Anonymous wrote:First Alg 2 poster. Many of my students can’t do any basic computation without a calculator. I’m trying to teach them how to use a calculator along with the factoring. Some have never touched a graphing calculator before because along with Photomath, they have only used Desmos. That is another big issue. Yes, they can use Desmos on the SOL but they no longer take SOLs and they can’t use Desmos on classroom tests since they are on paper. There is no hiding behind tech anymore. That’s what parents are seeing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Third algebra 2 teacher, confirming everything stated above.

I usually spend 2.5 days reviewing factoring (algebra 1 spends weeks on it), give a short quiz, and then move on to the actual factoring applications that are in our curriculum. This year I’ve spent 5 days on it so far this year and kids are still struggling. So many of them didn’t get anything out of virtual (thanks, photomath) and those choices are coming back to haunt them this year.

I added extra days here because this skill is so critical to the rest of the year, but I can’t do it for every unit. Kids are going to have to get help outside class, whether from me, khan academy, or an outside tutor.

First Alg 2 teacher back again. I was referring to factoring in my post. We taught it this year like it was brand new and like they had never seen it before. They should have spent a significant amount of time factoring in Algebra 1. When the test came, many students could factor a basic quadratic or take out a GCF still. Like this poster said, we can’t spend so many days reviewing Alg 1 in every chapter. They will need outside help or drop to AFDA if they can.

You must be teaching at really high-performing schools. Consider yourself lucky if it's factoring they're starting to struggle at. I have a fair number of students who can't solve one or two-step equations, don't know the difference between exponents and multiplication, can't manipulate fractions, or don't know that 5 times 0 is 0.We reviewed all these skills at the beginning of the year but they still don't get it. Some of these gaps go back to well before the pandemic. They were sort of hanging on in math and a year of photomath sank them further.

Anonymous wrote:I struggled with Algebra 2 25 years ago. It’s a challenging course period.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Third algebra 2 teacher, confirming everything stated above.

I usually spend 2.5 days reviewing factoring (algebra 1 spends weeks on it), give a short quiz, and then move on to the actual factoring applications that are in our curriculum. This year I’ve spent 5 days on it so far this year and kids are still struggling. So many of them didn’t get anything out of virtual (thanks, photomath) and those choices are coming back to haunt them this year.

I added extra days here because this skill is so critical to the rest of the year, but I can’t do it for every unit. Kids are going to have to get help outside class, whether from me, khan academy, or an outside tutor.

First Alg 2 teacher back again. I was referring to factoring in my post. We taught it this year like it was brand new and like they had never seen it before. They should have spent a significant amount of time factoring in Algebra 1. When the test came, many students could factor a basic quadratic or take out a GCF still. Like this poster said, we can’t spend so many days reviewing Alg 1 in every chapter. They will need outside help or drop to AFDA if they can.

Anonymous wrote:Third algebra 2 teacher, confirming everything stated above.

I usually spend 2.5 days reviewing factoring (algebra 1 spends weeks on it), give a short quiz, and then move on to the actual factoring applications that are in our curriculum. This year I’ve spent 5 days on it so far this year and kids are still struggling. So many of them didn’t get anything out of virtual (thanks, photomath) and those choices are coming back to haunt them this year.

I added extra days here because this skill is so critical to the rest of the year, but I can’t do it for every unit. Kids are going to have to get help outside class, whether from me, khan academy, or an outside tutor.

Anonymous wrote:I am an Algebra 2 teacher. This year is especially hard because most of these students had Algebra 1 during the year that was mostly virtual. Some really focused and tried their best. Many did not. Some students told me how they got through by using one of the many problem solver websites or apps to cheat on tests. These students had geometry in person last year but that course is different and some of the gaps are just now appearing.

I spent more time than usual reviewing Alg 1 during the first unit. After my first test I have many students with As and many with Fs. I’ll continue to review as much as I can but many of them will need to see me outside of class and put in a lot of hard work to make up for the gaps.