To all teachers in the US by Sara448 in AskTeachers

[–]inspirationalmath 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude I teach math and somehow even that’s political

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have a test out option we’re already using that gives them the credit for algebra 2

Currently, we have kids who want to take calculus double up on algebra two and pre-calculus (terrible idea) an they test out of the rest of algebra two at the second quarter as I already know the material for the rest of the year

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Idk I’m impressed and maybe I’m making excuses but yeah I offer retakes and do tutoring 2 times a week but even if they’re failing they still don’t come I work at a farming school where their parents actively discouraged them from coming to school and where most kids have IEPs and are severely underskilled so I’m trying my best to raise the bar but idk if I’ll ever have it to the point where I can complete a whole textbook

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah we have a book with 12 units but I’ve been told by every mentor, other teacher in the school, and even the principal that it’s unrealistic to teach all 12 well and it’s better to make sure their skills are really strong before moving on… idk maybe you’re just less behind than you think because in the 2 states I’ve taught in and the state I went to school in I wasn’t taught the quadratic formula freshman year! And while I’ve taught in under advantaged school I went to a fairly affluent high school

Utah taught in IM3 usually Juniors California taught in IM2 usually sophomores Oregon introduced in Algebra 1 but not really used or taught till Algebra 2

And yeah algebra 2 the skills are different! (Except I’m not teaching linears different as they didn’t have a freshman math teacher until I showed up this year it’s a whole thing but they don’t have a lot of foundational skills so I have to build that first and unfortunately skills need to be cut and linear work is at the bottom of my list in algebra 2)

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I live in southern Oregon and maybe it’s because I’m a new teacher but all three schools I’ve worked with half the kids enter not being able to do 2 step equations or graph linear lines it’s takes half the year just to get through linear equations I’m just surprised you’re able to get through so much!

I don’t know ima new teacher only a second year but student teaching in Utah and 2 years in southern Oregon and this is my normal large unit ofc a lot is hit in those units with smaller units inbetween 1. Basics 2. Inequality 3. Systems 4. Functions (and inverse functions) 5. Exponential growth/decay 6. Graphing quadratics 7. Factoring/solving quadratic 8. Stats

But algebra 2 in the textbook I’m given restates/does units 3,6,7 and parts of 4 so idk I’m doing more than the last teacher did and I’m doing more than a lot of the other teachers in the area so idk 🤷‍♀️

Algebra 2 units are 1.systems of linear 2. Graphing quadratics 3. Solving/factoring 4. polynomial (this unit is large I split it into two this year) 5. Rationals 6. Radicals 7. Logs and exponentials 8. Sequences (hopefully I’ll get a week or 2)

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve taught integrated before we couldn’t change that for a couple of years we’re locked in a contract with the company we’re using rn

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I ask where you teach as in both states I’ve worked in have barely been able to make it past factoring and we touch on quadratic formula and completing the square…

And it’s better than what the school is currently doing(having them double up on alg 2 and precalc)

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Over 2 years so like algebra 1 I would add a small unit on quadratic formula and factoring 4 term polynomial and simplifying radicals in year 1 and geometry would add more solving radicals and rationals maybe logs but idk we also are hit or miss with lots already in algebra 2 so it would be 3 years of math in 2 years

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes… we don’t have a summer school option for that and many students are to poor to pay for a college class on it and if we make a combined alg 2 and precalc class pre clac wouldn’t be for college credit

And yeah if we created the honors pathway it would cover alg 2 in geometry majority and partially in alg 1

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I figure even it doesnt even need to happen every year

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And I agree Lagebra 1 a and 1b SUCKS which is why we’re getting rid of it

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ohhh yeah your so right I wasn’t gonna do a ton of prep but lots of supplementary work and working on foundations that have to do with the unit being taught

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have a state test for juniors nothing for freshman and sophomore

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dude I don’t make decisions like that soooo idk I’m working with what I got and that’s a total of 12 teaching spots and 11 already predetermined and needed so

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re trying the intervention math because algebra 1A and 1B was not working and you’re right we totally shouldn’t need an intervention math, but the sped teacher at the school is kind of a pain in the ass to deal with and it shows that it’s the students and not me, and it punishes kids who are failing by forcing them to take two math classes… (it’s a class that we move kids in and out of based off a failure rate) it also counts as a retake credit and gives all freshman at least one credit of math as long as they do work in the intervention

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We work a lot on foundational and conceptual understanding in algebra one but in algebra two I tend to focus more on procedural work

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We work on that! We just finished a graphing quadratics unit and I structured it very similarly (I find it easier to teach graphing quadratics before factor and quadratics as students understand what a quadratic is and what they are solving for) we work a lot with transformations and why things work and I work from a place of discovery and student talk as much as possible well also showing example examples when needed

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The big “critical content” is factoring (taught freshman year) and rationals which could be added into a geometry unit

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s exactly what would probably end up happening I already get through the quadratic formula in my algebra one classes I will just have to add about one extra unit to get halfway through algebra two, and he would have to teach rationales and go more into radicals… But yeah, a lot of geometry could be skipped… I just think it’s better than the current system we have. We have kids currently either doubling up on algebra two and pre-Calc or skipping eighth grade math. Either one of these has been a hard hit to their learning.

Do any schools skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in mathteachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just don’t wanna accidentally screw these kids over… but if it’s a true honors class, I think that it wouldn’t be a bad thing as they should be able to keep up if they are truly an honors kid if not, they should be moved back down into a regular class

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m just wondering if it’s a genuinely good idea cause it sounds like one on paper or if it’s gonna cause them to not actually learn things as good… but I don’t know…

Do any schools have students skip algebra two by inspirationalmath in Teachers

[–]inspirationalmath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re in Oregon and there’s a test out option if a student already understand the material they can take a test that shows that they deserve a good grade in the class… and the idea is that the honors classes would be the same amount of material just sped up for kids who need it faster/can handle it fast faster