Cooper Middle School Math - horrible teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The suggestions that teachers do a little self-advocacy comes from this claim that they suffer from bad teachers too. If thats false than cool, enjoy carrying your colleagues dead weight and stop telling parents not to advocate for their kids

1. As a teacher, you are seldom in another teacher's classroom. You do not necessarily know what other teachers are doing. If you have team meetings, you can get a sense of it. As an elementary teacher, I knew if another teacher's class was rowdy--but that does not mean she is a poor teacher.
2. What, exactly, do you expect a teacher to do?

Do you work?
If so, do you complain about your co-workers to your boss? Do you try to get them fired?

I’ve already answered thus— I am the boss. When people come to me with issues of colleagues not pulling their weight, its my job to solve those problems. Yes sometimes that means I fire a low performer, since low performers create the resentment and toxicity discussed above— that doesn’t mean the person who reported the issue is bad.

Then call the administration. Don't blame the teachers. The teachers are not in the other teacher's classroom.

Teachers and administrators have a role in the solution. If teachers want to work with parents to start holding other teachers accountable, their workplace will benefit. If teachers just want to complain about the mean unfair expectations on them to shoulder the burden of their slacking colleagues without doing anything about it they can expect more of the same.

Oh, yes. That will do wonders for the workplace environment. I don't think you get it: teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. They may not even know if their colleagues are slacking. They may hear things from students--but, that is not the same thing.
And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.

There, I did the easy ones for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The suggestions that teachers do a little self-advocacy comes from this claim that they suffer from bad teachers too. If thats false than cool, enjoy carrying your colleagues dead weight and stop telling parents not to advocate for their kids

1. As a teacher, you are seldom in another teacher's classroom. You do not necessarily know what other teachers are doing. If you have team meetings, you can get a sense of it. As an elementary teacher, I knew if another teacher's class was rowdy--but that does not mean she is a poor teacher.
2. What, exactly, do you expect a teacher to do?

Do you work?
If so, do you complain about your co-workers to your boss? Do you try to get them fired?

I’ve already answered thus— I am the boss. When people come to me with issues of colleagues not pulling their weight, its my job to solve those problems. Yes sometimes that means I fire a low performer, since low performers create the resentment and toxicity discussed above— that doesn’t mean the person who reported the issue is bad.

Then call the administration. Don't blame the teachers. The teachers are not in the other teacher's classroom.

Teachers and administrators have a role in the solution. If teachers want to work with parents to start holding other teachers accountable, their workplace will benefit. If teachers just want to complain about the mean unfair expectations on them to shoulder the burden of their slacking colleagues without doing anything about it they can expect more of the same.

Oh, yes. That will do wonders for the workplace environment. I don't think you get it: teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. They may not even know if their colleagues are slacking. They may hear things from students--but, that is not the same thing.
And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.

There, I did the easy ones for you.

Nice try. That quote actually says some may be shouldering it and admin knows. You literally posted a quote that contradicts your statement.

Own up. Your earlier statement can’t be supported.

[Anonymous]

My kid had a bad math teacher sophomore year at Langley. The kids got by with tutors and Khan academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The suggestions that teachers do a little self-advocacy comes from this claim that they suffer from bad teachers too. If thats false than cool, enjoy carrying your colleagues dead weight and stop telling parents not to advocate for their kids

1. As a teacher, you are seldom in another teacher's classroom. You do not necessarily know what other teachers are doing. If you have team meetings, you can get a sense of it. As an elementary teacher, I knew if another teacher's class was rowdy--but that does not mean she is a poor teacher.
2. What, exactly, do you expect a teacher to do?

Do you work?
If so, do you complain about your co-workers to your boss? Do you try to get them fired?

I’ve already answered thus— I am the boss. When people come to me with issues of colleagues not pulling their weight, its my job to solve those problems. Yes sometimes that means I fire a low performer, since low performers create the resentment and toxicity discussed above— that doesn’t mean the person who reported the issue is bad.

Then call the administration. Don't blame the teachers. The teachers are not in the other teacher's classroom.

Teachers and administrators have a role in the solution. If teachers want to work with parents to start holding other teachers accountable, their workplace will benefit. If teachers just want to complain about the mean unfair expectations on them to shoulder the burden of their slacking colleagues without doing anything about it they can expect more of the same.

Oh, yes. That will do wonders for the workplace environment. I don't think you get it: teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. They may not even know if their colleagues are slacking. They may hear things from students--but, that is not the same thing.
And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.

There, I did the easy ones for you.

Nice try. That quote actually says some may be shouldering it and admin knows. You literally posted a quote that contradicts your statement.

Own up. Your earlier statement can’t be supported.

It literally says teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. TRULY I’m worried you can’t read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The suggestions that teachers do a little self-advocacy comes from this claim that they suffer from bad teachers too. If thats false than cool, enjoy carrying your colleagues dead weight and stop telling parents not to advocate for their kids

1. As a teacher, you are seldom in another teacher's classroom. You do not necessarily know what other teachers are doing. If you have team meetings, you can get a sense of it. As an elementary teacher, I knew if another teacher's class was rowdy--but that does not mean she is a poor teacher.
2. What, exactly, do you expect a teacher to do?

Do you work?
If so, do you complain about your co-workers to your boss? Do you try to get them fired?

I’ve already answered thus— I am the boss. When people come to me with issues of colleagues not pulling their weight, its my job to solve those problems. Yes sometimes that means I fire a low performer, since low performers create the resentment and toxicity discussed above— that doesn’t mean the person who reported the issue is bad.

Then call the administration. Don't blame the teachers. The teachers are not in the other teacher's classroom.

Teachers and administrators have a role in the solution. If teachers want to work with parents to start holding other teachers accountable, their workplace will benefit. If teachers just want to complain about the mean unfair expectations on them to shoulder the burden of their slacking colleagues without doing anything about it they can expect more of the same.

Oh, yes. That will do wonders for the workplace environment. I don't think you get it: teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. They may not even know if their colleagues are slacking. They may hear things from students--but, that is not the same thing.
And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.

There, I did the easy ones for you.

Nice try. That quote actually says some may be shouldering it and admin knows. You literally posted a quote that contradicts your statement.

Own up. Your earlier statement can’t be supported.

It literally says teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. TRULY I’m worried you can’t read.

Followed IMMEDIATELY by: “And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.” So you negated your point within the same quote. This isn’t hard.

You aren’t going to win this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The suggestions that teachers do a little self-advocacy comes from this claim that they suffer from bad teachers too. If thats false than cool, enjoy carrying your colleagues dead weight and stop telling parents not to advocate for their kids

1. As a teacher, you are seldom in another teacher's classroom. You do not necessarily know what other teachers are doing. If you have team meetings, you can get a sense of it. As an elementary teacher, I knew if another teacher's class was rowdy--but that does not mean she is a poor teacher.
2. What, exactly, do you expect a teacher to do?

Do you work?
If so, do you complain about your co-workers to your boss? Do you try to get them fired?

I’ve already answered thus— I am the boss. When people come to me with issues of colleagues not pulling their weight, its my job to solve those problems. Yes sometimes that means I fire a low performer, since low performers create the resentment and toxicity discussed above— that doesn’t mean the person who reported the issue is bad.

Then call the administration. Don't blame the teachers. The teachers are not in the other teacher's classroom.

Teachers and administrators have a role in the solution. If teachers want to work with parents to start holding other teachers accountable, their workplace will benefit. If teachers just want to complain about the mean unfair expectations on them to shoulder the burden of their slacking colleagues without doing anything about it they can expect more of the same.

Oh, yes. That will do wonders for the workplace environment. I don't think you get it: teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. They may not even know if their colleagues are slacking. They may hear things from students--but, that is not the same thing.
And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.

There, I did the easy ones for you.

Nice try. That quote actually says some may be shouldering it and admin knows. You literally posted a quote that contradicts your statement.

Own up. Your earlier statement can’t be supported.

It literally says teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. TRULY I’m worried you can’t read.

Followed IMMEDIATELY by: “And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.” So you negated your point within the same quote. This isn’t hard.

You aren’t going to win this one.

You’re right it isn’t— the poster said teacher’s aren't shouldering others work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The suggestions that teachers do a little self-advocacy comes from this claim that they suffer from bad teachers too. If thats false than cool, enjoy carrying your colleagues dead weight and stop telling parents not to advocate for their kids

1. As a teacher, you are seldom in another teacher's classroom. You do not necessarily know what other teachers are doing. If you have team meetings, you can get a sense of it. As an elementary teacher, I knew if another teacher's class was rowdy--but that does not mean she is a poor teacher.
2. What, exactly, do you expect a teacher to do?

Do you work?
If so, do you complain about your co-workers to your boss? Do you try to get them fired?

I’ve already answered thus— I am the boss. When people come to me with issues of colleagues not pulling their weight, its my job to solve those problems. Yes sometimes that means I fire a low performer, since low performers create the resentment and toxicity discussed above— that doesn’t mean the person who reported the issue is bad.

Then call the administration. Don't blame the teachers. The teachers are not in the other teacher's classroom.

Teachers and administrators have a role in the solution. If teachers want to work with parents to start holding other teachers accountable, their workplace will benefit. If teachers just want to complain about the mean unfair expectations on them to shoulder the burden of their slacking colleagues without doing anything about it they can expect more of the same.

Oh, yes. That will do wonders for the workplace environment. I don't think you get it: teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. They may not even know if their colleagues are slacking. They may hear things from students--but, that is not the same thing.
And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.

There, I did the easy ones for you.

Nice try. That quote actually says some may be shouldering it and admin knows. You literally posted a quote that contradicts your statement.

Own up. Your earlier statement can’t be supported.

It literally says teachers are not shouldering their slacking colleagues. TRULY I’m worried you can’t read.

Followed IMMEDIATELY by: “And, if for some reason, they are shouldering it, I guarantee you the administration knows.” So you negated your point within the same quote. This isn’t hard.

You aren’t going to win this one.

+100, LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask to be switched. Every schools know who the problematic teachers are and what they teach. No school is going to pro-actively move your kid so ask to have the kid moved and give examples of why.

why is your kid special that s/he should be moved -- can all the kids in that class be moved?

Every parent wants their child to be removed from this class, it is the same year after year and parents try to get their kids switched and complain a lot. Nothing has been done by admin to change the situation. I’m not saying that this teacher needs to be fired, I believe that the administration should work with this teacher to be a more effective teacher and actually “teach” the students. There are some really great math teachers at Cooper that this teacher could learn from. Even sharing the other teachers notes would be helpful.

You said that “every parent” wants to move their child from this class, but what, specifically, has this teacher done right now that has adversely affected YOUR child? Expecting the administration to “do something” about a teacher is not helpful unless you can explain what exactly this teacher has done wrong.

This teacher doesn’t spend enough time “actually teaching” the subject. There are notes online (not detailed enough), not enough examples, the teacher reads the notes once and then has the students spend the rest of their time working in their own.

In math you can’t expect students to learn something by hearing it one time. It isn’t the same as History where students can read on their own and memorize facts. Math takes understanding and repetition. This isn’t just a problem for my child, it is an overall problem. Even the best math students are having problems with this teacher because they are confused and don’t understand what he is teaching.

I never said that I want other teachers to solve the problem this teacher creates. I asked specifically about Cooper MS because I know some students in the past have been able to switch to a different advisory teacher for QST or could have recommendations for local tutors near Cooper.

I really don’t understand why people are going off on the good teachers and saying it is their problem. This is 100% on the admin or head of the math department to figure out. The method that this teacher has been using for years is not successful and it’s time for someone to step in and work with this teacher to change their method of teaching.

Parents should not be expected to spend thousands of dollars a year, teach their child the subject, or expect 12 year olds to learn the subject on their own through Khan Academy. I personally have already begun to do those things with my child because I have the ability and desire to do so, but it shouldn’t be expected that parents have the time/finances/or mathematical abilities to educate their children outside of school. The teacher of the class should be expected to ensure that their students are receiving an appropriate level of instruction in order to master the subject.

This isn’t a one year problem and I don’t only care about my child. This is a problem every year. Algebra I is not a one and done class, it is a very important foundational class that is built upon year after year.

There is a reason that some teachers only read the notes from slides. They themselves don't understand the content very well. They can't explain the concept, logic reasoning to the students. I know a student who corrected his Algebra 1 teacher at class. The teacher then treated that student badly at his class. And yes, the teacher is still teaching at Cooper. Perhaps, the OP's child is now in his class.

Spot on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a particular teacher at Cooper Middle School who is known for being the worst. I won’t say the name. Please don’t use the teachers name when responding or they will delete this thread.

What have other parents done to help their child successfully complete Algebra I Honors when they had this teacher? Did you have to hire a tutor?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

What is the teacher doing right now that is the worst? My DC had Algebra at Cooper and did well — I actually loved the teacher, although I don’t know if this is the same teacher you are referring to. I learned a long time ago to not listen to other parents regarding “bad” teachers because their reasons don’t always align with mine. My DS’s favorite teacher in ES was one whose class parents actively sought to get their kid out of because she wasn’t viewed as “warm” (thus, she was “bad”); however, this teacher was awesome. She got my kid to love reading and writing, and she was very caring in her own, weird way.

I’m absolutely sure it wasn’t the same teacher.

How do you know? I have had three kids go through Cooper (one recently), all took Algebra, and all did well.

Your kids probably had different teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask to be switched. Every schools know who the problematic teachers are and what they teach. No school is going to pro-actively move your kid so ask to have the kid moved and give examples of why.

why is your kid special that s/he should be moved -- can all the kids in that class be moved?

Every parent wants their child to be removed from this class, it is the same year after year and parents try to get their kids switched and complain a lot. Nothing has been done by admin to change the situation. I’m not saying that this teacher needs to be fired, I believe that the administration should work with this teacher to be a more effective teacher and actually “teach” the students. There are some really great math teachers at Cooper that this teacher could learn from. Even sharing the other teachers notes would be helpful.

You said that “every parent” wants to move their child from this class, but what, specifically, has this teacher done right now that has adversely affected YOUR child? Expecting the administration to “do something” about a teacher is not helpful unless you can explain what exactly this teacher has done wrong.

This teacher doesn’t spend enough time “actually teaching” the subject. There are notes online (not detailed enough), not enough examples, the teacher reads the notes once and then has the students spend the rest of their time working in their own.

In math you can’t expect students to learn something by hearing it one time. It isn’t the same as History where students can read on their own and memorize facts. Math takes understanding and repetition. This isn’t just a problem for my child, it is an overall problem. Even the best math students are having problems with this teacher because they are confused and don’t understand what he is teaching.

I never said that I want other teachers to solve the problem this teacher creates. I asked specifically about Cooper MS because I know some students in the past have been able to switch to a different advisory teacher for QST or could have recommendations for local tutors near Cooper.

I really don’t understand why people are going off on the good teachers and saying it is their problem. This is 100% on the admin or head of the math department to figure out. The method that this teacher has been using for years is not successful and it’s time for someone to step in and work with this teacher to change their method of teaching.

Parents should not be expected to spend thousands of dollars a year, teach their child the subject, or expect 12 year olds to learn the subject on their own through Khan Academy. I personally have already begun to do those things with my child because I have the ability and desire to do so, but it shouldn’t be expected that parents have the time/finances/or mathematical abilities to educate their children outside of school. The teacher of the class should be expected to ensure that their students are receiving an appropriate level of instruction in order to master the subject.

This isn’t a one year problem and I don’t only care about my child. This is a problem every year. Algebra I is not a one and done class, it is a very important foundational class that is built upon year after year.

This is the difference between honors and regular algebra. In honors, students are expected to “get” the concepts quickly. Also, the students are just a few weeks in and it takes time to hit one’s stride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask to be switched. Every schools know who the problematic teachers are and what they teach. No school is going to pro-actively move your kid so ask to have the kid moved and give examples of why.

why is your kid special that s/he should be moved -- can all the kids in that class be moved?

Every parent wants their child to be removed from this class, it is the same year after year and parents try to get their kids switched and complain a lot. Nothing has been done by admin to change the situation. I’m not saying that this teacher needs to be fired, I believe that the administration should work with this teacher to be a more effective teacher and actually “teach” the students. There are some really great math teachers at Cooper that this teacher could learn from. Even sharing the other teachers notes would be helpful.

You said that “every parent” wants to move their child from this class, but what, specifically, has this teacher done right now that has adversely affected YOUR child? Expecting the administration to “do something” about a teacher is not helpful unless you can explain what exactly this teacher has done wrong.

This teacher doesn’t spend enough time “actually teaching” the subject. There are notes online (not detailed enough), not enough examples, the teacher reads the notes once and then has the students spend the rest of their time working in their own.

In math you can’t expect students to learn something by hearing it one time. It isn’t the same as History where students can read on their own and memorize facts. Math takes understanding and repetition. This isn’t just a problem for my child, it is an overall problem. Even the best math students are having problems with this teacher because they are confused and don’t understand what he is teaching.

I never said that I want other teachers to solve the problem this teacher creates. I asked specifically about Cooper MS because I know some students in the past have been able to switch to a different advisory teacher for QST or could have recommendations for local tutors near Cooper.

I really don’t understand why people are going off on the good teachers and saying it is their problem. This is 100% on the admin or head of the math department to figure out. The method that this teacher has been using for years is not successful and it’s time for someone to step in and work with this teacher to change their method of teaching.

Parents should not be expected to spend thousands of dollars a year, teach their child the subject, or expect 12 year olds to learn the subject on their own through Khan Academy. I personally have already begun to do those things with my child because I have the ability and desire to do so, but it shouldn’t be expected that parents have the time/finances/or mathematical abilities to educate their children outside of school. The teacher of the class should be expected to ensure that their students are receiving an appropriate level of instruction in order to master the subject.

This isn’t a one year problem and I don’t only care about my child. This is a problem every year. Algebra I is not a one and done class, it is a very important foundational class that is built upon year after year.

This is the difference between honors and regular algebra. In honors, students are expected to “get” the concepts quickly. Also, the students are just a few weeks in and it takes time to hit one’s stride.

Exactly, many kids don't want or need multiple examples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask to be switched. Every schools know who the problematic teachers are and what they teach. No school is going to pro-actively move your kid so ask to have the kid moved and give examples of why.

why is your kid special that s/he should be moved -- can all the kids in that class be moved?

Every parent wants their child to be removed from this class, it is the same year after year and parents try to get their kids switched and complain a lot. Nothing has been done by admin to change the situation. I’m not saying that this teacher needs to be fired, I believe that the administration should work with this teacher to be a more effective teacher and actually “teach” the students. There are some really great math teachers at Cooper that this teacher could learn from. Even sharing the other teachers notes would be helpful.

You said that “every parent” wants to move their child from this class, but what, specifically, has this teacher done right now that has adversely affected YOUR child? Expecting the administration to “do something” about a teacher is not helpful unless you can explain what exactly this teacher has done wrong.

This teacher doesn’t spend enough time “actually teaching” the subject. There are notes online (not detailed enough), not enough examples, the teacher reads the notes once and then has the students spend the rest of their time working in their own.

In math you can’t expect students to learn something by hearing it one time. It isn’t the same as History where students can read on their own and memorize facts. Math takes understanding and repetition. This isn’t just a problem for my child, it is an overall problem. Even the best math students are having problems with this teacher because they are confused and don’t understand what he is teaching.

I never said that I want other teachers to solve the problem this teacher creates. I asked specifically about Cooper MS because I know some students in the past have been able to switch to a different advisory teacher for QST or could have recommendations for local tutors near Cooper.

I really don’t understand why people are going off on the good teachers and saying it is their problem. This is 100% on the admin or head of the math department to figure out. The method that this teacher has been using for years is not successful and it’s time for someone to step in and work with this teacher to change their method of teaching.

Parents should not be expected to spend thousands of dollars a year, teach their child the subject, or expect 12 year olds to learn the subject on their own through Khan Academy. I personally have already begun to do those things with my child because I have the ability and desire to do so, but it shouldn’t be expected that parents have the time/finances/or mathematical abilities to educate their children outside of school. The teacher of the class should be expected to ensure that their students are receiving an appropriate level of instruction in order to master the subject.

This isn’t a one year problem and I don’t only care about my child. This is a problem every year. Algebra I is not a one and done class, it is a very important foundational class that is built upon year after year.

This is the difference between honors and regular algebra. In honors, students are expected to “get” the concepts quickly. Also, the students are just a few weeks in and it takes time to hit one’s stride.

Exactly, many kids don't want or need multiple examples.

Nope. that is the mythical genius. the only difference between honors and not is the effort the kid wants to put in. The difference between a math major and a social science major is the effort the kid wants to put into math. You think one example is enough for a 12 year old? A good teacher presents examples that challenge naive understandings.

Nope. Don't think math is easy to get it in one read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask to be switched. Every schools know who the problematic teachers are and what they teach. No school is going to pro-actively move your kid so ask to have the kid moved and give examples of why.

why is your kid special that s/he should be moved -- can all the kids in that class be moved?

Every parent wants their child to be removed from this class, it is the same year after year and parents try to get their kids switched and complain a lot. Nothing has been done by admin to change the situation. I’m not saying that this teacher needs to be fired, I believe that the administration should work with this teacher to be a more effective teacher and actually “teach” the students. There are some really great math teachers at Cooper that this teacher could learn from. Even sharing the other teachers notes would be helpful.

You said that “every parent” wants to move their child from this class, but what, specifically, has this teacher done right now that has adversely affected YOUR child? Expecting the administration to “do something” about a teacher is not helpful unless you can explain what exactly this teacher has done wrong.

This teacher doesn’t spend enough time “actually teaching” the subject. There are notes online (not detailed enough), not enough examples, the teacher reads the notes once and then has the students spend the rest of their time working in their own.

In math you can’t expect students to learn something by hearing it one time. It isn’t the same as History where students can read on their own and memorize facts. Math takes understanding and repetition. This isn’t just a problem for my child, it is an overall problem. Even the best math students are having problems with this teacher because they are confused and don’t understand what he is teaching.

I never said that I want other teachers to solve the problem this teacher creates. I asked specifically about Cooper MS because I know some students in the past have been able to switch to a different advisory teacher for QST or could have recommendations for local tutors near Cooper.

I really don’t understand why people are going off on the good teachers and saying it is their problem. This is 100% on the admin or head of the math department to figure out. The method that this teacher has been using for years is not successful and it’s time for someone to step in and work with this teacher to change their method of teaching.

Parents should not be expected to spend thousands of dollars a year, teach their child the subject, or expect 12 year olds to learn the subject on their own through Khan Academy. I personally have already begun to do those things with my child because I have the ability and desire to do so, but it shouldn’t be expected that parents have the time/finances/or mathematical abilities to educate their children outside of school. The teacher of the class should be expected to ensure that their students are receiving an appropriate level of instruction in order to master the subject.

This isn’t a one year problem and I don’t only care about my child. This is a problem every year. Algebra I is not a one and done class, it is a very important foundational class that is built upon year after year.

This is the difference between honors and regular algebra. In honors, students are expected to “get” the concepts quickly. Also, the students are just a few weeks in and it takes time to hit one’s stride.

Exactly, many kids don't want or need multiple examples.

Nope. that is the mythical genius. the only difference between honors and not is the effort the kid wants to put in. The difference between a math major and a social science major is the effort the kid wants to put into math. You think one example is enough for a 12 year old? A good teacher presents examples that challenge naive understandings.

Nope. Don't think math is easy to get it in one read.

Even the OP said that they spend the class working on the skill, so it’s not just “one read”. But I do agree that students don’t always need to watch 45-60 minutes of instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask to be switched. Every schools know who the problematic teachers are and what they teach. No school is going to pro-actively move your kid so ask to have the kid moved and give examples of why.

why is your kid special that s/he should be moved -- can all the kids in that class be moved?

Every parent wants their child to be removed from this class, it is the same year after year and parents try to get their kids switched and complain a lot. Nothing has been done by admin to change the situation. I’m not saying that this teacher needs to be fired, I believe that the administration should work with this teacher to be a more effective teacher and actually “teach” the students. There are some really great math teachers at Cooper that this teacher could learn from. Even sharing the other teachers notes would be helpful.

You said that “every parent” wants to move their child from this class, but what, specifically, has this teacher done right now that has adversely affected YOUR child? Expecting the administration to “do something” about a teacher is not helpful unless you can explain what exactly this teacher has done wrong.

This teacher doesn’t spend enough time “actually teaching” the subject. There are notes online (not detailed enough), not enough examples, the teacher reads the notes once and then has the students spend the rest of their time working in their own.

In math you can’t expect students to learn something by hearing it one time. It isn’t the same as History where students can read on their own and memorize facts. Math takes understanding and repetition. This isn’t just a problem for my child, it is an overall problem. Even the best math students are having problems with this teacher because they are confused and don’t understand what he is teaching.

I never said that I want other teachers to solve the problem this teacher creates. I asked specifically about Cooper MS because I know some students in the past have been able to switch to a different advisory teacher for QST or could have recommendations for local tutors near Cooper.

I really don’t understand why people are going off on the good teachers and saying it is their problem. This is 100% on the admin or head of the math department to figure out. The method that this teacher has been using for years is not successful and it’s time for someone to step in and work with this teacher to change their method of teaching.

Parents should not be expected to spend thousands of dollars a year, teach their child the subject, or expect 12 year olds to learn the subject on their own through Khan Academy. I personally have already begun to do those things with my child because I have the ability and desire to do so, but it shouldn’t be expected that parents have the time/finances/or mathematical abilities to educate their children outside of school. The teacher of the class should be expected to ensure that their students are receiving an appropriate level of instruction in order to master the subject.

This isn’t a one year problem and I don’t only care about my child. This is a problem every year. Algebra I is not a one and done class, it is a very important foundational class that is built upon year after year.

This is the difference between honors and regular algebra. In honors, students are expected to “get” the concepts quickly. Also, the students are just a few weeks in and it takes time to hit one’s stride.

Exactly, many kids don't want or need multiple examples.

Nope. that is the mythical genius. the only difference between honors and not is the effort the kid wants to put in. The difference between a math major and a social science major is the effort the kid wants to put into math. You think one example is enough for a 12 year old? A good teacher presents examples that challenge naive understandings.

Nope. Don't think math is easy to get it in one read.

Hah. Very, very false. I have kids in my classes who are working their butts off to understand my content. They come every help block, stay after school when I allow it, have a tutor, ask questions...they still struggle.

I have other kids who literally do the entire notes page independently and if I accidentally give out the classwork assignment with their notes they'll have that done before I'm done with my 30 minute lecture/examples/scaffolds.

Some kids don't need but a gentle introduction if topics are scaffolded and practice is carefully chosen to introduce unique cases. HS math isn't rocket science. Other kids need 25 examples of every problem type before they are able to do one independently. That's why we all teach to the middle, because 5-7 examples seems reasonable for most topics. The "quick" kids don't have to stare at walls longer than 20 minutes, and the "slower" kids get enough practice that they can ask informed questions when they come for extra help vs just saying, "I don't get it".

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Anonymous wrote:Ask to be switched. Every schools know who the problematic teachers are and what they teach. No school is going to pro-actively move your kid so ask to have the kid moved and give examples of why.

why is your kid special that s/he should be moved -- can all the kids in that class be moved?

Every parent wants their child to be removed from this class, it is the same year after year and parents try to get their kids switched and complain a lot. Nothing has been done by admin to change the situation. I’m not saying that this teacher needs to be fired, I believe that the administration should work with this teacher to be a more effective teacher and actually “teach” the students. There are some really great math teachers at Cooper that this teacher could learn from. Even sharing the other teachers notes would be helpful.

You said that “every parent” wants to move their child from this class, but what, specifically, has this teacher done right now that has adversely affected YOUR child? Expecting the administration to “do something” about a teacher is not helpful unless you can explain what exactly this teacher has done wrong.

This teacher doesn’t spend enough time “actually teaching” the subject. There are notes online (not detailed enough), not enough examples, the teacher reads the notes once and then has the students spend the rest of their time working in their own.

In math you can’t expect students to learn something by hearing it one time. It isn’t the same as History where students can read on their own and memorize facts. Math takes understanding and repetition. This isn’t just a problem for my child, it is an overall problem. Even the best math students are having problems with this teacher because they are confused and don’t understand what he is teaching.

I never said that I want other teachers to solve the problem this teacher creates. I asked specifically about Cooper MS because I know some students in the past have been able to switch to a different advisory teacher for QST or could have recommendations for local tutors near Cooper.

I really don’t understand why people are going off on the good teachers and saying it is their problem. This is 100% on the admin or head of the math department to figure out. The method that this teacher has been using for years is not successful and it’s time for someone to step in and work with this teacher to change their method of teaching.

Parents should not be expected to spend thousands of dollars a year, teach their child the subject, or expect 12 year olds to learn the subject on their own through Khan Academy. I personally have already begun to do those things with my child because I have the ability and desire to do so, but it shouldn’t be expected that parents have the time/finances/or mathematical abilities to educate their children outside of school. The teacher of the class should be expected to ensure that their students are receiving an appropriate level of instruction in order to master the subject.

This isn’t a one year problem and I don’t only care about my child. This is a problem every year. Algebra I is not a one and done class, it is a very important foundational class that is built upon year after year.

This is the difference between honors and regular algebra. In honors, students are expected to “get” the concepts quickly. Also, the students are just a few weeks in and it takes time to hit one’s stride.

Exactly, many kids don't want or need multiple examples.

Nope. that is the mythical genius. the only difference between honors and not is the effort the kid wants to put in. The difference between a math major and a social science major is the effort the kid wants to put into math. You think one example is enough for a 12 year old? A good teacher presents examples that challenge naive understandings.

Nope. Don't think math is easy to get it in one read.

Hah. Very, very false. I have kids in my classes who are working their butts off to understand my content. They come every help block, stay after school when I allow it, have a tutor, ask questions...they still struggle.

I have other kids who literally do the entire notes page independently and if I accidentally give out the classwork assignment with their notes they'll have that done before I'm done with my 30 minute lecture/examples/scaffolds.

Some kids don't need but a gentle introduction if topics are scaffolded and practice is carefully chosen to introduce unique cases. HS math isn't rocket science. Other kids need 25 examples of every problem type before they are able to do one independently. That's why we all teach to the middle, because 5-7 examples seems reasonable for most topics. The "quick" kids don't have to stare at walls longer than 20 minutes, and the "slower" kids get enough practice that they can ask informed questions when they come for extra help vs just saying, "I don't get it".

Well since you are a teacher do you know if the kids that "get it" are doing extra like: Kumon or RSM? Almost all advanced kids have already done the math before the year begins. I do not buy into "born gifted", if the kid has interest they will learn.