Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 15:22     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


If the period doesn’t change, the teacher shouldn’t either. That does not happen in MCPS and it makes no sense


This definitely happens and I agree it doesn't make sense.


I’m curious what percentage of HS classes are semester vs yearlong. It does seem odd to make every class a semester long class for ease of scheduling, when so few classes are actually only one semester.


This is OP. When I look at my daughter’s schedule, it’s crafted so that everything is technically a semester class. She is taking honors English, and her schedule shows honors English A in first semester and honors English B in second semester. In my mind, that’s still a year-long class. I have trouble believing her new English teacher is picking up exactly where her old one left off.



At MCPS you earn 0.50 credit for the semester. Some classes are 1.0 credit and some like health are 0.50 credit.

So even though a student has honors pre-calc for 1.0 credit, it is scored at MP1 and MP2 - S1 grade and 0.50 credit. Then MP3 and MP4 for S2 grade and 0.50 credit.


So if you fail the first semester of English but get an A in the second semester, you still need to retake 0.5 credit of English? This makes no sense.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 15:17     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:We were new to MCPS in 10th and DS had the same experience. Same exact courses fall and spring, yet difference periods, different teachers (other than theatre), and for the most part, different classmates (large HS).


Yes, it really makes the first day of the second semester feel like another first day of school. Many kids have to learn their new routes from room to room, meet new teachers, and new classmates. They get new course pages on Canvas too.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 14:52     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

And I agree, it's hard to imagine there is an exact full stop and start. In our experience, there might be some review time particularly in math and science classes.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 14:51     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


If the period doesn’t change, the teacher shouldn’t either. That does not happen in MCPS and it makes no sense


This definitely happens and I agree it doesn't make sense.


I’m curious what percentage of HS classes are semester vs yearlong. It does seem odd to make every class a semester long class for ease of scheduling, when so few classes are actually only one semester.


This is OP. When I look at my daughter’s schedule, it’s crafted so that everything is technically a semester class. She is taking honors English, and her schedule shows honors English A in first semester and honors English B in second semester. In my mind, that’s still a year-long class. I have trouble believing her new English teacher is picking up exactly where her old one left off.



At MCPS you earn 0.50 credit for the semester. Some classes are 1.0 credit and some like health are 0.50 credit.

So even though a student has honors pre-calc for 1.0 credit, it is scored at MP1 and MP2 - S1 grade and 0.50 credit. Then MP3 and MP4 for S2 grade and 0.50 credit.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 14:49     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

We were new to MCPS in 10th and DS had the same experience. Same exact courses fall and spring, yet difference periods, different teachers (other than theatre), and for the most part, different classmates (large HS).
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 14:35     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


If the period doesn’t change, the teacher shouldn’t either. That does not happen in MCPS and it makes no sense


This definitely happens and I agree it doesn't make sense.


I’m curious what percentage of HS classes are semester vs yearlong. It does seem odd to make every class a semester long class for ease of scheduling, when so few classes are actually only one semester.


This is OP. When I look at my daughter’s schedule, it’s crafted so that everything is technically a semester class. She is taking honors English, and her schedule shows honors English A in first semester and honors English B in second semester. In my mind, that’s still a year-long class. I have trouble believing her new English teacher is picking up exactly where her old one left off.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 14:19     Subject: Re:Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's very common, especially in 9th and 10th. I agree it's annoying. My kid has new teachers in 5 out of 7 classes this semester.


I am sorry but that is terrible. With limited counselors and no police officers, some of these teens build trust with their teachers. There is absolutely no reason to move a teacher of the same class after a semester. MCPS is just so bad anymore

This has been the norm in MCPS for as long as I can remember. It has never been a cause for fake concern except on DCUM.
Take your troll somewhere else.


My oldest graduated in 2017 and never changed a teacher on a full year class. What are you talking about?
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 14:07     Subject: Re:Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's very common, especially in 9th and 10th. I agree it's annoying. My kid has new teachers in 5 out of 7 classes this semester.


I am sorry but that is terrible. With limited counselors and no police officers, some of these teens build trust with their teachers. There is absolutely no reason to move a teacher of the same class after a semester. MCPS is just so bad anymore

This has been the norm in MCPS for as long as I can remember. It has never been a cause for fake concern except on DCUM.
Take your troll somewhere else.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 12:16     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


If the period doesn’t change, the teacher shouldn’t either. That does not happen in MCPS and it makes no sense


This definitely happens and I agree it doesn't make sense.


I’m curious what percentage of HS classes are semester vs yearlong. It does seem odd to make every class a semester long class for ease of scheduling, when so few classes are actually only one semester.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 11:10     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


If the period doesn’t change, the teacher shouldn’t either. That does not happen in MCPS and it makes no sense


This definitely happens and I agree it doesn't make sense.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 10:54     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


Except for the exact same class at the exact same time will have a different teacher. Why can't they schedule that teacher for the same time in the second semester? English 9A and English 9B at the same time with same teacher, with everyone staying unless one of their electives requires them to get moved to another class.


As an IT professional, I will say that MCPS engineering hiring must be very subpar. Whomever is in charge of our county's IT infrastructure needs to be fired. Pay enough money and the good engineers and managers will come!


They pay good money. There is no accountability in administration and central offices
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 10:28     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


If the period doesn’t change, the teacher shouldn’t either. That does not happen in MCPS and it makes no sense
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 09:59     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


Except for the exact same class at the exact same time will have a different teacher. Why can't they schedule that teacher for the same time in the second semester? English 9A and English 9B at the same time with same teacher, with everyone staying unless one of their electives requires them to get moved to another class.


As an IT professional, I will say that MCPS engineering hiring must be very subpar. Whomever is in charge of our county's IT infrastructure needs to be fired. Pay enough money and the good engineers and managers will come!
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 09:55     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also find it odd, but it is the norm in MCPS. I don’t get why the software wouldn’t keep the same teacher in — it could definitely be programmed to do so.


According to our counselor, it happens because of the chosen electives. In order to give kids their preferred classes they can’t always stay with the same teacher. Like I said above, you can ask to change back to the first semester teacher, but you might lose the elective that got you bumped in the first place.


Except for the exact same class at the exact same time will have a different teacher. Why can't they schedule that teacher for the same time in the second semester? English 9A and English 9B at the same time with same teacher, with everyone staying unless one of their electives requires them to get moved to another class.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2023 09:52     Subject: Changing teachers with new semester?

Sometimes it’s a good thing! My son got rid of his mediocre history teacher this semester and got a much more energetic seeming English teacher.

I agree it’s a weird system though.