Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Test Day
Regents: Bonding test class average: 82 - still waiting for improvement...
Congrats to those who came to extra help; that small group scored in the 90s.
Honors: two minutes into today's exam, I saw unfathomable errors being written by an unbelievable number of students! Right NEXT to the words "ionic bond" were drawn COVALENTLY BONDED ATOMS! In other words, COMPLETE CONTRADICTIONS! Most explanations completely missed the main point and, instead, focused on minor or non-factors. That's like arguing that colds are caused by "the cold weather" instead of by viruses! The Lewis structures were atrocious; as I told you ad infinitum, follow the five steps and you will be right every time, do not follow the steps and you will always be wrong. The simplest task of all, to distinguish a polar from a non-polar covalent bond, could not even be done consistently. That skill requires FIRST GRADE level comprehension. Clearly, some of you did not even look at the notes, have notes, or take notes for the past two weeks. Some of you are not doing the homework and are "learning" nothing but distortions and contradictions, which is WORSE than learning NOTHING. Only about one out of ten students managed to write down the information as it appeared in the notes and was explained in class, on-line, and in the homework. That's not a high bar to clear, but so few have done so.
AP: so far so good with the Bonding/Molecular geometry exams. You already are at a huge advantage with your ability on this topic. Just be sure to maintain your expert knowledge in this area. Of course, I will be giving you lots of review questions so that you can stay sharp. (raspy voice: "good times")
Congrats to those who came to extra help; that small group scored in the 90s.
Honors: two minutes into today's exam, I saw unfathomable errors being written by an unbelievable number of students! Right NEXT to the words "ionic bond" were drawn COVALENTLY BONDED ATOMS! In other words, COMPLETE CONTRADICTIONS! Most explanations completely missed the main point and, instead, focused on minor or non-factors. That's like arguing that colds are caused by "the cold weather" instead of by viruses! The Lewis structures were atrocious; as I told you ad infinitum, follow the five steps and you will be right every time, do not follow the steps and you will always be wrong. The simplest task of all, to distinguish a polar from a non-polar covalent bond, could not even be done consistently. That skill requires FIRST GRADE level comprehension. Clearly, some of you did not even look at the notes, have notes, or take notes for the past two weeks. Some of you are not doing the homework and are "learning" nothing but distortions and contradictions, which is WORSE than learning NOTHING. Only about one out of ten students managed to write down the information as it appeared in the notes and was explained in class, on-line, and in the homework. That's not a high bar to clear, but so few have done so.
AP: so far so good with the Bonding/Molecular geometry exams. You already are at a huge advantage with your ability on this topic. Just be sure to maintain your expert knowledge in this area. Of course, I will be giving you lots of review questions so that you can stay sharp. (raspy voice: "good times")
# posted by C @ 5:50 PM 
