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For this same reason I suggested my school to test students before being placed in higher level math classes. Not multiple choice questions. Just about 5-10 questions with a,b,c and the teachers to not grade it but just folow the logic/ understanding of concepts and based on that determine whether the student should move on. I asked to do it before they would go to PRECALC and before certain math classes. I was told that would decrease the number of students placed in a higher math class so no.
We used to have the kids take a test to see who made it to Pre-Algebra, the past few years that has stopped and our new admins just pick who goes in the class. My principal gave me a list to see who would be candidates for Pre-Algebra, and half of the kids never did their work and failed math that year. 🤦🏻
I asked my dean if it was preferred almost everyone drop AP Calculus, or if it's preferred nobody passed the exam.
I was asked to split the difference.
I literally bang my head on a stress reduction "bang head here" sign daily.
I have students that understand they want to know where the derivative is positive, but can't factor a simple quadratic.
I feel your pain, you are not alone. 1 student who achieves with your help is enough.
Keep fighting the good fight.
I haven't even started derivatives yet.
This is across the board though - in all of my classes. Students unwilling/unable to use their resources (no matter how many times I remind them), think for themselves, try. It's beyond frustrating.
Yup!! It’s All our fault! Parents need to take responsibility for continued learning/Studying at home. Hold their children accountable. Please take note that there are children out there that do care and are very conscientious but there’s that handful always that just don’t give a darn. Don’t lose hope keep inspiring and pushing
Parents being accountable... Bwahahahahahahaha.
OMG, that is funny.
99% of parents suck.
I completely understand what you mean. It is extremely frustrating to help students that do not even want to help themselves. I tutor kids at my lunch and after school for free of course. I help them complete half of their homework and then they walk in the next day without even trying any of the remaining problems. It’s so bothersome and I also feel defeated. Let’s just keep trying to help those that want to be helped. That’s all we can do!
I'm ready to walk out today but of course I won't. I'm ready to leave the profession, but will lose my pension
Districts around here allow kids to fail every subject for every year of middle school without having them repeat a grade. "Studies have found it doesn't help and only hurts their self-esteem." Ummmm... okay.
We are coming off a pandemic. Take a deep breathe and refocus. Let kids use notes on the next exam who complete required “prerequisite assignments” that they need to be successful at grade level assignments.
Yes, understood we are coming off a pandemic. I've been teaching for almost 20 years. There have always been holes no matter which math class I've taught, but the holes this year are craters compared to pin holes from previous years. Gave students a midterm review packet, posted my work and solutions online, allowed students to use any notes or previous assessments with comments, still had students fail the exam. Holes are one thing, this is pure laziness and entitlement.
I get it. I’m a middle school teacher and my 8h graders can’t or won’t solve a 2 step linear equation. Now I’m to teach them how to find ordered pairs by substitution and or elimination. Never mind asking them to pull it off a graph. Sigh.
I’ve been in education 45 yrs. I love teaching. I love kids. I hate our society.
I think people still think like 75 years ago. With hard work, one can become anything. They need to start adding Education to that equation.
I preface a lesson in class with “the book says you should have learned this already, but..” quite often.
Lol, we had a content meeting this week were we revisited a TedEd talk about how to save the team from Zombies ( more empathy)… “a how’d it feel to not recall something from a year ago” … and we had 3 minutes to figure it out… um, we allow notes, books, study guides… no effort by a majority to try, so frustrated by the grade complaints
I understand there is going to be a new trend coming to steer away from calculus and instead replace it with data analysis and statistics. Think of the job market in which of the two is most often used. Calculus should be for a narrow target such as designers and engineering types.
Yeah, so good luck with new inventions, or the planes and trains running on time, when we breed engineers out of society because "calculus is too hard" or "the money is in data-crunching".
Out society is going to hell. Mike Judge will be the future Nostradamus.
Your situation is worse than ours. Do you feel the level of understanding and workload sets students back in not even trying or just pure giving up/ i don't care mode?
To help with math apps, just rewrite the question so your students aren't able to use them. Find the mistake and solve correctly are great for that. Explanations vs. solving too. Authentic assessments are best. If you aren't able to change the type of assessment questions due to the IEP, just collect the student's phone so it can't be used on the assessment.
I'm sure you know that all students have gaps in their math learning before they get to you. Their are a lot of reasons for that and that could be another topic of discussion. Pre_Calculus and Calculus will definitely show students where their gaps are. Unfortunately, all our students in Calculus will have gaps in different areas. I know this and expect it every year and just touch over those areas as needed. Also, there isn't a teacher out there that doesn't have their own gaps or weakness in Mathematics.
As I mentioned in another response, these are not holes, they are craters. My students need a recap of algebra basics, algebra 2 basics, and precalculus. They have no idea what ln x or e^x are, some have trouble solving linear and quadratic equations. Precalculus teachers never got to natural logs and I'm told that I need to keep this a calculus class. Yes, I can "fill in the gaps" but not when I'm told that my class must remain a calculus class.