Some of the most effective ways to learn material are by:

1. Teaching someone else

2. Discussing as a class

3. Doing a project

4. Seeing a demonstration

Some of the least effective ways to learn involve:

1. Reading a textbook

2. Listening to a lecture

Your teacher still may be doing a great job even if she is not lecturing a lot in class. Remember that a lot of a teacher’s work is done outside of class hours. Does she research ideas for student projects? Does she provide written feedback on your projects? Does she assign grades for projects and tests? Does she help guide student discussion and summaries with questions she has prepared in advance? Does she give thoughtful answers to your questions? Do her lectures include ideas that were not straight out of the textbook?

If you still think she isn’t doing a good job, you can talk to her in private and tell her that it would be helpful for you if she lectured a little more in class. Explain to her that you are having trouble learning by just the projects. Don’t make it seem like you are criticizing her teaching style, though. Instead, make it seem like you are asking for extra help.

You could also have your parents talk (very respectfully) with the school principal and ask the school principal to observe her class. The principal will have a better idea than you do of the educational objectives your teacher is trying to meet.

Ask yourself:

Does your teacher guide the summaries and add insight? Does she ask leading questions and invite debate?

Does the “15 minute lecture each week” bridge old and new concepts and give you enough information to continue on your own?

Is she willing to answer questions if you are confused and don’t understand a concept?

If the answer to these or most of these questions is “yes” then she is probably doing a great job and the amount you learn is up to you. You probably are learning more than you think….but you have to work for it.

By all means, if you are concerned that your teacher is not teaching then discuss it with your principal. However, it may be that she is utilizing a different technique than you are used to in class. This is very often the way that college courses are taught and it is helpful training to learn to teach yourself.

What is wrong with them??

Tell your parents to write a letter to the principal explaining the situation and ask for a meeting with him and the teacher.