher! It was really bad, like a whole variety of bad teachers I swear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Teacher is the class of '25" says it all. When I started teaching, I didn't know my bottom from my elbow. I had no idea how kids should actually perform on my assignments, much less if my assignments were at the right level. Even if this is a good curriculum from a box, your kid's teacher needs a year at the very least to figure out what parts of it to augment so the kids will understand it. Plus, I'm betting that the teacher is figuring out their classroom management skills and is tested and frizzled and fried (this is 8th grade. Every day is 6-7 and 69.)

If it were me (and I'm not saying you should do this, but hear me out)--I'd ask the teacher in a friendly way if I could come in and talk. Say you know your kid's doing badly and you want to come in and see some of the materials so you can help explain it to them better. While you're there, say brightly, It's your first year! How are things going? You're so brave! etc etc.--and just see where you can gently influence things like you would with a younger colleague. Like, "Yeah, I heard that all the kids got a 65 on that quiz. Is it possible for me to see that? Wow, that's a good question.... Is this one that kids did poorly on? I feel like it might be confusing the way it's ...." Etc.

Don't expect to get anywhere per se. Just plant seeds of ideas that you, who knows how kids this age learn, can share with her. Ask if you can check back in a month and see how things are going. And then at home, find some way to appropriately share with your kid that all teachers are new at some point and this is his year for a new teacher and don't take the grades to heart so much. Hope that by December or Feb, she'll have some things sorted out and his grades will improve. If that, plus the 504 stuff, hasn't improved, then you can see if you can talk to the instructional coach or AP at the school. The bummer about science is that, unlike reading and math, they don't always get a special ed teacher in there, so the teacher is on their own for adapting materials and even knowing what kids need. But maybe with your input, this teacher could get some special ed support.

Sorry to write a novel here, but I hope this behind-the-scenes look was somewhat helpful. I feel for your son and you--just know that you're not alone and that everyone gets a new teacher sometimes who is figuring stuff out.

This is good advice

[Anonymous]

This is good advice, too!:

The teacher is going to figure out the quizzes need to be easier. Just keep staying positive and encouraging and helping your son study.