Angeline failed math. Specifically, she failed her Algebra honors class.
Le sigh.
I kind of knew she’d have a problem with it when they assigned her the honors class, as math was never her strong subject in middle school. BUT because of the way her schedule was arranged, she begged me not to have her change classes because she would have to switch her entire schedule around, and she didn’t want to lose classes with her best friends.
She struggled from the get-go. I knew part of it was that this is high school, it’s harder, etc etc etc…but when she continued to have issues, I again brought up the subject of changing classes. She was determined to make it work, and begged me again not to change her classes. I relented.
She has gone to tutoring every week after school with her math teacher all year long. She would start to improve a little, but then as soon as they moved onto the next lesson, she’d struggle again.
Let’s put it this way, the grading period when she got a C? That was a cause for celebration.
So we found out last week – the last week of school – that she had an F this nine weeks.
Which meant that she officially failed Algebra.
As upset as I am at the school system for being so slow to publish her grades, and for constantly being behind in grading her papers so that we never really knew where she stood until it was too late, I can’t blame them.
THIS IS ALL MY FAULT.
My gut instinct when she came home with that class schedule was to go to the school and have them put her in a regular class. Not even advanced – regular. We had the conversation many times and I gave in because I wanted to make her happy, I didn’t want to separate her from her friends, I wanted to give her the chance.
She failed Algebra, but I failed as a parent.
Sometimes it just doesn’t matter what our kids want. I knew what was best for my daughter and I didn’t do it. That’s on me.
She could take summer school to make up the class (by taking regular Algebra) but because we are going on the cruise to Europe, and there’s no cancelling since it’s a press trip and my daughter’s plane ticket was already purchased by Carnival Cruise Lines. So she has to stay after school for two hours, every day next year for two months – or something like that.
Ugh.
Learn from my mistakes, friends. Do what YOU know is the right thing to do for your kids, not what they want you to do…they might hate you for a few days but in the end, it will be much easier on everyone involved!
🙁 It is tough wanting and needing to balance certain things when it comes to school work. Especially when there is a lack of communication with the school and teachers. Hopefully she’ll enjoy her summer before she has to get back to grueling school work in the fall.
I’m so sorry.
I’m sorry she is struggling with this. I love math,it was my major in college.
Agree with your realization…and I’ve been guilty of it too
Look at it this way, it’s ONE class out of four years of schooling and the fact that you recognized your mistake says a lot about you as a mom.
And it might not even be the class, it might be the way algebra is being taught her her. I really struggled with it my first quarter (as in did NOT get it at all) then a friend taught me how she learned algebra, which was completely different than the way the teacher explained it. Suddenly it all made sense.
Sorry.. I am having my son study with a teacher friend all summer. Just and hour or two a week. but he needs it.
At least it’s something that she can recoup from and it won’t affect graduation or anything like that. But it’s still pooey. Sorry!
Being a parent is incredibly hard work. One of the hardest aspects is that we often times don’t get our results until the end (of whatever). And by then it may be to late. But even worse is the delicate balance we walk when there isn’t cohesiveness between following our parenting instinct and making our children happy. What makes us a good parent isn’t making the right decisions all the time. It’s having our child’s interest in ever decision, even if its the wrong one, and being able to recognize when we haven’t made the best decision. I know it’s hard as a mom to feel like you have failed your child. But we all do better the next time right? I wish my mom was able to recognize her mistakes, and I can only hope I’ll be able to evaluate myself the same way you did – to recognize my own flaws. It will be okay momma, whether our kids are 3 or 30 we have all been there at some point.
Thank you so much for your kind words, you have me in tears over here! It was such a pleasure to meet you this weekend! 🙂
I also suck at Math and my kid is even better at Math than me. Do not blame yourself for what happened. If it’s just what your child’s brain can handle, there is no need to force her something as hard as Math. If she needs to be in the regular class first in order to fuel her way back to the honors class, then that’s no problem. The most important thing is that you are there to always encourage her and comfort her. Being a parent is not just being good at Math after all.