Thread: Geometry/ Algebra II

To have a successful teaching career, you must remember this; your job is to take every student as they are and teach them as much as you can. Changing what goes on before you get the students is a very difficult task, as is changing what happens after the students leave you. It is very frustrating when you realize that you are being judged on student achievement that in many cases does not reflect your teaching.
Work with the curriculum committees and textbook committees to try to bring about long range changes, but don't expect anything to change quickly. Try to get students scheduled into the appropriate classes, but ultimately you have to play the hand that you are dealt.

Geometry and Algebra 2 are very different beasts. I teach Algebra 2 and have never taught Geometry (although I'm planning to add it to my checklist soon).

Students in Geometry (from what I've heard) don't want to memorize anything. They don't want to know the vocabulary, don't want to analyze theorems, and don't want to see the beauty of it.

In Algebra 2, they astound me. They sign up for the course and then complain the whole way through asking questions like "Why do I need to know this?" and "When am I EVER gonna use this?" They don't appreciate learning just for the sake of learning.

Now that I'm through ranting... I'll address your question.

Yes, they do lack basic skills. Particularly in Alg 2, they want to rely 100% on the calculator to do ALL of their thinking for them. Many years back, we made a huge mistake allowing kids who hadn't mastered arithmetic to use calculators. Someone said "So what if they can't add?" somewhere along the way and someone else said, "Here here!" Without those basic skills, there is little hope for them ENJOYING the math. It becomes a tedious typing exercise for them.

Now, what to do about it in the here and now? Don't give in. Insist on using fractions rather than decimals. Insist on getting the right answer in addition to the right PROCESS. Insist that they EXPLAIN what they are doing in coherent sentences on paper frequently. Repeat the important things HUNDREDS of times. And most importantly, don't have ANY down time during class. Class time is for learning.

I think when student get into the higher maths, they struggle with the new concepts and process that are used. I also believe at the algebra level and beyond that the students also loose their support system of dealing with theses problems.

How many parents do you know that can help their children do Algebra or a Geometry proof? Not many I know. So when these kids begin to fall behind there isn't a lot of people who can support them.

What is the solution? Do you spend more time in your class going over material in previous courses? Is that fair to students who mastered previous courses? I would say that best course of action is to direct these kids to internet resources to "bone" up on the material they are shaky on.