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Grades/Studying/Academics
I'm 15 years old and am currently in my 2nd semester of 10th grade. I received my student transcript the other day when I went to fill out my schedule for my 11th grade year, and was very disapointed in what I saw. I've never been that concerned with my grades until I received this transcript. Now all I can think about is acadmeics and my class rank. Things like this never bothered me before, but now it's eating away at me. I was ranked 42/68. My very first question is if my grades improve, can my class rank improve?
Math has always been a weakness of mine since I was in kindergarden. For as long as I can remember i've always wanted to get out of any and all math classes for good. I took Algebra 1A my first semester of 9th grade and passed with a D; and then took Alegebra 1B my second semester of 9th grade and passed with a C. I received a new teacher for Informal Geometry (1st semester of 10th grade) and really liked her. I passed that class with a B and was so proud. Now though, I have a new teacher for Geometry 1 whom I despise of. I received my mid six weeks report and I currently have an F in there. It's not that I don't try, because I do. I pay attention in class and do my homework every night. I'm just not passing the class and I can't figure out what to do. So my second question of many is what can I do to study or help pass this trecherous class?
Everyone has always told me to just wait out all the math classes until 10th grade because then I would be done. All you need to graduate is 2 semesters of Algebra and 2 semesters of Geometry. I thought maybe if I could just pass Geometry, my worries would be over and I could concentrate on other subjects. But when I went to fill out my new schedule for next year, the guidance councelor told me to circle Algebra 2. I asked her why and mentioned that I thought you only had to have Algebra 2 if you were planning on receiving an advanced diploma which I no longer planned on doing for that very reason. She told me though it is true you only need Geometry to graduate, if I have any hopes of going to college, I have to take Algebra 2. My next question is why? Is this true? And where do I go from there?
I started taking Spanish 1 in 8th grade. I started off studying like a dog, and actually kept an A in the class the first mid six weeks. But as time went on, and the class became time consuming, I stopped studying and my class went all the way down to a D. Taking that class was not mandatory, but I took it because at the time I was wanting an Advanced Diploma which at the time seemed within my grasp. I barely passed with a D. I didn't plan on taking Spanish 2 because if you don't do well in Spanish 1, it's not recommened to take Spanish 2. (It's supposidly the hardest.) I knew you had to have 3 semesters of foreign language though, so when 9th grade rolled around, and it was time to circle my classes, I ended up circling Spanish 2. I barely passed that class as well, and I knew the advanced diploma I wanted so badly was out the window because of math anyways. But I already but 2 years into taking a spanish class, so I decided one more couldn't hurt anything. The problem was, I took the 2nd course in my 1st semester of 9th grade and our only Spanish teacher decided not to teach the class the next semester. But since I had already circled the class, I had to wait an entire summer and one semester before I could take the class again. At that point, everyone in the class had had spanish 2 consecutively, and I hadn't taken a class in ages. My mind had completely thrown out any and all spanish that I had learned over the years, and now I have an F in there as well for this reason. I can't study new material, if I don't remember the old material that went along with it. So my next question is what would you do?
As for 11th grade, i'm scared to death. My boyfriend is graduating this year, and he's always helped me as much as possible with my math homework/studying. I won't have him here with me now, so of course i'll fail Algebra 2 if I don't fail Geometry first. My schedule next year is Biology 2, Algebra 2, Advanced English 11, US/VA History, and i'll be going to the CareerTECH school the remainder of the time to take Child Care & Development. This includes night classes as well. I'll definately have to buckle down if I want my grades to improve and go to a good college and start a good life.
So I guess my other question is how to I prepare myself for continuous study on Algebra 2 or Geometry if I don't pass and go to night classes while having an AP class and Biology & History on my hands? Oh goshh..
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: School?
I'm going to attempt to answer this, having actually paid attention to my guidance counselors and teachers on occassion :)
To answer your first question, yes, your class rank will improve if your average improves.
Math is a weak spot for a lot of people. It can be learned different ways. I, for example, do most math-related things differently than how the book teaches you to. Teachers sometimes don't think the way students do. In class (or after if you don't have "free time" during the class) seek out a student doing relatively well and ask them to explain how they do a certain skill. Sometimes, all it takes to make something "click" is another person explaining it a different way.
Also, is it possible for the Geometry teacher you had last year to teach you? Not as an official teacher, per se. But maybe you could stay after school and he could give you extra help? This teacher must think the way you do, since you did well in his class. I do something similar- my regular teacher is good, but another teacher explains things to me so well, I'm learning things chapers ahead of my advanced class.
This won't consume your life if you don't let it. Being captain will take up a lot of your time. If you stay really committed, you may be able to juggle everything at once. But if you find yourself getting too overwhelmed, step down. don't quit the squad entirely, because you'll be miserable. Enlist the help of your guidance counselor(s) at school. They can help balance your courseload, adjust class levels as needed, and maybe even get you in a different math class with a different teacher. They're there to help you- take advantage of it!
Set aside one time a month that you'll spend with your boyfriend without a single mention of school- jsut enjoy each other's company. See him other times when his schedule allows, and maybe he could help you study. You'll both be happy because you'll be spending time together and it's obviously something he loves to do.
I hope I helped at least a little, maybe the perspective of someone roughly your age/grade level will help. I can't stress enough how much teachers & counselors can and will help you. You obviously care about your education and future, so they'll be more than willing to go out of their way to help you.
good luck with everything! :)
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