Honors Algebra Struggles 2022/23

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

LOL Kudos to you for being a flawless, excellent parent or whatever.

But:

1) While many kids were half-assing it on Zoom, their parents were either also simultaneously working from home, working out of the home, or on unemployment because they lost their jobs while the global economy shut down.

2) Most parents aren't equipped to evaluate their kids math skills at the high school level, so they're not in a position to "help them" like you did.

3) The free tutoring just started late last year. So I don't know what you want parents to do about tutoring that should have had when it wasn't available.

4) Algebra 2 in 10th grade is not the slowest track available. Many juniors take Algebra 2 in 11th grade. In fact, this used to be the norm at MCPS, but then they started accelerating things. Not sure why, since the rigor to prepare kids to take these math classes earlier than they used to doesn't seem to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, that's the normal track. Algebra 2 in 10th grade is the normal track.

[Anonymous]

You need a tutor. I’m in a different district, but almost every student has a tutor for Alg2H. Often, they use them the summer before school starts to pre tutor and get ahead of the game.

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but does anyone have a recommendation of an Alg2 workbook that aligns the most closest to MCPS curriculum? I hate that they don't practice math enough.

[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?

This. Your kid is not alone.

MCPS is failing our kids in so many ways and Math education is one of those ways.

Agree with the PPs that a tutor would be your best bet at this point. Good luck and sorry your kid has to struggle like this.

[Anonymous]

This has been talked about repeatedly on this forum. Every kid is not meant to be in honors math, particular at the upper level. Slow down when you get to Alg 1 and Geometry so that students get a really solid foundation as it will be needed when they hit Alg2/Pre-Cal/Cal/etc. Stop trying to be on the most accelerated path without understanding what each class requires and be willing to put in the needed work to accomplish the goals. This is the exact reason why ES and MS math is slower than what many of you think it should be. It’s about getting a strong foundation, not racing through it.

A lot of what kids are missing is true study skills and understanding that different subjects require different methods of studying.

OP- Get a tutor ASAP and drop down. See if your student can catch up enough to turn out As this semester and to be truly ready for Pre-Cal and possibly Hn Pre-Cal. But understand that Honors PreCal is NOT easy and you all will really need to evaluate her readiness and ability to succeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What are the teacher's pass rates? Not giving students automatic As is not the sign of a bad teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but does anyone have a recommendation of an Alg2 workbook that aligns the most closest to MCPS curriculum? I hate that they don't practice math enough.

Just get a workbook/textbook off Amazon or several. But, better also get the free tutor. That's been our biggest help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, that's the normal track. Algebra 2 in 10th grade is the normal track.

In MCPS, kids take Algebra in 7th, which puts them in Algebra 2 in 9th.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry OP. The kids who are taking Alg. 2 this year did not have a chance to build a great foundation due to Zoom classes which I think made a huge difference. This is the class where a lot of things come together and for years many kids who never struggled in math before had a hard time with it. You are not alone in this. There were whole threads about this last year too with the mean on tests being Cs.

It makes it worse if you have a poor teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but does anyone have a recommendation of an Alg2 workbook that aligns the most closest to MCPS curriculum? I hate that they don't practice math enough.

Just get a workbook/textbook off Amazon or several. But, better also get the free tutor. That's been our biggest help.

DC doesn't need a tutor but needs more practice. The HW they give out is not enough. Most of the time they finish it at school. Takes like 10min. I would like DC to practice more. They do go onto Khan academy, too, if they need to review a concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, that's the normal track. Algebra 2 in 10th grade is the normal track.

In MCPS, kids take Algebra in 7th, which puts them in Algebra 2 in 9th.

In MCPS some kids take Algebra in 7th. Alg in 8th is the normal track that most kids are on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, that's the normal track. Algebra 2 in 10th grade is the normal track.

In MCPS, kids take Algebra in 7th, which puts them in Algebra 2 in 9th.

Some kids do, but the on-level math pathway is Algebra 1 in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, that's the normal track. Algebra 2 in 10th grade is the normal track.

In MCPS, kids take Algebra in 7th, which puts them in Algebra 2 in 9th.

No. My DS took "Math Investigations" (whatever that means) in 7th grade and he took Algebra I in 8th grade.

[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."

The better question is why folks aren’t using a free available resource.