Changing teachers with new semester?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.

According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.

If the period doesn’t change, the teacher shouldn’t either. That does not happen in MCPS and it makes no sense

This definitely happens and I agree it doesn't make sense.

I’m curious what percentage of HS classes are semester vs yearlong. It does seem odd to make every class a semester long class for ease of scheduling, when so few classes are actually only one semester.

This is OP. When I look at my daughter’s schedule, it’s crafted so that everything is technically a semester class. She is taking honors English, and her schedule shows honors English A in first semester and honors English B in second semester. In my mind, that’s still a year-long class. I have trouble believing her new English teacher is picking up exactly where her old one left off.

At MCPS you earn 0.50 credit for the semester. Some classes are 1.0 credit and some like health are 0.50 credit.

So even though a student has honors pre-calc for 1.0 credit, it is scored at MP1 and MP2 - S1 grade and 0.50 credit. Then MP3 and MP4 for S2 grade and 0.50 credit.

So if you fail the first semester of English but get an A in the second semester, you still need to retake 0.5 credit of English? This makes no sense.

If you fail English 9A, you will need to retake English 9A.

[Anonymous]

It's the norm. My kid only has 1 new teacher and she's in the distinct minority.

[Anonymous]

My understand is that the switch happens because not every teacher is a good fit for the student. Allowing switches gives kids a chance at learning the material from someone they might fit better with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.

According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.

Except for the exact same class at the exact same time will have a different teacher. Why can't they schedule that teacher for the same time in the second semester? English 9A and English 9B at the same time with same teacher, with everyone staying unless one of their electives requires them to get moved to another class.

Because kids have other semester long classes that have to be taken into account. Also this is exactly how college works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understand is that the switch happens because not every teacher is a good fit for the student. Allowing switches gives kids a chance at learning the material from someone they might fit better with.

Also the class times move around sometimes, which can be helpful so your not always taking your best or worse class at the same time all year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:It's very common, especially in 9th and 10th. I agree it's annoying. My kid has new teachers in 5 out of 7 classes this semester.

I am sorry but that is terrible. With limited counselors and no police officers, some of these teens build trust with their teachers. There is absolutely no reason to move a teacher of the same class after a semester. MCPS is just so bad anymore

This has been the norm in MCPS for as long as I can remember. It has never been a cause for fake concern except on DCUM.
Take your troll somewhere else.

My oldest graduated in 2017 and never changed a teacher on a full year class. What are you talking about?

It's the norm in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.

According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.

Except for the exact same class at the exact same time will have a different teacher. Why can't they schedule that teacher for the same time in the second semester? English 9A and English 9B at the same time with same teacher, with everyone staying unless one of their electives requires them to get moved to another class.

Because kids have other semester long classes that have to be taken into account. Also this is exactly how college works.

Not exactly. In college, you register twice a year for new classes of your choosing for the following semester. In MCPS, you register once a year for the following year's classes, but they split them into two semesters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.

According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.

Except for the exact same class at the exact same time will have a different teacher. Why can't they schedule that teacher for the same time in the second semester? English 9A and English 9B at the same time with same teacher, with everyone staying unless one of their electives requires them to get moved to another class.

Because kids have other semester long classes that have to be taken into account. Also this is exactly how college works.

In college, you aren’t taking the same class all year generally. Also, you have more choice in times of class and instructors. This is just random.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.

According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.

If the period doesn’t change, the teacher shouldn’t either. That does not happen in MCPS and it makes no sense

This definitely happens and I agree it doesn't make sense.

My kid's class periods changed-- only one class still meets during 7th period. My son is in 10th grade and has only switched teachers twice in 9th grade (math and PE) and once this year (English). I know that for two of his classes (AP class and Spanish 5), there is only one teacher. None of the kids changed in that class but the period changed.

[Anonymous]

It’s the new computer system. There is no built in bias toward keeping the original teacher or schedule. A student might keep the same schedule/teacher if they are entirely in year round courses, but if one class changes the whole schedule can be reset.