how to address a teacher who cannot teach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's AP Calculus teacher is new to the profession and doesn't seem to do many of the basic things that a teacher should be doing. For example, she spends very little time teaching each new concept and generally teaches them once before testing. She doesn't give practice assignments/homework on the concepts, expecting students to learn them largely from her in-class instruction. When my daughter asks her to re-explain a concept because she didn't understand, the teacher tells her to look at her notes. My daughter feels that the teacher knows calculus as a subject but just cannot communicate it well. As a result, my daughter is not doing well in the class, despite having always earned A's in her math classes along the way and spending a LOT of time on her own trying to study. We've also got her a tutor and that seems to be helping.

I've reached out to the teacher to ask for ideas to help my daughter and she basically says, "have her come in during lunch and work with me." This is something that my daughter already does and it doesn't help. What else can I do at the school level to improve this? Do we just suck it up and accept the fact that she got crappy instruction and will probably end up with a C in the class? (Others are also struggling in th class - I've spoken personally with another parent and also seen many messages on the parent listserv about this class - there is only one teacher who teaches this particular class.)

Your daughter is in AP calculus and you are still the one speaking for her?

Your daughter and others are struggling in AP calculus, one of the hardest hs courses offered, and you think it is the fault of the teacher?

My daughter has spoken to the teacher a million times about this, gone in to her lunch tutoring sessions, etc. My reaching out at the end of the third quarter of the year--after my daughter has been attempting to get help since September--doesn't seem particularly inappropriate to me.

In addition, since my daughter is studying regularly, getting lunchtime help from the teacher, has an outside tutor - yes, I do think that the teacher and her approach to teaching is contributing to this problem. I support teacher autonomy but teachers are not perfect. Obviously we believe my daughter is mainly responsible for her learning, which is why we've addressed this first by getting her outside help. You'll notice that YOU said "it is the fault of the teacher" and I did not.

Oh, and by the way, thanks for the constructive feedback. Glad you spent your time this morning being snarky to someone asking for some help.

I haven't read the whole thread yet, but can you describe what happens during your daughter's lunchtime help with her teacher? Is it one on one? If so, how is she not getting it if she is going to lunchtime help? Are you saying the teacher also cannot explain things one on one during this extra time? I'm missing something here, either this teacher is truly not good, or your daughter is having a difficult time understanding certain concepts. Also.. have you discussed this with her tutor? What do they think based on what they have worked on with your daughter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a middle school teacher and would like to chime in.

It seems many parents expect their students should be A students. Maybe they traditionally have been- but this is a very difficult class. Your kid getting a C doesn’t mean the teacher is a failure; or that your kid is. Some kids get Cs. Not every kid masters every subject. Many parents think every kid should get an A if they “try” and the parent wants them to.

As a math enthusiast, if my child received a C, I would consider it a failure... mostly on my part.

The bar is just not very high in these classes and Cs definitely mean that understanding of the material has not occurred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's AP Calculus teacher is new to the profession and doesn't seem to do many of the basic things that a teacher should be doing. For example, she spends very little time teaching each new concept and generally teaches them once before testing. She doesn't give practice assignments/homework on the concepts, expecting students to learn them largely from her in-class instruction. When my daughter asks her to re-explain a concept because she didn't understand, the teacher tells her to look at her notes. My daughter feels that the teacher knows calculus as a subject but just cannot communicate it well. As a result, my daughter is not doing well in the class, despite having always earned A's in her math classes along the way and spending a LOT of time on her own trying to study. We've also got her a tutor and that seems to be helping.

I've reached out to the teacher to ask for ideas to help my daughter and she basically says, "have her come in during lunch and work with me." This is something that my daughter already does and it doesn't help. What else can I do at the school level to improve this? Do we just suck it up and accept the fact that she got crappy instruction and will probably end up with a C in the class? (Others are also struggling in th class - I've spoken personally with another parent and also seen many messages on the parent listserv about this class - there is only one teacher who teaches this particular class.)

Your daughter is in AP calculus and you are still the one speaking for her?

Your daughter and others are struggling in AP calculus, one of the hardest hs courses offered, and you think it is the fault of the teacher?

My daughter has spoken to the teacher a million times about this, gone in to her lunch tutoring sessions, etc. My reaching out at the end of the third quarter of the year--after my daughter has been attempting to get help since September--doesn't seem particularly inappropriate to me.

In addition, since my daughter is studying regularly, getting lunchtime help from the teacher, has an outside tutor - yes, I do think that the teacher and her approach to teaching is contributing to this problem. I support teacher autonomy but teachers are not perfect. Obviously we believe my daughter is mainly responsible for her learning, which is why we've addressed this first by getting her outside help. You'll notice that YOU said "it is the fault of the teacher" and I did not.

Oh, and by the way, thanks for the constructive feedback. Glad you spent your time this morning being snarky to someone asking for some help.

I haven't read the whole thread yet, but can you describe what happens during your daughter's lunchtime help with her teacher? Is it one on one? If so, how is she not getting it if she is going to lunchtime help? Are you saying the teacher also cannot explain things one on one during this extra time? I'm missing something here, either this teacher is truly not good, or your daughter is having a difficult time understanding certain concepts. Also.. have you discussed this with her tutor? What do they think based on what they have worked on with your daughter?

Not the OP, but often teachers are working with a lot of students at lunch time. They probably don't have a lot of time to provide individual help and most teachers don't stay after school.

[Anonymous]

Go to admin, talk behind their back, get parents to make a smear campaign, start rumors. It works if the student is a snot nose pos who what's to fight and be manipulative instead of taking responsibility. Just think if a teacher had to deal with 35 manipulators with Karen parents who have no regard or respect for a teacher. So education is going down hill bc students parents and admin don't respect teachers or the education process anymore and the majority of students lack self discipline. Sorry for telling the truth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Your child is going to have to deal with incompetence their whole life, whether it's a coworker, a boss, or one of their own employees. Getting used to working with a wide variety of people is a good thing. You not bashing the teacher in front of your child will go a long way. Her communication style is just different. Truly it will benefit your child learning to work with this teacher. And in the meantime you're doing the right thing as far as tutors and extra help for your child.

+1 Get outside tutoring. This problem will only get worse in college.