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Teacher Advice - Posted By Marc (cr0w) on 16th Sep 08 at 8:38pm
I have Math first period this semester; grade 11 university prep.

Math is usually one of my strong subjects; while my marks have never been the greatest in Math (mainly due to me not doing at-home assignments -- tests are more my kind of thing), I've always grasped concepts quickly.

However, my current Math teacher is horrible at teaching. He's a great guy; really nice, funny, and a fun person -- but not a good teacher. Everyone in the class is completely confused about everything we've learned so far, and tomorrow we have a unit test on it.

He assumes we're too smart; he skips steps, does things in his head, and doesn't spend nearly enough time on things. Asking him to slow down hasn't helped; the class has asked him quite a few times.

Now, my courses are laid out as follows:

 Semester OneSemester Two
Period OneGr. 11 Uni. MathGr. 12 Uni. English
Period TwoGr. 11 Uni. EnglishSpare
Lunch
Period FourComputer ProgrammingAdvanced Guitar
Period FiveComputer ScienceGr. 12 Uni. Math


So as you can see, a pretty full schedule.

Now, normally changing courses wouldn't be a problem; just talk to my counsellor and be put in Mr. I's class (best Math teach ever).

However, because I'm taking my grade 12 courses second semester, my grade 11 English/Math can't be switched to second semester, and my last two period classes only have one schedule timeslot so those can't switch around either.

Now, as I said earlier, we have a unit test tomorrow. I am completely lost, and pretty sure I'm going to fail it. This is not something I would like to do; I've never failed a class, and if I do now it will be even worse because it will throw off my entire second semester.

I'm going to do all 6 pages of review tonight as well as go over my notes. This way I'll at least know whether or not I can do well if I try really hard.

So, does anyone have any advice on what I should do in this situation?

Just a little side note; on Friday we had a 2 question quiz, which he said was the easiest thing we would get in his course; 80% of the class failed it.

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By Graham (amusedtodeath) on 17th Sep 08 at 9:55am
I'd try and speak to him after the lesson one day, explain that you've been finding it hard to get used to his teaching methods and that everyone would appreciate him going a little slower in order to fully grasp the material.
Have you got a department head, someone who is his superior? I'd try and speak to them if the first thing fails, but speak to the teacher first, they'll appreciate it more if they get some feedback {Smile}

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By Marc (cr0w) on 17th Sep 08 at 8:31pm
My teacher last year is the Math department head, and students spoke to him last year; it didn't help.

If you come in for extra help at lunch, he will sit down and teach everything to you thoroughly; but I don't find it fair that I have to give up my lunch hour to learn something I could've learned in class. {Unsure}

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By Sven (sven) on 18th Sep 08 at 6:16am
Surely you have a text book?

If you have a hopeless teacher learn from your text book, or hire a tutor. Jeez, if you need help I'd help you even, though, not knowing what they teach in american math, I can garuntee that it'd be close to Australian :-\

Calculus
Algebra
Quadratics
Locus
Trigonometry

All of those in the course?

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By tricky.cb (crazyblue) on 19th Sep 08 at 3:53am
Math is the same.. alllll over the world {Tongue Out} The only thing that really changes with schools over the world is Language, and Language Classes.

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By Marc (cr0w) on 19th Sep 08 at 3:58am
I don't know what's taught in American math either, seeing as I do not live in America; Canada and America are NOT the same country. {Tongue Out}

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By Sven (sven) on 19th Sep 08 at 4:38am
Well Canada then, I forgot you were Canadian {Tongue Out}

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By tricky.cb (crazyblue) on 20th Sep 08 at 6:13am
 
I don't know what's taught in American math either, seeing as I do not live in America; Canada and America are NOT the same country. {Tongue Out}


You don't live in the United States, but you do live in America {Tongue Out}

Canada, and America aren't the same country.. because America is a continent {Tongue Out}

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By Marc (cr0w) on 20th Sep 08 at 6:16pm
 
 
I don't know what's taught in American math either, seeing as I do not live in America; Canada and America are NOT the same country. {Tongue Out}


You don't live in the United States, but you do live in America {Tongue Out}

Canada, and America aren't the same country.. because America is a continent {Tongue Out}


There's no continent named "America"...there's "North America" and "South America", but nothing just named "America". {Tongue Out}

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By Sven (sven) on 21st Sep 08 at 6:02am
Snap {Tongue Out}

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By ashkir (ashkir) on 23rd Sep 08 at 12:42am
Hmm...I had a few teachers in math I had a hard time understanding; they spent hours of free time with me trying to get me to. My old math teacher apparently was able to teach any level and told me to ask her if I need help; so I did. She was able to explain everything in a way I could understand, apparently I think differently then most people. I do not think logic; instead I think in terms of complexity and reason. Especially reason which apparently makes people think I'm gifted because it allowed my mind to be very open and not restricted to what was taught to me.

Is there an old teacher (too late now I assume it's after the test xD) that you can talk to that is willing to help you, or a different teacher that is willing that you could understand?

 
 
 
I don't know what's taught in American math either, seeing as I do not live in America; Canada and America are NOT the same country. {Tongue Out}


You don't live in the United States, but you do live in America {Tongue Out}

Canada, and America aren't the same country.. because America is a continent {Tongue Out}


There's no continent named "America"...there's "North America" and "South America", but nothing just named "America". {Tongue Out}


Central/Latin America too. :]

What of those islands owned by American countries that are way out of the way?

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By Marc (cr0w) on 23rd Sep 08 at 1:41am
We're onto the second unit now, and he seems to be explaining everything better now. I think he got the idea when the class average for the test was around 50. {Tongue Out}

Re: Teacher Advice - Posted By tricky.cb (crazyblue) on 23rd Sep 08 at 7:56pm
 
 
 
I don't know what's taught in American math either, seeing as I do not live in America; Canada and America are NOT the same country. {Tongue Out}


You don't live in the United States, but you do live in America {Tongue Out}

Canada, and America aren't the same country.. because America is a continent {Tongue Out}


There's no continent named "America"...there's "North America" and "South America", but nothing just named "America". {Tongue Out}


I was simply quoting you. You said you don't live in this so called continent of 'America' so I said you do.