Poor teaching skills

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter what field you go into, teaching, accounting, the military, business development or whatever. There are always going to be people who are good at the job and some who aren't. Starting a whole thread about some teacher who isn't doing that well (in OP's view) seems pointless. There are plenty of people in ALL professions who aren't doing a great job. (And plenty who are.)

These kinds of threads drive me bonkers. They do nothing but launch new parent v. teacher arguments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't matter what field you go into, teaching, accounting, the military, business development or whatever. There are always going to be people who are good at the job and some who aren't. Starting a whole thread about some teacher who isn't doing that well (in OP's view) seems pointless. There are plenty of people in ALL professions who aren't doing a great job. (And plenty who are.)

These kinds of threads drive me bonkers. They do nothing but launch new parent v. teacher arguments.

This. Many doctors are awful. I have had more awful doctors in my life than teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Class Grade Distributions should be available. Current and past. Trends should be of interest, there for all to see, by class, by teacher. Obviously, not identifiable by student. There needs to be transparency ... Ms Jone's 5th period class has half the students failing. Gee, something's wrong. Could be student performance. Too often parents think, certainly someone ... Dept Head, Principal, someone is paying attention to class grade distributions, at least periodically.

So if a teacher's class grade distribution is similar to the below, you automatically think there's something wrong with the teacher's instruction? Not that there may be an issue with student motivation, behavior, or attendance in the one class?

Period 1. 28 students. Grade distribution = 4 A's, 7 B's, 8 C's, 6 D's, 3 F's

Period 2. 30 students. Grade distribution = 19 A's, 10 B's, 1 C.

Period 3. 30 students. Grade distribution = 20 A's, 10 B's.

Period 4. 32 students. Grade distribution = 19 A's, 12 B's, 1 C.

Period 5. 28 students. Grade distribution = 19 A's, 9 B's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

So parents that have no education and experience with teaching, and are receiving all information secondhand from their students have permission to just come on here and bash teachers?

My student is nearly 17 and a straight A student. So, yes, they are capable of telling me what is happening and I'm able to see it from how the tests are administered and the class is doing. And you should really get a thicker skin.

Criticism is not "bashing teachers." Perhaps use it as a period of self-reflection. A LOT of the criticism teachers receive is unfair, I agree with you. But that doesn't mean none of it is. And in terms of my kids AP class upthread, it is absolutely warranted. She's dreadful. All of the kids hate her. All of the parents hate her.

You are contributing to teacher bashing by “criticizing” teachers on a forums almost solely dedicating to bashing FCPS and teachers. I think you need to self-reflect on why you are contributing to this trend. My skin is already thick, which is why I don’t care about your comments.

I'm criticizing one teacher and that criticism is rightly earned. I don't need to self-reflect on anything b/c I've more than filled the gaps by poor teaching over the years, and through COVID, with no complaints about a single teacher to the schools. So if you think I have no right to criticize, you can kindly Go F Yourself, and your thick skin (which, LBH, you responded so you're not that thick skinned).

You may need to self-reflect on whether or not your meds are working….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

So parents that have no education and experience with teaching, and are receiving all information secondhand from their students have permission to just come on here and bash teachers?

My student is nearly 17 and a straight A student. So, yes, they are capable of telling me what is happening and I'm able to see it from how the tests are administered and the class is doing. And you should really get a thicker skin.

Criticism is not "bashing teachers." Perhaps use it as a period of self-reflection. A LOT of the criticism teachers receive is unfair, I agree with you. But that doesn't mean none of it is. And in terms of my kids AP class upthread, it is absolutely warranted. She's dreadful. All of the kids hate her. All of the parents hate her.

You are contributing to teacher bashing by “criticizing” teachers on a forums almost solely dedicating to bashing FCPS and teachers. I think you need to self-reflect on why you are contributing to this trend. My skin is already thick, which is why I don’t care about your comments.

I'm criticizing one teacher and that criticism is rightly earned. I don't need to self-reflect on anything b/c I've more than filled the gaps by poor teaching over the years, and through COVID, with no complaints about a single teacher to the schools. So if you think I have no right to criticize, you can kindly Go F Yourself, and your thick skin (which, LBH, you responded so you're not that thick skinned).

You may need to self-reflect on whether or not your meds are working….

Way to put down those who need mental health meds, or mock it.

Ignorant dbag. Really hoping YOU are not a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or itt could be something wrong with the way the students study (or more likely, don't study).

One of the classes I teach is non-honors and there are two A's among the 55+ students. These students are always on task, do all the in-class practice, do all the homework and study for quizzes and tests.
Most of the others put their pencils down and get on their phones the moment I've finished the lesson and it's time to practice. Some don't even bother taking notes. If you try to take the phone away, they argue or put their heads down and sleep. They don't do the homework at all or copy the key. They don't review on review day and copy the review key to turn in. Then they whine about their grade.

Maybe you don't inspire them to want to learn. Maybe your lessons are boring and rote. Maybe you just don't connect with the majority of your students.

I am so sick of the idea that teachers must inspire. Yes, some teachers will inspire some students, very few very talented teachers will inspire many students. Just like few very talented scientists will make important discoveries. Just like very few very talented engineers will create iPhones and such. Most teachers are regular people who received quite basic training from average local college and are able to take standards of learning, unpack them, plan the year, write standard lessons that will ensure students received content and were given chance to practice the skills taught in those lessons. Period.
If only people who are able to inspire all students were allowed to teach, then there will be very few schools. Which will mean most of your kids won’t get any schooling.

Stop telling kids their teachers are bad. Start telling kids that “the school is not a prison, neither it is a playground. It is a place where learning happens.” Start telling your kids that it is in their interest to learn what teachers know. To seek the knowledge from people who have it. Instead of waiting for someone to inspire them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, in case you didn't know, students talk amongst themselves. So when the highest grade in an non-honors class is a B- and majority of the class are Cs and Ds, maybe question if there is anything wrong with the way you teach.

I'm a teacher and I agree. If it's honors, OK, they signed up for something demanding. But if it's not, then there is something wrong if the average grade isn't at least in the low B's, high C's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, in case you didn't know, students talk amongst themselves. So when the highest grade in an non-honors class is a B- and majority of the class are Cs and Ds, maybe question if there is anything wrong with the way you teach.

I'm a teacher and I agree. If it's honors, OK, they signed up for something demanding. But if it's not, then there is something wrong if the average grade isn't at least in the low B's, high C's.

My child has a language-based learning disability, so she signed up for a regular English class this year (she does not receive IEP service hours during Engliah, but is instead monitored through her Strats class).

She tells me all the time how bad she feels for the teacher of that class. From what she can tell, at least 2/3 of the class are English learners, and she suspects that almost everyone else in the class has an IEP. She said at least 10%-20% of the class is absent each day, and the teacher has to give at least 20 reminders every day to make students close games on their computers or phones.

On a regular basis, she hears the other kids in the class say things such as:
"I don't do writing."
"I don't do projects."
"I'm not reading that book, story, poem, etc."
"I don't care if I fail."

How could grades possibly be a B average in an ENGLISH class if there are students who refuse to read, write, or do projects?

How could grades possibly be a B average if almost everyone in the class is learning English or has an IEP ?

How could grades possibly be a B average if 10%-20% of the class misses the class every day?

If my daughter's observations are correct, I feel bad for the teacher too. How discouraging to teach a class where the students refuse to engage. How do you teach kids ENGLISH if they refuse to read or write?

By the way, my son had this same English teacher two years ago, and she was a wonderful teacher. My son consistently reports that this teacher was one of the two best teachers he has had through all of school. He was also in a standard English class but his class was more typical than the one my daughter seems to be in this year.

[Anonymous]

Eh, don't worry about it. Tbe kids can re-take tests and turn in stuff late w/o penalty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

So parents that have no education and experience with teaching, and are receiving all information secondhand from their students have permission to just come on here and bash teachers?

My student is nearly 17 and a straight A student. So, yes, they are capable of telling me what is happening and I'm able to see it from how the tests are administered and the class is doing. And you should really get a thicker skin.

Criticism is not "bashing teachers." Perhaps use it as a period of self-reflection. A LOT of the criticism teachers receive is unfair, I agree with you. But that doesn't mean none of it is. And in terms of my kids AP class upthread, it is absolutely warranted. She's dreadful. All of the kids hate her. All of the parents hate her.

You are contributing to teacher bashing by “criticizing” teachers on a forums almost solely dedicating to bashing FCPS and teachers. I think you need to self-reflect on why you are contributing to this trend. My skin is already thick, which is why I don’t care about your comments.

I'm criticizing one teacher and that criticism is rightly earned. I don't need to self-reflect on anything b/c I've more than filled the gaps by poor teaching over the years, and through COVID, with no complaints about a single teacher to the schools. So if you think I have no right to criticize, you can kindly Go F Yourself, and your thick skin (which, LBH, you responded so you're not that thick skinned).

You may need to self-reflect on whether or not your meds are working….

Way to put down those who need mental health meds, or mock it.

Ignorant dbag. Really hoping YOU are not a teacher.

I am a teacher.

[Anonymous]

This parent nor any parent knows what the true average grade of a class is. Just because your kid talks to some other kid and thinks they know, they don’t. Stop making judgments based on the very limited information and perspective of children, that’s nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, in case you didn't know, students talk amongst themselves. So when the highest grade in an non-honors class is a B- and majority of the class are Cs and Ds, maybe question if there is anything wrong with the way you teach.

I'm a teacher and I agree. If it's honors, OK, they signed up for something demanding. But if it's not, then there is something wrong if the average grade isn't at least in the low B's, high C's.

My child has a language-based learning disability, so she signed up for a regular English class this year (she does not receive IEP service hours during Engliah, but is instead monitored through her Strats class).

She tells me all the time how bad she feels for the teacher of that class. From what she can tell, at least 2/3 of the class are English learners, and she suspects that almost everyone else in the class has an IEP. She said at least 10%-20% of the class is absent each day, and the teacher has to give at least 20 reminders every day to make students close games on their computers or phones.

On a regular basis, she hears the other kids in the class say things such as:
"I don't do writing."
"I don't do projects."
"I'm not reading that book, story, poem, etc."
"I don't care if I fail."

How could grades possibly be a B average in an ENGLISH class if there are students who refuse to read, write, or do projects?

How could grades possibly be a B average if almost everyone in the class is learning English or has an IEP ?

How could grades possibly be a B average if 10%-20% of the class misses the class every day?

If my daughter's observations are correct, I feel bad for the teacher too. How discouraging to teach a class where the students refuse to engage. How do you teach kids ENGLISH if they refuse to read or write?

By the way, my son had this same English teacher two years ago, and she was a wonderful teacher. My son consistently reports that this teacher was one of the two best teachers he has had through all of school. He was also in a standard English class but his class was more typical than the one my daughter seems to be in this year.

She probably IS a great teacher which is why they have her a high needs class like this. The better the teacher you are, the harder the classes they give you because they know you can handle it. Parents think the good teachers are in the honors/AP classes which could not be more wrong. That’s where they stick the men who can’t do anything besides lecture and give notes because they assume the kids will be fine either way.

That being said, the best best teacher can’t magically out-teach phones and Chromebook games and general torpor among the students. I teach a class similar to the one your daughter is in and my gradebook and general environment probably looks very similar. The kids who care are making immense progress and learning a lot. The kids who don’t - there’s basically not a thing in the world I or anyone else can do to encourage them to care about their own education.

[Anonymous]

Man I might have agreed with you before I became a teacher. But yesterday I spent 95% of class time trying to get students to be quiet so I could explain the instructions on one of the three assignments they were supposed to do that day. I obviously didn't have time to teach everything so I just had to assign the rest of the work as homework for them to study on their own. Will they do that? Doubtful. What am I supposed to do, just spend weeks on the same thing because the kids won't shut up? The class that actually does pay attention and complete the assignments is so much farther ahead and has learned so much more. It's wild.

So maybe the teacher is bad, but maybe the students just aren't rising to the occasion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, in case you didn't know, students talk amongst themselves. So when the highest grade in an non-honors class is a B- and majority of the class are Cs and Ds, maybe question if there is anything wrong with the way you teach.

I'm a teacher and I agree. If it's honors, OK, they signed up for something demanding. But if it's not, then there is something wrong if the average grade isn't at least in the low B's, high C's.

If the kids don’t do the work, why should they be given Bs and Cs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, in case you didn't know, students talk amongst themselves. So when the highest grade in an non-honors class is a B- and majority of the class are Cs and Ds, maybe question if there is anything wrong with the way you teach.

I'm a teacher and I agree. If it's honors, OK, they signed up for something demanding. But if it's not, then there is something wrong if the average grade isn't at least in the low B's, high C's.

If the kids don’t do the work, why should they be given Bs and Cs?

Or if they don't learn the material? A teacher can lead a horse to water but can't force them to drink. I teach my students how to study, give them ample opportunities to do so, give plenty of feedback and models, and many just refuse. And I know it's not how I teach because I teach three classes with the exact same material and in two classes everyone has As and Bs and in another everyone has Cs and Ds. Some classes just have different attitudes toward learning.