- Nov 10, 2019
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Picked up printed packets first available yesterday for Grand daughter's freshman classes. She is scheduled for in person, not virtual classes, but due to the large outbreak of Covid locally. They are offering "in person" though not available yet, and virtual on computer.
What should be simple freshman Algebra 1, with packets (problems) only is bizarre. Ok, so I am 66 and haven't sat an algebra or trig class since the early 80s and although used algebra and geometry for work problems at times, always the same type problems that became routine, so you didn't actually think of it as algebra anymore. Not the same as having to be the instructor when there isn't an instructor, supposedly teaching and assisting in day 1 "see dick run level" of algebra 1) because daughter works.
Day one turned out to be factoring, simplifying and solving polynomials with variables involving squares, cubes inside parenthesis and brackets, often with exponents inside and outside the bracketed parenthetical expressions, plus working through a variety of square root problems.
All this was done without a book, as even for the in class learning, the school system has opted to go with the computer based Edmentum math learning courses and does not use a book, indeed no book exists. I know because I looked for it. It is not out there.
Those who opted for virtual classes were issued computers. Those who opted for in person classes got the packets only and not even an access code to use Edmentum computer modules if they were having problems.
It did not go well for either of us, though the answers were attained, with the help over the phone of my twins, far more recently out of college. I feel like somebody beat the crap out of me with an algebra book, then took it with them to hide the evidence. If this is day one, they should be into non-linear quadratics before Halloween.
I did go over to the high school this afternoon hunting a book. Met a guy with 3 degrees. Turned out it was the principal Explained the problem. He said he was a book guy for math also, but that all they had were workbooks as the program is the book and even those workbooks had not been issued yet. He said I might me rusty but hang there. I showed him the day 1 packet and the problems we were working, as I describe above. He took one look, said Oh, Wow! He flipped to make sure it really was day 1 and said "Ut Oh! I see what you mean". Tried to call the coach who is the instructor for the class, but failed. He said there is no way most kids will get anywhere near this far without access and something will have to be done. Wants me to come back tomorrow morning, which I will definitely do. He also said it is not announced, but the "in school kids" will probably be back, actually in school before the end of the month.
Is this how it is for anybody else out there or am I or my local public school system just backward as hell?
What should be simple freshman Algebra 1, with packets (problems) only is bizarre. Ok, so I am 66 and haven't sat an algebra or trig class since the early 80s and although used algebra and geometry for work problems at times, always the same type problems that became routine, so you didn't actually think of it as algebra anymore. Not the same as having to be the instructor when there isn't an instructor, supposedly teaching and assisting in day 1 "see dick run level" of algebra 1) because daughter works.
Day one turned out to be factoring, simplifying and solving polynomials with variables involving squares, cubes inside parenthesis and brackets, often with exponents inside and outside the bracketed parenthetical expressions, plus working through a variety of square root problems.
All this was done without a book, as even for the in class learning, the school system has opted to go with the computer based Edmentum math learning courses and does not use a book, indeed no book exists. I know because I looked for it. It is not out there.
Those who opted for virtual classes were issued computers. Those who opted for in person classes got the packets only and not even an access code to use Edmentum computer modules if they were having problems.
It did not go well for either of us, though the answers were attained, with the help over the phone of my twins, far more recently out of college. I feel like somebody beat the crap out of me with an algebra book, then took it with them to hide the evidence. If this is day one, they should be into non-linear quadratics before Halloween.
I did go over to the high school this afternoon hunting a book. Met a guy with 3 degrees. Turned out it was the principal Explained the problem. He said he was a book guy for math also, but that all they had were workbooks as the program is the book and even those workbooks had not been issued yet. He said I might me rusty but hang there. I showed him the day 1 packet and the problems we were working, as I describe above. He took one look, said Oh, Wow! He flipped to make sure it really was day 1 and said "Ut Oh! I see what you mean". Tried to call the coach who is the instructor for the class, but failed. He said there is no way most kids will get anywhere near this far without access and something will have to be done. Wants me to come back tomorrow morning, which I will definitely do. He also said it is not announced, but the "in school kids" will probably be back, actually in school before the end of the month.
Is this how it is for anybody else out there or am I or my local public school system just backward as hell?