Can you move classes in Year 10?

Own_My_Own

Dunroamin wrote: »

And they say GCSE's haven't been dumbed down!

Dunroamin wrote: »

But as a year 10 question it's appalling - like something you'd do at primary school!

How is this helping the OP deal with the issues, that she asked advice about ?

Comments like this are the reason so many threads go off topic.

Dunroamin

Own_My_Own wrote: »

How is this helping the OP deal with the issues, that she asked advice about ?

Comments like this are the reason so many threads go off topic.

Threads going off topic is what makes MSE so interesting!

Own_My_Own

Dunroamin wrote: »

Threads going off topic is what makes MSE so interesting!

That opinion a very selfish one. Going off topic may amuse some posters, but leaves the Op no further forward than when they made the first post. It offers no advice to someone asking for it.

I am now leaving this thread for a while, before you reply and it goes completely off topic.

balletshoes

**professor~yaffle** wrote: »

well, pete could make 12 smaller cakes, I suppose :rotfl:

Arithmetic based on those hypothetical scenarios used to throw me off course a bit, as I'd find myself thinking things like: "but why would someone be doing that..?!"

I'm terrible for that too - the "but why would he ...." takes over from what I'm actually being asked :rotfl:.

OP I agree with getting a tutor for your daughter, and contacting the Head of subject, your daughter's form tutor, and her head of house as well. Copy them into any correspondence you have with the Head of subject. I'm learning fast at secondary school that having more than one person involved tends to get things moving more than trying to contact one staff member.

maman

In answer to your original question OP. Yes, you can move classes in Year 10. Schools are reluctant to move any child as if everyone started asking (possibly for frivolous reasons like being with mates etc.) then it would get unmanageable. It would seem your daughter has a genuine reason and the school has set something of a precedent by moving two others. The very least the school owes you is a decent hearing and explanation.

Having tried contacting the teacher with no success I'd suggest you write to the Head, set out your daughter's issues, cite her past performance and predictions and ask for an appointment to discuss it all. If that doesn't work then write to the Chair of Governors. Meantime I think she should go to the homework clubs. If the school is offering help and she's refusing then she's not helping herself. Private tuition might be an option but what about her dad helping with homework as he's the mathematician in the family?;)

A bit OT but the posters who've said that poor teachers can't be removed are wrong. There has always been a mechanism to dismiss teachers for poor performance although it's not the first course of action. That would be to offer them extra training or support from a more experienced colleague. The procedures are often started because parents complain. The current secretary of state has made it even easier to dismiss teachers by introducing a fast-track procedure.

mumps

shop-to-drop wrote: »

'Pearson active learn', 'My Maths', 'Stuck on Homework'

These are three we can think of at the mo. May be back.

My DD found My Maths really useful.

mrcow

I'm a teacher.

The way forward first is for you to make an appointment to go in and see the head of year. Don't discuss it on the phone. Just make the appointment.

If you don't get what you want, then call the head teacher.

Of course pupils can move classes throughout the year. It will depend on how it fits in with timetabling and class sizes, but pupils are often moved for various reasons throughout the year.

Keep being that squeaky wheel. This is your daughter's maths grade we're talking about. She needs to get the best support that she can.

pollypenny

Person_one wrote: »

Hmm, this seems a bit dismissive when the OP has described her daughter as crying tears of frustration over not understanding her maths questions.

We had a maths teacher at my school who was appalling, and was responsible for a year in which nobody took maths A level because she was the only teacher of it. I think it took them about 5 years to get her out, I've no idea why teachers aren't accountable in the same way other professions are and are seemingly immune to losing their jobs due to poor performance, but I wish you luck in sorting it out OP.

Not meant to be dismissive at all - which you should see by reading my post carefully.

However, I am well aware that pupils are not always as attentive in class as they should be. :cool:

I could have done with more attention to mrs Watkins, the Bull, in Chemistry!

pipkin71

Dunroamin wrote: »

And they say GCSE's haven't been dumbed down!

Don't say that!

It made my teaching of maths sound so good, considering it's not my strongest subject

On a serious note, OP, could you consider a tutor for a couple of months, then review the situation and see where you are? I pay £25 per hour for maths - someone further up pays £20, so that will give you a rough idea of what it will cost.

dancingfairy

I would try and find out what worked for your daughter before. Was her old teacher doing detailed example, using a particular textbook, using diagrams or using examples from real life? If he used a particular textbook I'm sure the publisher would do one for GCSE.
In terms of the example question you gave I would probably have appraoched it in 1 of 3 ways:
1) 8 cakes -> 12 cakes = x 1 1/2 or 3/2
2) I'd write 12/8 with an arrow saying new pointing to the 12 and one saying old to the 8 or
3) I'd draw a diagram with one circle split into 8 sections with an arrow to another diagram with a circle split into 8 and another part circle with 4 segments.
Basically different ways of representing/analysng the question.

Does she understand any terminology being used? for example lowest common denominator, highest common factor, that kind of thing?
I'd also be looking at the question to get clues as to what sort of answer they want for example, 'what fraction'..., or 'what percentage'... obviously gives you a clue as to what they are looking for.

Do you know is it the underlying 'maths' she is struggling with or extracting the info from written questions and workign out what is being asked? She may well have been able to do the same question if it was a 'straight maths question' or phrased in a different way.

I'd also try and get hold of some recent exam papers and have a look and see what the style of questions are - is it multiple choice, straight maths questions, recall questions, interpretting graphs or more wordy questions?

In an exam situation I would get her to read the question twice (the first time it can seem like gobbldygook due to exam stress) and if she still can't do a question move on to one she can do and come back to the hard question (assuming that the question she is stuck on is not worth half the marks on the paper or something).
If there is a 'big' question in an exam that she really can't avoid then she should try and break it down and answer the parts she can, she should be able to at least answer say parts 1 -3 if she can't finish it. You can get marks for workings out so she should try and pick up marks this way.

I'd also try and help her keep it in perspective - ie she is doing 8/9/10 GSCE's so she can't be stupid - it's a blip.

I'd also consider getting a tutor if you can afford one. One that explains things in a way she'd understand would make a huge difference.

Best of Luck
df
P.S You say she gets it from her dad, can he help her at all?