Reply to Alg 2/Honors Pre Calc disconnect

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A couple things:

Honors Pre-Cal is a hard class that does require students to move to abstract conceptual thinking while applying a variety of algebraic concepts.  For this to work requires a solid Algebra understanding and lots of practice.

Students can request a copy of the book for home use from their teachers/schools.  That said, it’s only helpful if students actually use the textbook once they get it.

As other have mentioned, going to Khan academy and doing the relevant section may be helpful. It may also be helpful to do the Khan academy prep for Pre-Cal so as to review key concepts.  Go to teachers for help when they offer it.

Also, something that many students do not do, take note of key mathematical vocabulary.  Just like any class math has specific vocabulary that students should understand.  These is helpful when doing word problems.

Lastly, learning to study.  Alg 2 and PreCal is when a lot of students realize they are going to have to dedicate real time to math.  This means doing extra practice problems and previewing the next days content so they come to class with questions about previous content and with a base for where class is going next.[/quote]

All of this is really helpful, and it sounds like you may be speaking from inside MCPS, so a bit of feedback from the front lines:

My child requested a textbook at the beginning of the year, and the teacher said they would be distributed this Monday. They have still not been distributed. We would use the book if we had it.

Going to the teachers only works if the teachers keep their office hours, and/or if they are willing to explain concepts using different words. If the exact words spoken in class were helpful, the child would probably not be at office hours.

I think a lot of these kids would be happy to review concepts or do extra practice, but there are zero resources offered. Yes, they can just google "f(x) and g(x) inverse function problem set" but we all know the internet is wild and what Google offers up may or may not be helpful. This would be a great chance for folks in the Central Office to update the resources shared above to include Pre-Calculus and Calculus.

At the end of the day, this is supposed to be a partnership between students, teachers/schools, and parents, but all of the work is being shifted to the kids. [/quote]

Not someone in MCPS besides a parent. That said my response to the following would be:
- Ask for the book again and follow-up with an e-mail so its in writing.
- Go to the teacher office hours and note what concept or part of a concept is confusing.  Just showing up and saying I need help is not actually how ones obtains help.  Ex: At what point of a lesson did you get lost? What homework problem are you struggling with?  Review the quiz or test problems/content.
- Ask for extra practice problems.  Go to the teacher and note that you would like some additional practice problems to help with solidifying concepts and studying.  This is also easier to do, once you have a book.  
- The internet is the Wild West but you don't have to go just randomly looking for help.  Go to Khan Academy or IXL and do Alg2 or Pre-Cal.
- If all the above is failing, seek out help from your schools Math Lead and/or you child's counselor.

Yes this is supposed to be a partnership between students, teachers, schools, and parents.  But, when you get to Hon. Pre-Cal level, the expectation is that the student is going to put in greater amount of effort for success.  If student shows up to office hours with, "I'm failing how do I improve?"  Well the answer is obvious, do better on graded assignments.     However, if you come to office hours, and say, "I come to class, review your notes before class, and take my own, plus do a study session prior to test but still seem to be struggling.  Can you offer suggestions on things I should be paying particular attention to in class or while studying?  Can you recommend other resources that may be helpful?"  Now you're going to get a more specific answer and a more engaged teacher.   Even better, if student shows up and says, I didn't do well on the last exam, I'd like to go over a few problems I missed step by step so I can better see and understand what I did wrong plus understand the areas where I need to study more.[/quote]

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