bad history teacher!?

Question

I am in American History and I have a terrible teacher. Don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy and very polite, but he just doesn't teach me anything. he doesn't say it but i can tell he thinks we already know this stuff. alot of those kids in there are very, um, well, their trouble makers and i don't learn anything in there even if i try. what's sad is that the vice principle came in because the class was going out of control when we had a sub and i learned more from her in 5 minutes than i learned from him this whole year. i only have a grading period (6 weeks) left in the school year and i know i have to deal with it. any tips?

Answer 1

Well, it would take work on your part, but you can start basically teaching yourself the history and then just let your mind wander in class,
or
Raise your hand if your don't understand something your teacher is saying,
or
Talk to this vice pricipal and maybe she can show/teach you some the history on a one on one basis.

Hang in there, there are MUCH better history teachers out there. Eventually you will get one.

Answer 2

I agree. Take your notes, read up on it yourself. AND THEN raise your hand in class and start asking questions.Find some little fact that he didn't cover and hit on that. It might inspire the teacher to open more for discussion and inspire some students to also ask questions. Study the stuff for the test. If you understand the notes and the test is on the notes, should be an easy A. Ask if you can do any extra credit to bring up that C. Chances are, if the teachers see that you are willing to try, it will change. good luck. I once had a home ec teacher that didn't know anything about sewing. I was so disappointed because I wanted to learn more in school. My grandmother was a tailor. I apprenticed to her for years and learned more from her than any class I ever took. That teacher, though, had me help teach others! She only got the job because it was getting her foot in the door. She wanted to teach English and creative writing.

Answer 3

This is a tough situation!

It really stinks when u have a teacher that fails to motivate a group of captive listeners. It also stinks that in the end, it hurts the students the most. It stinks, because you are paying to do nothing for a year. (taxes)

First off, i would try to to find another student in another class to study with/talk about the concepts. you will find that this might generate interest in the subject, surprisingly.

Secondly, i would try to isolate urself and maybe three other friends from the loud people in the class, sit in the front left or front right side of the class... (preferably the middle, but that might be tricky)

Thirdly, i would confront your guidance counselor. Ask them what they can do. For a person who doesnt seem very busy or educated, these counselors have many connections, and they sometimes feel obligated to help, provided that you sell your situation in a good manor.

Fourth, if the guidance counselor fails, talk to another teacher, administrator, or someone. ask for their input, help, advise, etc, etc, and so forth.

Fithly, Ask your parents to study with you. or ask them to help. You can do this first if u have good relations with ur 'rents.

Six- this should be a given. Read your textbook. Break it up by sections, try to find concepts that you can relate to todays society.

Answer 4

If your class has a lot of trouble makers, then your teacher probably feels that he is wasting his time trying to teach them anything, so he isn't giving his best effort.

You might want to see if he is available after class for some extra help for you. If he knows some of his students are interested, then he might be better in class.

Otherwise, I guess a lot of hours with the textbook are in your future.

Answer 5

Sounds like your teacher has a bad case of apathy and should get out of the profession, or at least take a sabbatical. If a teacher doesn't care about what he teaches and whom he teaches, he has no business being a teacher.

Now that I've taken my turn on the soapbox, let me make a recommendation for you: read everything you can, books especially.

Answer 6

Try to learn the material by your self if you can or see if any other history teacher has before/after school tutoring and explain the situation as kindly as you can. I had a physics class the same way and this is what i had to do. Good luck!

Answer 7

Please go speak to your counselor. Tell your parents /parent as well. This needs to be out in the open for 'Your Best Interest'
P.S. Your and those like you are the future of the world.....Do what you need to to be "all that you can be"

Answer 8

i would just try to learn it on your own if your teacher cant teach you it.