Honors Geometry at Whitman - RANT

[Anonymous]

I am beyond disgusted with this class. DD, normally, a good student is totally lost. Math isn't her thing, but with work, she can do it. Material is just shoved at them before they have even had time to digest it. She was recommended for Honors Geometry, but I think for the rest of her high school career, I am going to seek regular math. She has had only 3 days to cover an ENORMOUS amount of material on "Construction" No time to absorb one concept before rushing to the next.

I took Geometry. I realize it isn't the same now as it was umpteen years ago, but these kids don't even have time to absorb one concept before they rush off to the next. Yesterday, she called me at work in tears.

This is teaching? This is a 'good' school?

Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am beyond disgusted with this class. DD, normally, a good student is totally lost. Math isn't her thing, but with work, she can do it. Material is just shoved at them before they have even had time to digest it. She was recommended for Honors Geometry, but I think for the rest of her high school career, I am going to seek regular math. She has had only 3 days to cover an ENORMOUS amount of material on "Construction" No time to absorb one concept before rushing to the next.

I took Geometry. I realize it isn't the same now as it was umpteen years ago, but these kids don't even have time to absorb one concept before they rush off to the next. Yesterday, she called me at work in tears.

This is teaching? This is a 'good' school?

Give me a break.

My recollection is they do all of 2-3 construction and then never see it again. I’m sure your geometry class was more extensive. Don’t assume they’ve packed all that into a shorter window. Regardless, if she’s struggling, find a tutor, or have her go in at lunch.

[Anonymous]

OP is this:

-a situation where last year's class/teacher didn't prepare her well enough for the rigors of this year's curriculum?
-the wrong placement for her? (she should have taken regular?)
-a specific teacher issue? (if so, what?)
-the first time she has really struggled in a class so she's not doing what she needs to do to get help?

I'd suggest you vent as much as you need to here, take several breaths, and gather some more information before you decide what to do next.

[Anonymous]

OP, DD had some bad math teachers. What helped the most is this: she actually took it upon herself to learn the material *before* the teacher taught it. That way, the teacher was just filling-in information, and DD could also ask questions. Knew enough to enough what she didn't know. This was back when they had a math book and it was obvious what chapter was coming next. Not a bad approach even if your DD had to get a tutor to stay one step ahead. It shouldn't have to be that way, but just offering an idea.

However, Honors math, at least where we live, is truly for students who like math. There are students who like math and would rather do math than any other subject. I've got one of those.

[Anonymous]

Is it really honors? If it was honors, isn't it taken in 8th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it really honors? If it was honors, isn't it taken in 8th grade?

I believe whenever geometry is taught in 8th grade, it’s honors. But in 9th grade, there is honors and regular. DD took honors geometry in 8th, and it was pretty easy. Definitely easier than algebra. So maybe it’s a teacher problem that OP is experiencing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it really honors? If it was honors, isn't it taken in 8th grade?

Honors geometry is also offered at the high schools. It's also possible, the MS geometry teachers go a little easy, since there isn't a non-honors section available.

[Anonymous]

IMO, some kids struggle with different types of math. That was me.. straight A student in math, EXCEPT geometry. Just not my thing. I would get her a tutor. FWIW, many kids at our non W cluster MS did well in honors Geometry (including my kid). It might be the kids; it might be the teachers; it might be a combination of both. Hard to tell.

Are other kids in the class struggling? If so, it could be the teacher.

[Anonymous]

My son is struggling in Honors Algebra 2, so you have my sympathies, OP. These courses do go very quickly. DS is starting to understand that he is lacking/forgot some basics and really has to work very hard with extra practice material to be reliable on the methods to solve equations. He is trying to dig himself out of a C. He's always had more trouble with algebra than geometry.

Have her daughter really put in serious work, try to help her, or hire a tutor. The benefit of being in the loop is that you are there every day (unless you travel) to double check her homework and explain mistakes, and perhaps look for additional practice problems online.

[Anonymous]

You could ask for a meeting with the teacher and department head. They might have some suggestions on what your child can do to improve.

Khan Academy online site helped my child.

The suggestion of working ahead to learn material is also good. Ask the math resource teacher and your child’s teacher how this can take place with the current curriculum. There is not a textbook to know what is coming next but there might be some MCPS resources to help.

[Anonymous]

The teacher is far more important than the actual school. Just because you go to a W school, does not mean you will get good teachers, only kids with rich parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, DD had some bad math teachers. What helped the most is this: she actually took it upon herself to learn the material *before* the teacher taught it. That way, the teacher was just filling-in information, and DD could also ask questions. Knew enough to enough what she didn't know. This was back when they had a math book and it was obvious what chapter was coming next. Not a bad approach even if your DD had to get a tutor to stay one step ahead. It shouldn't have to be that way, but just offering an idea.

However, Honors math, at least where we live, is truly for students who like math. There are students who like math and would rather do math than any other subject. I've got one of those.

Hi. Are you in Montgomery County. It seems that 75 percent of 9th graders are in honors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am beyond disgusted with this class. DD, normally, a good student is totally lost. Math isn't her thing, but with work, she can do it. Material is just shoved at them before they have even had time to digest it. She was recommended for Honors Geometry, but I think for the rest of her high school career, I am going to seek regular math. She has had only 3 days to cover an ENORMOUS amount of material on "Construction" No time to absorb one concept before rushing to the next.

I took Geometry. I realize it isn't the same now as it was umpteen years ago, but these kids don't even have time to absorb one concept before they rush off to the next. Yesterday, she called me at work in tears.

This is teaching? This is a 'good' school?

Give me a break.

Honors math goes really quickly and the schools have a lot of leeway on how to implement the curriculum, which is why I think kids may have issues at one school but not the other. What's been helpful for my son who is in honors geometry this year is going over the classwork and homework everyday to make sure he understands it. That has helped us so far.

But, I do agree that you may want to reach out to the math resource teacher to ask about how they are teaching honors geometry and the pacing of the class. They may not be aware of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am beyond disgusted with this class. DD, normally, a good student is totally lost. Math isn't her thing, but with work, she can do it. Material is just shoved at them before they have even had time to digest it. She was recommended for Honors Geometry, but I think for the rest of her high school career, I am going to seek regular math. She has had only 3 days to cover an ENORMOUS amount of material on "Construction" No time to absorb one concept before rushing to the next.

I took Geometry. I realize it isn't the same now as it was umpteen years ago, but these kids don't even have time to absorb one concept before they rush off to the next. Yesterday, she called me at work in tears.

This is teaching? This is a 'good' school?

Give me a break.

Honors math goes really quickly and the schools have a lot of leeway on how to implement the curriculum, which is why I think kids may have issues at one school but not the other. What's been helpful for my son who is in honors geometry this year is going over the classwork and homework everyday to make sure he understands it. That has helped us so far.

But, I do agree that you may want to reach out to the math resource teacher to ask about how they are teaching honors geometry and the pacing of the class. They may not be aware of this.

Does he go over the math stuff on his own, or with your help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher is far more important than the actual school. Just because you go to a W school, does not mean you will get good teachers, only kids with rich parents.

Yep. And doesn’t mean that all the kids at the school will do well in Honors Geography (or regular for that matter.)