Doing horrible in Math class?

Right now I have a 79.98% in my Honors Geometry. I'm a freshman. But it's gonna drop even lower because today we took a quiz and I left 2 blank (out of 10), another 2 may have been wrong.


I've gotten 2 progress reports from that class.


This is the first time I've ever had, like, an "official" C in my whole life. Official meaning progress reports and report cards.


If you picked any math problem out of the chapter we're on, I could probably solve it. But my teacher has SUCH HARD TESTS AND QUIZZES.


I have a freaking math tutor whom I see twice a week, and I still have a freaking C. How pathetic is that?


The stuff my teacher puts on the test is all stuff that kind of integrates what we learned, but only a little. Practically NONE OF IT is stuff he actually showed us how to do.


I don't know what to do... I try flipping through the book the night before, but it DOESN'T HELP because he puts stuff on the quiz that has to do with the subject matter but we NEVER LEARNED!

Doing horrible in Math class?
Have your parents spoken with the instructor regarding this issue? Have they complained to the principal? The School Board? That is the order in which it must be undertaken. Please read through my response first, though. There is important information which you must consider.





I had a College Bound US History class back in the Jurassic Age, or was it 1983-4? Same difference. My father was at university at that time getting his BA in History. He complained because we had more homework for that one class than he had had for all 4 of his combined under-graduate classes.





I'm sure you are aware that Honors means "we will be really challenging you." However, if the instructor is asking questions on exams or quizzes which are neither in your textbook, nor covered in their lectures, then you have grounds to complain.





Be certain that the material is NOT covered in your textbook! Very often I hear kids complain that the instructor is asking questions on material they haven't covered. You ARE responsible for EVERYTHING in your textbook, regardless of whether your instructor lectures on it or not. You may need to use your tutor to have them show you how to do some of the problems in the textbook which your instructor has not specifically illustrated in class.
Reply:Remember!


teachers, who ask such difficult questions in paper which u never ever imagined, r always in favour of u. In response to these tough questions, u always work hard to get better in next quiz. May b these questions r much more difficult 4 u but if u cant attempt... it means something wrong with u.. ur practice?
Reply:Go direct to your teacher and tell him that you want to improve.Ask him him to give you some mock quizzes to practise with your tutor,Do revision for 15 minutes each night.Dont stress,You are probably better at other subjects,.And hang in there.
Reply:Go to the teacher and ask what you can do to make a B in his class. Explain with sincerity you are trying and even have a tutor. You get more flies with honey..know what I mean?
Reply:WOW I THINK ITS AN EPIDEMIC,


CUZ IM DOING BAD IN GEOMETRY TOO AND IM A FRESHMAN TOO.


MOST OF MY FRIENDS ARE JUST LIKEU AND ME.


I THINK ITS JUST GETTING TOUGHER EVERY YEAR.....
Reply:I am doing so bad in Math too just study more I hope I cold help you!!! email me one day!!!
Reply:OMFG ur soo like me! I used to be the best with Math, but now I get D's!!!!!!!!!!!! It aint fair! :((
Reply:One of the best suggestions that I can give as a math teacher is to take notes. Don't focus all your attention on "getting it" as your teacher is presenting the material. If you copy the notes/problems that your teacher has done in class, you will have something to go by at home. I always have students tell me that they can learn by watching me do the math, but the reality is that very few people can learn that way. Most of us (including me) have to write things down to learn them.





Also, ask questions. Even if you feel embarrassed or stupid, I can guarantee you that at least one other person in your class has the same question. Always, always, always do your homework!!! That is one of the best ways to prepare for a test. Even if you don't have homework, take your book and notebook home and go over problems. Most math books have the answers to the odd numbered problems in the back - practice working those problems every night.





If your teacher sees the extra time and effort you are putting into your studies, he/she will be more willing to answer your questions and help you when you need it.
Reply:Perhaps you could have your tutor speak with your teacher? Your teacher may be able to better equip your tutor to help prepare you for the tests. I was in a similar situation as a freshman. My saving grace was the communication that went on between my tutor, teacher, and parents. Together, they discovered I had test anxiety from my past failures in the class. After my teacher learned that my struggle was based on fear and not laziness or unwillingness to learn, she was more willing to accomodate for my needs in class. Your post sounds a little frantic and scared. Might you also have test anxiety?





Another idea I had is based off of your placement in Honors. . .Sometimes people who have been identified as talented and gifted have a difficult time when things are hard for them because they have not developed the coping skills to counteract the initial challenge. You may just be developing some study skills. No worries though! This will help you in college.
Reply:I suspect, from years of teaching experience, that you managed to do the class questions by following a set of steps without fully understanding them. AND I suspect that the teacher is not including enough questions like the ones that you did in class - so you almost need a two pronged approach.





Questions that are phrased differently usually do not cause problems when a student has genuinely understood throughly. However, I would always include a fair number of questions that students who had 'done the right thing' ie completed homework and lesson tasks could complete on th test, otherwise it can be incredibly demotivating for them. I would then have some more difficult questions and possibly one really difficult question, so it allowed me to find out how well my students were doing, whether there were some near geniuses who needed stretching - and whether my teaching of the topic had been effective. When we teachers are newer to the job, sometimes it is harder for us to anticipate which questions are different enough to cause problems to some students. If the teacer has got the balance a little wrong on his/her tests, then others will have the same problem and possiby one of the parents could raise it tactfully with the school.


The tutor cannot make an immediate difference if indeed there are somethings you did not fully understand. they need to go over the main topics with you as maths has to come on a firm foundation, as it gets harder you get shaky if teh foundations were flimsy! But you can help by saying to the tutor and your normal teacher on those occasions when you know what to do - but don't understand why it needs to be done. does that make sense? I am sure you will succeed as you sound so determined, and you can then be even more proud because it was a bit of a struggle.
Reply:I have been so so so bad at maths my entire life. Just have. and you know what? Im fine! I dont know if you can drop math in your school or not, can you? If so, do so when you get the chance, cause it's so horrible to keep it up if you hate it. Im doing what I want now and I havent been more eager to go to school!


But with the current problem... Talk directly to your teacher. Ask them to give you take home mock quizzes so you and your tutor can go over them and practice exactly what your teacher wants from you. And do 15 minutes minimum revision a day. And when you learn something new, go over it FOR 3 days for 15 mins after you learn it and it will be stuck in your head.
Reply:First, calm down.





Second, a C is not a bad grade at all. If anything, it means average. Plus, you still have some time to improve that grade.





Third, you only left 2 problems blank out of 10. I don't think that will be a big deal depending how you well you did on the other 8 problems. My suggestion to you next time is to TRY NOT to leave any questions blank. You should at least put something down (i.e. draw a diagram, put down some numbers), etc. You won't receive full credit, but you will have at least tried and/or receive partial credit. Remember, partial credit is better than no credit.





My biggest recommendation to you is that you should really stay after school, go over what you learned in class that day, go over homework problems that you are unsure about with your teacher. Also, speak to him about his teaching methods, etc. If you feel as if he is not doing a good job; speak up! It is your education after all.





Good luck!