aargh....

[jay]

James has overall adjusted well to high school... bringing his grades up to A-level in Algebra II, World History, and Literature Survey... everything except in one area. We received today's midterm progress report, and he's in danger of *failing* his Honors Chemistry class. Aargh... it is hard to let go, to let him sink or swim on his own sometimes. I want to dive in and fix it.... but I'm not allowed to do much more for him than help with homework. Although maybe I should investigate whether there are private tutors in chemistry. Any suggestions? His homework and labs have improved, but he is choking on his quizzes and tests.

Unless there's a quick improvement by midterms, he's going to have to drop at least one of his two bands...

Comments

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Is he appropriately placed? Would it be better, or even possible, to move him to a "regular" chem class? If he's doing reasonably well with the HW and labs, but not on the tests, that would seem to me he's not "integrating" the information well, and a slower pace might be more appropriate. A private tutor might be helpful as well, though. Michael Litzky does that, but he's in Alameda, and unless you're willing and able to drive James up here, I doubt that would work.

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

I understand your desire to jump in, to help, and to fix. But does he WANT to be in honors chemistry?

[p3aches.livejournal.com]

its called test anxiety.

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

I was in honors chemistry in high school & managed to pull a B. (I'm not offering to tutor though -- I don't remember enough.) It was in college chemistry where the tests his me hard, I had trouble finishing the tests. (For me, it was after I struggled through Chem with a C that I found out while my reasoning ability and other scores are very high, my processing speed is on the low side & I could have qualified for extra time on the tests.)

I wish him good luck -- a tutor with tips on test taking for chemistry might help.

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

Would social time with a chemist be of use? I know of one who might like to come visit, and could perhaps provide some help or insight, even if tutoring isn't her gig (she *is* very good at explaining concepts).

[lynne-laughs.livejournal.com]

Chem for a freshman is pretty darn tough. My experience (as a high school science teacher) is that if he's failing the exams that perhaps a switch to regular chem would be good. We actually won't allow any freshman to take Chem and our sophomores need special permission from their previous science teacher.
If he gets a "D" or lower in any class he will have to repeat that class in order to be eligible for any UC or Cal State. Private schools are a mixed bag.
I reccomend speaking with his teacher to see what he/she thinks is best. (You might also get more specific info about what he needs.)

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why it would be a big deal to have one grade 9 failed course on his record. (Either if he sticks with it and fails it, or if he is able to pass a different chemistry course.) If he is the kind of perfectionist kid who would be very upset by this, it would probably be a good thing to let it happen and teach him to move past it, this early in life when it really doesn't matter, or the next potential failure will feel even more dangerous.

Definitely if you intervene (with tutors, with parental protest about the bad advice from the teacher, etc) in order to prevent a failure on his transcript, you are reinforcing whatever ideas he has about the serious consequences of failure.

You mention "not being allowed" to do much - is it James who is preventing you, or Pat, or something else? Also, you mention that he will "have to" drop some music if he doesn't improve - is that a school rule or a family one?