Honors Math classes being poorly taught (Churchill)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

The sheriff gave them a warning. But that can only do so much, some of the teachers simply stink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

The thread was started before the school year got going.

[Anonymous]

I think that the curriculum plays a role. There is one teacher in particular that the students like. That person teaches at the regular level very well, but the advanced classes are not well done by that same teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

My experience is based on several years with kids at the school. With the new principal we were hoping something would change (like ineffective teachers would be gone) but it appears to be the exact same staff. The fact that some teachers knew they could get away with doing the bare minimum and still be secure in their jobs is really sad and pathetic. If you don't want to teach, find something else to do. People change careers all the time. I think a lot of them who are tired of teaching and do as little as possible are sticking around to claim their pensions which are pretty darn good in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

My experience is based on several years with kids at the school. With the new principal we were hoping something would change (like ineffective teachers would be gone) but it appears to be the exact same staff. The fact that some teachers knew they could get away with doing the bare minimum and still be secure in their jobs is really sad and pathetic. If you don't want to teach, find something else to do. People change careers all the time. I think a lot of them who are tired of teaching and do as little as possible are sticking around to claim their pensions which are pretty darn good in MCPS.

That doesn't mean, though, that there isn't progress being made. The best a new principal could do is to put them on a performance plan, so having wholesale turnover immediately isn't feasible. If they indeed improve, then they stay. If they don't, then the start a path out the door. From the outside, I haven't a clue what is happening with the poor teachers, but it's too early to blame a principal that there has been no staff turnover yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

My experience is based on several years with kids at the school. With the new principal we were hoping something would change (like ineffective teachers would be gone) but it appears to be the exact same staff. The fact that some teachers knew they could get away with doing the bare minimum and still be secure in their jobs is really sad and pathetic. If you don't want to teach, find something else to do. People change careers all the time. I think a lot of them who are tired of teaching and do as little as possible are sticking around to claim their pensions which are pretty darn good in MCPS.

That doesn't mean, though, that there isn't progress being made. The best a new principal could do is to put them on a performance plan, so having wholesale turnover immediately isn't feasible. If they indeed improve, then they stay. If they don't, then the start a path out the door. From the outside, I haven't a clue what is happening with the poor teachers, but it's too early to blame a principal that there has been no staff turnover yet.

This. She has to make certain steps by certain deadlines. And she has to do a certain number of observations (collectively, not just her). If she has the requisite evidence, she can put a teacher on PAR. That effectively means they have one year to get their act together. So it's a two-year process to ditch a teacher. And if the teacher goes on leave or monkeys strategically with stuff, they can make it take three years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

My experience is based on several years with kids at the school. With the new principal we were hoping something would change (like ineffective teachers would be gone) but it appears to be the exact same staff. The fact that some teachers knew they could get away with doing the bare minimum and still be secure in their jobs is really sad and pathetic. If you don't want to teach, find something else to do. People change careers all the time. I think a lot of them who are tired of teaching and do as little as possible are sticking around to claim their pensions which are pretty darn good in MCPS.

That doesn't mean, though, that there isn't progress being made. The best a new principal could do is to put them on a performance plan, so having wholesale turnover immediately isn't feasible. If they indeed improve, then they stay. If they don't, then the start a path out the door. From the outside, I haven't a clue what is happening with the poor teachers, but it's too early to blame a principal that there has been no staff turnover yet.

This. She has to make certain steps by certain deadlines. And she has to do a certain number of observations (collectively, not just her). If she has the requisite evidence, she can put a teacher on PAR. That effectively means they have one year to get their act together. So it's a two-year process to ditch a teacher. And if the teacher goes on leave or monkeys strategically with stuff, they can make it take three years.

Seriously, what other profession can you pull this crap in and still have a job??? Certainly no private employers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

My experience is based on several years with kids at the school. With the new principal we were hoping something would change (like ineffective teachers would be gone) but it appears to be the exact same staff. The fact that some teachers knew they could get away with doing the bare minimum and still be secure in their jobs is really sad and pathetic. If you don't want to teach, find something else to do. People change careers all the time. I think a lot of them who are tired of teaching and do as little as possible are sticking around to claim their pensions which are pretty darn good in MCPS.

That doesn't mean, though, that there isn't progress being made. The best a new principal could do is to put them on a performance plan, so having wholesale turnover immediately isn't feasible. If they indeed improve, then they stay. If they don't, then the start a path out the door. From the outside, I haven't a clue what is happening with the poor teachers, but it's too early to blame a principal that there has been no staff turnover yet.

This. She has to make certain steps by certain deadlines. And she has to do a certain number of observations (collectively, not just her). If she has the requisite evidence, she can put a teacher on PAR. That effectively means they have one year to get their act together. So it's a two-year process to ditch a teacher. And if the teacher goes on leave or monkeys strategically with stuff, they can make it take three years.

Seriously, what other profession can you pull this crap in and still have a job??? Certainly no private employers.

This absolutely happens with private employers. At my private organization it would take at least 9 months to dismiss someone with serious performance issues-- lots of documentation to put them on a performance improvement plan (PIP), six months to improve on the PIP. And then a cumbersome process to dismiss. It is very frustrating when you're talking about an employee in an essential role, but it also protects everyone from arbitrary and capricious dismissal. It may be different at very small organizations, but this is very common with organizations large enough to have an HR department.

[Anonymous]

in Hoover math they make kids do projects sometimes with another kid and if other kid is stupid you both get an F

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:in Hoover math they make kids do projects sometimes with another kid and if other kid is stupid you both get an F

This is totally true. My dd had this problem last year. The project was in-class and under time constraint. I think the idea was that each kid would check the other's work but there wasn't time and so they got the average of the two grades.

Same thing happened to dd at Churchill. 4 kids were all supposed to work together and write separately. Teacher randomly chose which of the four papers to grade. The one she chose belonged to a kid who didn't care and didn't write much down. The other three had looked at the paper once and given suggestions for improvement but kid didn't make the changes. Maybe the lesson is supposed to be about assertiveness? You see they're doing it wrong and you hover over them to make sure they fix everything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

My experience is based on several years with kids at the school. With the new principal we were hoping something would change (like ineffective teachers would be gone) but it appears to be the exact same staff. The fact that some teachers knew they could get away with doing the bare minimum and still be secure in their jobs is really sad and pathetic. If you don't want to teach, find something else to do. People change careers all the time. I think a lot of them who are tired of teaching and do as little as possible are sticking around to claim their pensions which are pretty darn good in MCPS.

That doesn't mean, though, that there isn't progress being made. The best a new principal could do is to put them on a performance plan, so having wholesale turnover immediately isn't feasible. If they indeed improve, then they stay. If they don't, then the start a path out the door. From the outside, I haven't a clue what is happening with the poor teachers, but it's too early to blame a principal that there has been no staff turnover yet.

This. She has to make certain steps by certain deadlines. And she has to do a certain number of observations (collectively, not just her). If she has the requisite evidence, she can put a teacher on PAR. That effectively means they have one year to get their act together. So it's a two-year process to ditch a teacher. And if the teacher goes on leave or monkeys strategically with stuff, they can make it take three years.

Seriously, what other profession can you pull this crap in and still have a job??? Certainly no private employers.

This absolutely happens with private employers. At my private organization it would take at least 9 months to dismiss someone with serious performance issues-- lots of documentation to put them on a performance improvement plan (PIP), six months to improve on the PIP. And then a cumbersome process to dismiss. It is very frustrating when you're talking about an employee in an essential role, but it also protects everyone from arbitrary and capricious dismissal. It may be different at very small organizations, but this is very common with organizations large enough to have an HR department.

I just filled out the parent survey Churchill sent out, and I named names of the teachers who I've heard do a bad job. I'd suggest others do the same. It's only when the same name comes up many times that supervisors take the feedback seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question-- are ya'll's comments on poor math instruction based on this year or based on history?

The reason I ask is that dd's friends have the same teacher dd had last year. And from what they say, she is taking the instruction much more seriously. Dd complained that last year, she didn't really teach and spent a lot of her time on her phone. But this year, the friends say she is actively teaching.

I'm wondering if math teachers are preparing more and trying to be more serious because there is a new sheriff in town, or if this is an isolated anecdote.

My experience is based on several years with kids at the school. With the new principal we were hoping something would change (like ineffective teachers would be gone) but it appears to be the exact same staff. The fact that some teachers knew they could get away with doing the bare minimum and still be secure in their jobs is really sad and pathetic. If you don't want to teach, find something else to do. People change careers all the time. I think a lot of them who are tired of teaching and do as little as possible are sticking around to claim their pensions which are pretty darn good in MCPS.

That doesn't mean, though, that there isn't progress being made. The best a new principal could do is to put them on a performance plan, so having wholesale turnover immediately isn't feasible. If they indeed improve, then they stay. If they don't, then the start a path out the door. From the outside, I haven't a clue what is happening with the poor teachers, but it's too early to blame a principal that there has been no staff turnover yet.

This. She has to make certain steps by certain deadlines. And she has to do a certain number of observations (collectively, not just her). If she has the requisite evidence, she can put a teacher on PAR. That effectively means they have one year to get their act together. So it's a two-year process to ditch a teacher. And if the teacher goes on leave or monkeys strategically with stuff, they can make it take three years.

Seriously, what other profession can you pull this crap in and still have a job??? Certainly no private employers.

This absolutely happens with private employers. At my private organization it would take at least 9 months to dismiss someone with serious performance issues-- lots of documentation to put them on a performance improvement plan (PIP), six months to improve on the PIP. And then a cumbersome process to dismiss. It is very frustrating when you're talking about an employee in an essential role, but it also protects everyone from arbitrary and capricious dismissal. It may be different at very small organizations, but this is very common with organizations large enough to have an HR department.

My brother works with a man who has evaded firing for over three years. Major insurance firm. And, no, the guy isn’t a “protected class” He’s just litigious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:in Hoover math they make kids do projects sometimes with another kid and if other kid is stupid you both get an F

This is totally true. My dd had this problem last year. The project was in-class and under time constraint. I think the idea was that each kid would check the other's work but there wasn't time and so they got the average of the two grades.

Same thing happened to dd at Churchill. 4 kids were all supposed to work together and write separately. Teacher randomly chose which of the four papers to grade. The one she chose belonged to a kid who didn't care and didn't write much down. The other three had looked at the paper once and given suggestions for improvement but kid didn't make the changes. Maybe the lesson is supposed to be about assertiveness? You see they're doing it wrong and you hover over them to make sure they fix everything?

This happened to my child st Takoma. As a result, she got a B for MP 1. Dropping her GPA. I know some people will say big whoop, but she was very aggravated.

[Anonymous]

I just filled out the parent survey Churchill sent out, and I named names of the teachers who I've heard do a bad job. I'd suggest others do the same. It's only when the same name comes up many times that supervisors take the feedback seriously.

I'm a bit skeptical of the surveys. MCPS principals in our cluster have tried this tactic before an behold, the results show everything is puppy dogs and unicorns in the school. Who gets the data? The principal. She can pick and choose what she wants to disclose. Serious issues about staff will never get the light of day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I just filled out the parent survey Churchill sent out, and I named names of the teachers who I've heard do a bad job. I'd suggest others do the same. It's only when the same name comes up many times that supervisors take the feedback seriously.

I'm a bit skeptical of the surveys. MCPS principals in our cluster have tried this tactic before an behold, the results show everything is puppy dogs and unicorns in the school. Who gets the data? The principal. She can pick and choose what she wants to disclose. Serious issues about staff will never get the light of day.

I assumed she wouldn't disclose anything-- she is trying to see what issues are of widespread concern, and which issues have a narrower constituency of loud parents. (And may hear a few things she hasn't already heard.) There are a number of multiple choice questions that I hope they won't focus on because they are not written in a way to get valid results. But there's also a lot of space for open ended comments. It would have to be more productive for everyone on this board to write them on the survey to the principal than on DCUM!