Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks! There is a lot to think about here. I generally agree that it’s good to try to tough it out but this situation is getting worse. If my kid did talk to the counselor or administrator about switching teachers, and that did happen, what would that mean for the grades so far in the class this quarter? Do those terrible grades carry over? I assume so but would be curious if anyone has experience with that.

As part of an IEP, my son switched teachers mid quarter. Yes, the grades carry over. There is nothing that can be done about them except retake the course at another time.

Quarter grades don’t matter for HS —only semester grades.

Of course quarter grades matter in HS. Only semester grades are listed for colleges, but the semester grade is the two quarter grades averaged together. If OP's kid failed first quarter, then the highest they can get for the semester is a C.

Do you really think a student failed the first quarter strictly because of a teacher, but will really earn an A next quarter with a different teacher? That sounds like an unrealistic assessment of the situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks! There is a lot to think about here. I generally agree that it’s good to try to tough it out but this situation is getting worse. If my kid did talk to the counselor or administrator about switching teachers, and that did happen, what would that mean for the grades so far in the class this quarter? Do those terrible grades carry over? I assume so but would be curious if anyone has experience with that.

As part of an IEP, my son switched teachers mid quarter. Yes, the grades carry over. There is nothing that can be done about them except retake the course at another time.

Quarter grades don’t matter for HS —only semester grades.

Of course quarter grades matter in HS. Only semester grades are listed for colleges, but the semester grade is the two quarter grades averaged together. If OP's kid failed first quarter, then the highest they can get for the semester is a C.

This. And we are already a month into the new semester.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks! There is a lot to think about here. I generally agree that it’s good to try to tough it out but this situation is getting worse. If my kid did talk to the counselor or administrator about switching teachers, and that did happen, what would that mean for the grades so far in the class this quarter? Do those terrible grades carry over? I assume so but would be curious if anyone has experience with that.

As part of an IEP, my son switched teachers mid quarter. Yes, the grades carry over. There is nothing that can be done about them except retake the course at another time.

Quarter grades don’t matter for HS —only semester grades.

Of course quarter grades matter in HS. Only semester grades are listed for colleges, but the semester grade is the two quarter grades averaged together. If OP's kid failed first quarter, then the highest they can get for the semester is a C.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks! There is a lot to think about here. I generally agree that it’s good to try to tough it out but this situation is getting worse. If my kid did talk to the counselor or administrator about switching teachers, and that did happen, what would that mean for the grades so far in the class this quarter? Do those terrible grades carry over? I assume so but would be curious if anyone has experience with that.

As part of an IEP, my son switched teachers mid quarter. Yes, the grades carry over. There is nothing that can be done about them except retake the course at another time.

Quarter grades don’t matter for HS —only semester grades.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks! There is a lot to think about here. I generally agree that it’s good to try to tough it out but this situation is getting worse. If my kid did talk to the counselor or administrator about switching teachers, and that did happen, what would that mean for the grades so far in the class this quarter? Do those terrible grades carry over? I assume so but would be curious if anyone has experience with that.

As part of an IEP, my son switched teachers mid quarter. Yes, the grades carry over. There is nothing that can be done about them except retake the course at another time.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks! There is a lot to think about here. I generally agree that it’s good to try to tough it out but this situation is getting worse. If my kid did talk to the counselor or administrator about switching teachers, and that did happen, what would that mean for the grades so far in the class this quarter? Do those terrible grades carry over? I assume so but would be curious if anyone has experience with that.

Yes, of course. The course doesn’t start over. It would be up to your kid to turn it around for themselves.

Op here. Thanks! There is a lot to think about here. I generally agree that it’s good to try to tough it out but this situation is getting worse. If my kid did talk to the counselor or administrator about switching teachers, and that did happen, what would that mean for the grades so far in the class this quarter? Do those terrible grades carry over? I assume so but would be curious if anyone has experience with that.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is struggling in a class. Some of it (certainly not all, but enough) seems to be due to the teacher. Another teacher teaches the same class at the same time. Is it possible to just switch teachers? My kid and I were in touch with the counselor about the class last quarter so the counselor is aware there's a problem. She didn't offer switching teachers as an option but I am wondering if kids can do that. The kid is currently failing the class despite being an A/high B student otherwise.

I have a Junior and I have never requested a teacher change. Always listened to the advice that it was good for kids to have to deal with all difference personalities - ya da ya da ya da. Well I totally regret it. By the time your kid is in HS, they have dealt with tons of teachers. If there is one causing a dramatic drop in grade steer clear. I did not and I regret it. My kid gets along with people just fine, she is 17. If you know that it is the teacher, do it. No one else is going to advocate for your kid but your kid and you.

It's generally a bad idea to request/demand a teacher change. Your child is going to encounter a number of diverse folks in his life - some he'll get along with, some he won't. He'll have terrible bosses, terrible professors, and if he gets too used to Mommy clearing the snow out of his path, he'll never be able to get along with these folks in the real world.

But if you absolutely must request a teacher change after the year has started, don't waste your time going to the counselor as counselors in most schools aren't allowed to make teacher changes. The counselor will probably just tell you to work out your issues with the teacher. Administrators have the final say, so if you absolutely must have the discussion, talk to the administrator in charge of your kid's grade level.

Thanks, all!

If the parents fuss loud enough at the schools I've taught in, changes are made. No one advertises it because then obviously some teachers would be avoided while other teachers would have full sections, but there's nothing that's preventing it from happening.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is struggling in a class. Some of it (certainly not all, but enough) seems to be due to the teacher. Another teacher teaches the same class at the same time. Is it possible to just switch teachers? My kid and I were in touch with the counselor about the class last quarter so the counselor is aware there's a problem. She didn't offer switching teachers as an option but I am wondering if kids can do that. The kid is currently failing the class despite being an A/high B student otherwise.

Yes. It can be done. Push for it and go to the Principal if needed. It can be done discreetly.

We did it once. It was an extreme case and definitely teacher-specific. Schools don't like to do it, but they can. Meet with the counselor.

Your kid won't have a perfect fit with all their teachers; my kids have had teachers that made for challenging learning environments for them in the past, but I think that's part of the learning process for them. Students have to adapt too.

have your child go to their counselor and ask. that's the only way you're going to find out. Please let your child do this, you can email the counselor afterward, and let the counselor know that you support this. But, don't make ghe original request, let your student do it.

My kid is struggling in a class. Some of it (certainly not all, but enough) seems to be due to the teacher. Another teacher teaches the same class at the same time. Is it possible to just switch teachers? My kid and I were in touch with the counselor about the class last quarter so the counselor is aware there's a problem. She didn't offer switching teachers as an option but I am wondering if kids can do that. The kid is currently failing the class despite being an A/high B student otherwise.