Anonymous wrote:I was unclear in my op, sorry. Student is at an IB school. Currently signed up for IB applications but is looking to switch and would rather take straight calculus ( staying in the current class means having the same teacher as last year, who was very poor). I was just looking for some insight into the online class.

IB schools don't offer multiple calculus levels and classes? That is unfortunate that you only have one option at an IB school. The AP schools have multiple time slots of A/B AP calculus and B/C AP calculus, and ususally 1-3 class times of multivariable calculus, depending on the school.

If your teacher last year was not strong, and if the IB math program is weaker than AP, I would be a little hesitant to have my kid take calculus online, unless you can supplement with a qualified in person tutor to help fill in gaps.

Online math classes are generally more difficult than regular online classes. You know your kid best, but if the IB foundation and prior teacher are weak, he could have learning holes that would make success more difficult in an online class.

I was unclear in my op, sorry. Student is at an IB school. Currently signed up for IB applications but is looking to switch and would rather take straight calculus ( staying in the current class means having the same teacher as last year, who was very poor). I was just looking for some insight into the online class.

Anonymous wrote:What fcps does not have multiple sections of calculus to fit into a kid's schedule?

World history should have multiple sections available each class period,since every sophomore takes the class. Even a small school like Lewis should have at least 15 sections of 10th grade world history to choose from.

Can your kid switch to honors or AP world so they get a teacher instead of online? I would insist on a level change. Online for a class that should have at least 2 classes per period is unacceptable.

I reread the original question and saw that you are talking about freshman world history/geography, not sophomore world history.

Then there definitely should be 2-4 class options per period. Insist that your kid get switched to a class with a teacher. Online is unacceptable for a freshman class. We aren't talking about multivariable calculus or AP music theory, which might have only one class time available.

Anonymous wrote:is this a new thing? Online when they cannot find teachers? My freshman's schedule shows World History/Geography as online with the online academy too.

Interesting. My DCs both have had classes where they had a revolving door of subs bc a teacher could not be found. We counted 10 for honors world history. It was not good. The DC had a PE teacher who was arrested in Q[ and subsequently fired. That resulted in the class basically left on its own for much of the year as subs were not always found. They were kept somewhat in check by the presence of other PE teachers in the gym who had their own classes to manage.

I’d probably be happier with an online course than a bunch of subs popping in and out throughout the year. I would not be happy but happier.

What fcps does not have multiple sections of calculus to fit into a kid's schedule?

World history should have multiple sections available each class period,since every sophomore takes the class. Even a small school like Lewis should have at least 15 sections of 10th grade world history to choose from.

Can your kid switch to honors or AP world so they get a teacher instead of online? I would insist on a level change. Online for a class that should have at least 2 classes per period is unacceptable.

is this a new thing? Online when they cannot find teachers? My freshman's schedule shows World History/Geography as online with the online academy too.

Does anyone's student have any experience with AB calc through the online academy? There is no option for my DC to take it in person.