Pre-Calc and Analysis I Math at Blair

[Anonymous]

LOL he did not finish grading Math summer packet until January (end of second marking period). I heard Montgomery County say summer packets will not be graded (I believe) when students came back after a year and a half of virtual learning but he did. He is awkward and follows his own rules.

He should have gotten rid of big tests and given something equivalent to what other Math Magnet teachers do. He should provide 90% credit to the work that he expects students to understand. Mr. O can provide some guidance on how other magnet math teachers design their grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My student took this math teacher (he is in college now) and the teacher makes this class the hardest out of all 4 years of Blair STEM magnet program. The teacher assumed everyone will sit for the Calculus BC AP test, must get a score of 5, and will be a math genius with his instruction of Pre-Calculus C and functions.

Sometimes the class average was low B or high C on the big test and he said to the class you can do better in the next test. Based on his stubbornness, some students lost their math interest. Anything you do is never competent for the class. I completely agree with the OP.

Analysis is a lot harder than Cal BC AP. Mine got B and C in Analysis but still managed to get 5 in AP Cal BC test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My student took this math teacher (he is in college now) and the teacher makes this class the hardest out of all 4 years of Blair STEM magnet program. The teacher assumed everyone will sit for the Calculus BC AP test, must get a score of 5, and will be a math genius with his instruction of Pre-Calculus C and functions.

Sometimes the class average was low B or high C on the big test and he said to the class you can do better in the next test. Based on his stubbornness, some students lost their math interest. Anything you do is never competent for the class. I completely agree with the OP.

So the teacher had high expectations. There are other threads on this board that complain about a lack of those and grade inflation. It just seems like this is another example of people being upset with whatever they do. If they lower expectations and give out more A's, people also complain.

My DC took the Functions/Analysis track. There are some magnet teachers who delay grading for a long time. It seems hypocritical for a teacher to not give feedback for months and then grade a child down for turning in an assignment late, but they grade the student down for turning in assignments late. Either the teachers are terrible procrastinators or want to keep the kids in the dark about their grade until the end so they don’t slack. I don’t support slacking but these kids are under so much pressure with AP that it’s helpful if they can choose how to best use their time. That’s a real-life skill they will need.

[Anonymous]

I think the teacher takes long time to grade because he has to check each step of the work. The grade is not only based on the final answer, sometimes even a wrong answer but with all the correct steps -- the teacher will deduct less points. This is even more so for analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I think the teacher takes long time to grade because he has to check each step of the work. The grade is not only based on the final answer, sometimes even a wrong answer but with all the correct steps -- the teacher will deduct less points. This is even more so for analysis.

Other math Magnet teachers provided feedback within a week of the test taken except for the Pre-Calculus C/Analysis I teacher. If he can not grade the exam within 3 to 4 days, he should have given a shorter version of the tests that is reasonable for him to grade. He can provide other opportunities for students and can assign some grades to all of the homework assignments. Each Pre-Calculus/Analysis I test is so significant (as OP stated 120 points or more), there is no way students can just focus on his Math class 24 hours of the day. The teacher needs to reconsider his approach and think from student's perspective. He should build confidence in students IF they have to retake this in college. He was not easy to work with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I think the teacher takes long time to grade because he has to check each step of the work. The grade is not only based on the final answer, sometimes even a wrong answer but with all the correct steps -- the teacher will deduct less points. This is even more so for analysis.

All math teachers have to do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think the teacher takes long time to grade because he has to check each step of the work. The grade is not only based on the final answer, sometimes even a wrong answer but with all the correct steps -- the teacher will deduct less points. This is even more so for analysis.

Other math Magnet teachers provided feedback within a week of the test taken except for the Pre-Calculus C/Analysis I teacher. If he can not grade the exam within 3 to 4 days, he should have given a shorter version of the tests that is reasonable for him to grade. He can provide other opportunities for students and can assign some grades to all of the homework assignments. Each Pre-Calculus/Analysis I test is so significant (as OP stated 120 points or more), there is no way students can just focus on his Math class 24 hours of the day. The teacher needs to reconsider his approach and think from student's perspective. He should build confidence in students IF they have to retake this in college. He was not easy to work with.

He is a terrible teacher. I feel sorry for the students who are not in accelerated math class, this is the only way for magnet students not to take his class.

[Anonymous]

Let me guess. This is Rose? Sounds like hom. My D had him for Discrete, and this sounds oh-so familiar. If tge issue is Kirk or Schwartz, I would question the account, but if Rose, complain and loudly. And don't try to be nice because he will try to turn it on the kid and suggest it is about their feelings. PS. The reason he doesn't get tests graded 8s because he is squandering his planning/grading periods trying to hang out with students in other teachers' classes or posting on Twitter. He literally told my kid's class that. He is tge one teacher I complained to Ostrander about. My kid did a great job standing up fo herself, but it wasn't enough. Nothing is enough because they have no one who can take his place.

[Anonymous]

PPS. Sorry for all the typos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to be mean, but it sounds like you’re very involved in the details of your high school student’s class. I have no idea how many assignments, points, tests, quizzes, etc. my magnet student has. Managing that is their job.

That said, what exactly do you think should happen based on your post to an anonymous board? Sounds like you’ve already talked to the teacher and magnet coordinator, which is probably the most you can do beyond working with your kid on study skills and time management, and encouraging them to go to iffice hours if they’re having trouble with content.

A good parent should be. Talk to the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My student took this math teacher (he is in college now) and the teacher makes this class the hardest out of all 4 years of Blair STEM magnet program. The teacher assumed everyone will sit for the Calculus BC AP test, must get a score of 5, and will be a math genius with his instruction of Pre-Calculus C and functions.

Sometimes the class average was low B or high C on the big test and he said to the class you can do better in the next test. Based on his stubbornness, some students lost their math interest. Anything you do is never competent for the class. I completely agree with the OP.

So the teacher had high expectations. There are other threads on this board that complain about a lack of those and grade inflation. It just seems like this is another example of people being upset with whatever they do. If they lower expectations and give out more A's, people also complain.

My DC took the Functions/Analysis track. There are some magnet teachers who delay grading for a long time. It seems hypocritical for a teacher to not give feedback for months and then grade a child down for turning in an assignment late, but they grade the student down for turning in assignments late. Either the teachers are terrible procrastinators or want to keep the kids in the dark about their grade until the end so they don’t slack. I don’t support slacking but these kids are under so much pressure with AP that it’s helpful if they can choose how to best use their time. That’s a real-life skill they will need.

Ok, so Schwartz is sometimes late grading, but he spends his time working on problem sets, teaching and tutoring. Sure, I wish he provided grades in a more timely fashion, but he will offer feedback any time and is always available for help. However, if this is about Rose, please see above. That guy is an insecure, sexist layabout who foists his deficiencies on his students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to be mean, but it sounds like you’re very involved in the details of your high school student’s class. I have no idea how many assignments, points, tests, quizzes, etc. my magnet student has. Managing that is their job.

That said, what exactly do you think should happen based on your post to an anonymous board? Sounds like you’ve already talked to the teacher and magnet coordinator, which is probably the most you can do beyond working with your kid on study skills and time management, and encouraging them to go to iffice hours if they’re having trouble with content.

A good parent should be. Talk to the principal.

Talk to Ostrander and Johnson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My student took this math teacher (he is in college now) and the teacher makes this class the hardest out of all 4 years of Blair STEM magnet program. The teacher assumed everyone will sit for the Calculus BC AP test, must get a score of 5, and will be a math genius with his instruction of Pre-Calculus C and functions.

Sometimes the class average was low B or high C on the big test and he said to the class you can do better in the next test. Based on his stubbornness, some students lost their math interest. Anything you do is never competent for the class. I completely agree with the OP.

So the teacher had high expectations. There are other threads on this board that complain about a lack of those and grade inflation. It just seems like this is another example of people being upset with whatever they do. If they lower expectations and give out more A's, people also complain.

Exactly

Y'all clearly have no experience with this teacher. If you don't know, just try listening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to be mean, but it sounds like you’re very involved in the details of your high school student’s class. I have no idea how many assignments, points, tests, quizzes, etc. my magnet student has. Managing that is their job.

That said, what exactly do you think should happen based on your post to an anonymous board? Sounds like you’ve already talked to the teacher and magnet coordinator, which is probably the most you can do beyond working with your kid on study skills and time management, and encouraging them to go to iffice hours if they’re having trouble with content.

A good parent should be. Talk to the principal.

Talk to Ostrander and Johnson.

How have they resolved issues with this teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me guess. This is Rose? Sounds like hom. My D had him for Discrete, and this sounds oh-so familiar. If tge issue is Kirk or Schwartz, I would question the account, but if Rose, complain and loudly. And don't try to be nice because he will try to turn it on the kid and suggest it is about their feelings. PS. The reason he doesn't get tests graded 8s because he is squandering his planning/grading periods trying to hang out with students in other teachers' classes or posting on Twitter. He literally told my kid's class that. He is tge one teacher I complained to Ostrander about. My kid did a great job standing up fo herself, but it wasn't enough. Nothing is enough because they have no one who can take his place.

I do not think Rose is there anymore.