Honors Alg 2 at Blair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader has been in the advanced math track in MCPS since 4th grade. He's bright but not a math genius and he struggled with geometry in 8th grade at TPMS. He is finding Alg 2 super easy, is getting a high A, doesn't have homework nor does he study for quizzes and exams. What gives? Does he have a great teacher who explains things well in a way my kid understands? Or does he have a terrible teacher who doesn't expect much from these kids? I'm thrilled that my kid is finding it easy (since I thought this would be the class he struggled with the most) but I'm concerned about his preparation for the pre-calc, calculus and SAT/ACT. What say you DCUM?

I had a kid like this- had these same questions. Precalc is super easy for him this year, too. But I don’t want to move him up bc I think going a little bit slower is a benefit in math. He’s learning it so well bc he ends up teaching his peers. There’s no rush or prize for hurrying. Assessments are fine. He was def prepared for precalc!

In my kid’s case, I think it was the result of a really mid teacher. She followed him to precalc unfortunately. She’s nice but phoning it in. My kid likes math so it’s working out but if he were struggling I’d be on the phone getting him a new teacher for second semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader has been in the advanced math track in MCPS since 4th grade. He's bright but not a math genius and he struggled with geometry in 8th grade at TPMS. He is finding Alg 2 super easy, is getting a high A, doesn't have homework nor does he study for quizzes and exams. What gives? Does he have a great teacher who explains things well in a way my kid understands? Or does he have a terrible teacher who doesn't expect much from these kids? I'm thrilled that my kid is finding it easy (since I thought this would be the class he struggled with the most) but I'm concerned about his preparation for the pre-calc, calculus and SAT/ACT. What say you DCUM?

I had a kid like this- had these same questions. Precalc is super easy for him this year, too. But I don’t want to move him up bc I think going a little bit slower is a benefit in math. He’s learning it so well bc he ends up teaching his peers. There’s no rush or prize for hurrying. Assessments are fine. He was def prepared for precalc!

In my kid’s case, I think it was the result of a really mid teacher. She followed him to precalc unfortunately. She’s nice but phoning it in. My kid likes math so it’s working out but if he were struggling I’d be on the phone getting him a new teacher for second semester.

You can't get a new teacher. They never approve transfers for that unless you got blackmail material or something on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader has been in the advanced math track in MCPS since 4th grade. He's bright but not a math genius and he struggled with geometry in 8th grade at TPMS. He is finding Alg 2 super easy, is getting a high A, doesn't have homework nor does he study for quizzes and exams. What gives? Does he have a great teacher who explains things well in a way my kid understands? Or does he have a terrible teacher who doesn't expect much from these kids? I'm thrilled that my kid is finding it easy (since I thought this would be the class he struggled with the most) but I'm concerned about his preparation for the pre-calc, calculus and SAT/ACT. What say you DCUM?

I had a kid like this- had these same questions. Precalc is super easy for him this year, too. But I don’t want to move him up bc I think going a little bit slower is a benefit in math. He’s learning it so well bc he ends up teaching his peers. There’s no rush or prize for hurrying. Assessments are fine. He was def prepared for precalc!

In my kid’s case, I think it was the result of a really mid teacher. She followed him to precalc unfortunately. She’s nice but phoning it in. My kid likes math so it’s working out but if he were struggling I’d be on the phone getting him a new teacher for second semester.

You can't get a new teacher. They never approve transfers for that unless you got blackmail material or something on them.

This isn’t true. I’ve gotten a new teacher just for asking twice at Blair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader has been in the advanced math track in MCPS since 4th grade. He's bright but not a math genius and he struggled with geometry in 8th grade at TPMS. He is finding Alg 2 super easy, is getting a high A, doesn't have homework nor does he study for quizzes and exams. What gives? Does he have a great teacher who explains things well in a way my kid understands? Or does he have a terrible teacher who doesn't expect much from these kids? I'm thrilled that my kid is finding it easy (since I thought this would be the class he struggled with the most) but I'm concerned about his preparation for the pre-calc, calculus and SAT/ACT. What say you DCUM?

I had a kid like this- had these same questions. Precalc is super easy for him this year, too. But I don’t want to move him up bc I think going a little bit slower is a benefit in math. He’s learning it so well bc he ends up teaching his peers. There’s no rush or prize for hurrying. Assessments are fine. He was def prepared for precalc!

In my kid’s case, I think it was the result of a really mid teacher. She followed him to precalc unfortunately. She’s nice but phoning it in. My kid likes math so it’s working out but if he were struggling I’d be on the phone getting him a new teacher for second semester.

You can't get a new teacher. They never approve transfers for that unless you got blackmail material or something on them.

This isn’t true. I’ve gotten a new teacher just for asking twice at Blair.

Well, I begged and pleaded with my kid's counselor at Blair, but no dice. I suspect it involves doing work and they're just not into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in Algebra II as a 9th grader at Blair and is finding it to be a joke. The teacher just gives them online modules to do every day, and when this teacher does try to teach they are unable to explain things in a way kids can understand (I’m using gender neutral pronouns to avoid any chance of identifying the teacher here). Also, this particular class I believe has a lot of sophomores and juniors in it. That’s one thing I wasn’t expecting with the move to HS - that core classes would be of mixed grades, so it by nature cannot be as intense as some kids are used to because it needs to accommodate the needs of kids that are on the fast track, regular track, and slow track. My kid is annoyed but content with the easy A. Hope my kid will be prepared for pre-calc!

They got a bad teacher as that’s not normal. It’s pretty well known there is one really bad math teacher there. If you can, get the, a tutor.

Can you give either first or last initial?

[Anonymous]

There is an enormous gulf between Alg 2 and Alg2 Honors. Alg 2 is pretty easy for the smarter students. But Alg 2 Honors can be grueling. It’s the first hard class gifted students to encounter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an enormous gulf between Alg 2 and Alg2 Honors. Alg 2 is pretty easy for the smarter students. But Alg 2 Honors can be grueling. It’s the first hard class gifted students to encounter.

I’m the OP and I’m talking about Honors BUT I think all Alg 2 classes at Blair are “honors” now so…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an enormous gulf between Alg 2 and Alg2 Honors. Alg 2 is pretty easy for the smarter students. But Alg 2 Honors can be grueling. It’s the first hard class gifted students to encounter.

maybe for now but once they make it honors algebra 2 for all it will be easy peasy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in Algebra II as a 9th grader at Blair and is finding it to be a joke. The teacher just gives them online modules to do every day, and when this teacher does try to teach they are unable to explain things in a way kids can understand (I’m using gender neutral pronouns to avoid any chance of identifying the teacher here). Also, this particular class I believe has a lot of sophomores and juniors in it. That’s one thing I wasn’t expecting with the move to HS - that core classes would be of mixed grades, so it by nature cannot be as intense as some kids are used to because it needs to accommodate the needs of kids that are on the fast track, regular track, and slow track. My kid is annoyed but content with the easy A. Hope my kid will be prepared for pre-calc!

They got a bad teacher as that’s not normal. It’s pretty well known there is one really bad math teacher there. If you can, get the, a tutor.

Can you give either first or last initial?

I don’t know the name. We decided against Blair partly because of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an enormous gulf between Alg 2 and Alg2 Honors. Alg 2 is pretty easy for the smarter students. But Alg 2 Honors can be grueling. It’s the first hard class gifted students to encounter.

For us algebra 2 was hard because there was a year gap in algebra and no textbooks. Thank goodness precal does but we had to buy our own copy or online. And a good teacher helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in Algebra II as a 9th grader at Blair and is finding it to be a joke. The teacher just gives them online modules to do every day, and when this teacher does try to teach they are unable to explain things in a way kids can understand (I’m using gender neutral pronouns to avoid any chance of identifying the teacher here). Also, this particular class I believe has a lot of sophomores and juniors in it. That’s one thing I wasn’t expecting with the move to HS - that core classes would be of mixed grades, so it by nature cannot be as intense as some kids are used to because it needs to accommodate the needs of kids that are on the fast track, regular track, and slow track. My kid is annoyed but content with the easy A. Hope my kid will be prepared for pre-calc!

They got a bad teacher as that’s not normal. It’s pretty well known there is one really bad math teacher there. If you can, get the, a tutor.

Can you give either first or last initial?

I don’t know the name. We decided against Blair partly because of that.

You decided against Blair bc of rumors of one bad Alg 2 teacher?

[Anonymous]

OP,

If you're really worried, have him take an assessment online, or see if you can figure it out yourself, or hire a tutor to check his level.

I say this because my high schooler got easy As in AP Calc AB, then got a 2 on the exam, and then proceeded to melt down completely in AP Calc BC the year after. The AB teacher was apparently not good at all, and it set the stage for a disastrous BC year. I really wish we'd realized this sooner.

Also, to add a data point to the other discussion, I was told MCPS was trying to phase out the Algebra 1 in 6th grade track. Students can test into that class at any middle school, W and non-W alike, but parents have to know to ask, because it's not supposed to an option. My daughter is at Westland and took Algebra 1 in 6th, Honors Geo in 7th, and now goes to BCC high school to take Honor Alg 2 first period (then a bus takes her back to Westland).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an enormous gulf between Alg 2 and Alg2 Honors. Alg 2 is pretty easy for the smarter students. But Alg 2 Honors can be grueling. It’s the first hard class gifted students to encounter.

Every kid is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in Algebra II as a 9th grader at Blair and is finding it to be a joke. The teacher just gives them online modules to do every day, and when this teacher does try to teach they are unable to explain things in a way kids can understand (I’m using gender neutral pronouns to avoid any chance of identifying the teacher here). Also, this particular class I believe has a lot of sophomores and juniors in it. That’s one thing I wasn’t expecting with the move to HS - that core classes would be of mixed grades, so it by nature cannot be as intense as some kids are used to because it needs to accommodate the needs of kids that are on the fast track, regular track, and slow track. My kid is annoyed but content with the easy A. Hope my kid will be prepared for pre-calc!

They got a bad teacher as that’s not normal. It’s pretty well known there is one really bad math teacher there. If you can, get the, a tutor.

Can you give either first or last initial?

I don’t know the name. We decided against Blair partly because of that.

You decided against Blair bc of rumors of one bad Alg 2 teacher?

That and a few other reasons.

[Anonymous]

Every school has good and bad math teachers and this is part of the reason why they switch teachers for the second semester.
DD had the teacher who wasn't as good second semester last year and it was challenging but fine. She had to study more on her own.

What kind of entitled a-hole are you? You can't just ask for your child just to have the "good" teachers. Any parent who is asking these things for a child who does not have special needs or some other extenuating circumstance like a medical need needs their head checked or needs to get their child check out because they should be able to advocate for themselves this age.