Laura R (FL) Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 So if we drop this math course we have to do it this week. DD, finsihing 9th grade, is taking Geometry through FLVS. Normally she enjoys on-line learning, but is not thrilled with this teacher. DD is not a motivated student and dislikes math. She took Alg Honors last summer and through the year, so she finished up in a weird place. She's 4 weeks into reg Geo has an 83 avg but seems to be retaining nothing. I can't really help because I did terribly in Geo myself. She reads at an instructional level, but that's about it. Our options are: 1) Keep working through this Geo course. She's halfway through 1st semester then she can take a 4wk break. If she takes too long of a break, math just leaves her brain completely. ;) 2) Drop the on-line class altogether and use Teaching Textbooks (I feel sort of "eh" about this option). The live classes we have here are the sort where everyone gets an "A" and it's Honors, if you know what I mean. I'm really trying to avoid that scenario even though a live teacher would probably help her more. But, that is an option, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoriM Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Have you had her approach the teacher (via email or phone) for advice? Geometry is not intuitive for some students, even though others "get it" easily. It might help to know if her teacher thinks she's making careless mistakes, doesn't know her geometric facts (like angle relationships, definitions of parallel, vertical, rhombus, whatever), or if she isn't memorizing the postulates and axioms to apply in proofs....or if it's a logical problem. An 83 isn't necessarily *bad.* I'd hate for a student to give up and punt when all they needed was some particular remediation or tutoring. See if you can find a local tutor, and keep at it with FLVS. I would have her go back and make corrections to any work she misses. Well-written corrections can make a big difference in future understanding, particularly in proofs. If she's not already, have her draw every single figure, every single diagram, and every single line. She might have to draw it four times if it's referred to in four different problems. The more written work she does, the better. It's rarely that students have to do too many problems, it's that they do too few. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace is Sufficient Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Another option might be to do Geometry via ALEKS. I know that ALEKS is considered as better as a supplement that a full course, but I always think of Geometry as a bit outside the regular progression of math (meaning that Alg 1, Alg2, Trig/Precalc all kind of build on each other, but much of Geometry is kind of tangential to the rest.) Please don't thow tomatoes at me.... Anyway, it may be that ALEKS would be adequate for Geometry. We did three modules of VT Geometry, and are finishing the year with ALEKS. It seems pretty good. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asta Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Geometry would not stick with DS until I got him MathUSee. asta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura R (FL) Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 This particular teacher is not very helpful...I think she's overwhelmed. Once she accused dd of cheating when the teacher made a mistake grading dd's quiz. Recently, she added a comment addressed to "Gene" instead of "Brittany" on an essay question on an assignment. She gives no feedback and dd is super-reluctant to get tutoring help of any kind. Think of the kind of teen that wants no help, wants to be independent, just enough to get by, thank you, and I don't think I want to go to college anyway. big sigh from mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoriM Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 This particular teacher is not very helpful...I think she's overwhelmed. Once she accused dd of cheating when the teacher made a mistake grading dd's quiz. Recently, she added a comment addressed to "Gene" instead of "Brittany" on an essay question on an assignment. She gives no feedback and dd is super-reluctant to get tutoring help of any kind. Think of the kind of teen that wants no help, wants to be independent, just enough to get by, thank you, and I don't think I want to go to college anyway. big sigh from mom Okay, all of that new info means new approach. Drop it, and try again with an independent curriculum. I agree with the ALEKS recommendation, where you can put a time-required on the course, and let her get feedback from a computer. :) Still, if she gets stuck and actually *asks* for help on a problem, definitely post it here. Someone is always happy to help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMindy Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Honestly, (as someone who has developed and taught online math courses) I would be on the phone with that teacher every day. She is being paid to help your child with the class. If things don't get better, I would be contacting her supervisor with a list of the things she has (or has not) done. There is no excuse for the kinds of things you are talking about. I would tell the teacher that you would like to set up a regular time for your dd to get help-either on the phone, or online. I will tell you from experience (of seeing other teachers) that you need to be a bit forceful in getting what you need. It shouldn't be that way, but sometimes online teachers will procrastinate (just like students who take online courses) and they need to be held accountable for that. I wouldn't quit on the class yet, but I would take pretty decisive action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMindy Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Okay, all of that new info means new approach. Drop it, and try again with an independent curriculum. I agree with the ALEKS recommendation, where you can put a time-required on the course, and let her get feedback from a computer. :) Still, if she gets stuck and actually *asks* for help on a problem, definitely post it here. Someone is always happy to help! I really like ALEKS as a supplementary curriculum, but I don't think it is great as a stand-alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 This particular teacher is not very helpful...I think she's overwhelmed. Once she accused dd of cheating when the teacher made a mistake grading dd's quiz. Recently, she added a comment addressed to "Gene" instead of "Brittany" on an essay question on an assignment. She gives no feedback and dd is super-reluctant to get tutoring help of any kind. Think of the kind of teen that wants no help, wants to be independent, just enough to get by, thank you, and I don't think I want to go to college anyway. big sigh from mom Well, the problem may not be the teacher, but she isn't going to help the situation. And with FLVS, it can be important to have a teacher that will return phone calls immediately, gets to know the student and wants to help the student succeed. My only advice: if you're having nagging thoughts now of dropping, it will likely continue or get worse. Perhaps your dd needs a math break or a different class or teacher, but it seems like you have some margin to look for an alternative. Lisa, who has been there and feels your pain. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura R (FL) Posted May 18, 2009 Author Share Posted May 18, 2009 We decided to drop the course and continue with a text program in the fall. You're right Lisa....it would have been an uncomfortable feeling throughout the course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Good to hear. My oldest was a bit too eager and signed up for FLVS economics last summer. I kept asking him if he was sure he wanted to do it over the summer? (He'd just finished a hard year.) Two weeks into it, he saw that it was no Richard Maybury book and decided to cut his losses. A relaxing summer after all . . . :001_smile: Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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