A C in TAP?!?

I just started Beginners tap this semester and I am the only beg. in my class (everyone else is either intermediate or advanced). My current Mid-Term grade is a C, and I need to get this up to an A by the next 8 weeks. I asked the teacher why I receieved this grade and she said it was because I am a begineer (which is unfair on my part). I don't get half us much attention as I should get, yet she expects me to be at the same caliber as her other students! Aside from this being unfair, this is jeopardizing my 4.0 GPA! She's told me I must do extra credit and write reports to pull my grade up, but I fear it can only boost my grade to about a B. I need to do better on my movements, cordination, speed... pretty much everything, but with a time span of only 8 weeks what can I do to impress my teacher?! (Also I plan on taking courses after school, would 3 days a week be enough?)

A C in TAP?!?
This is absolutely outrageous and unfair: being penalized for being a beginner in a beginner's class! This teacher doesn't seem to understand how grading works in dance classes. In all my daughter's college classes, the grade is based on perfect attendance, effort/ full participation, and improvement. Even if a student is injured and is forced to sit out, they must still attend and write an observation paper. But as long as a student has attended every class, works hard in every class, and has shown improvement from the first day to the present time, then they get an "A".





Now, if it were me, I'd say it's time to go over the teacher's head and talk to an administrator. But if you are a dance major, the dynamics of the situation are different. Life in the dance world is unfair, as my daughter keeps reminding me, so if you're someone who must continue living in the dance world, then you can only work this out by talking with the teacher and, unfortunately, living with the consequences. My daughter also had her perfect 4.0 GPA broken by a lower grade in a dance class.
Reply:dont let your teacher get you down... just let her fire you up... use her negative view to boost your hard work....





if you work hard for the next 8 weeks you should be fine... three days a week should be enough IF you work hard, and practice every day. if you want to impress you instructor





A- pay complete attention, and show oodles of effort





B- work hard enough to atleast be somewhat instep with the others.... if you can catch up it will find favor in her eyes...





hope this helps.
Reply:Wow...okay...Here is what I would do. First, I would definitely go back and talk to her...make certain that you have her undivided attention (Ask, "Do you have a minute?") - and won't be interrupted. Next explain to her that you are serious about her class and though you have no previous experience in tap, you are really fascinated with the art form and want to do as well as you can. Tell her that at the same time you have a real concern, and that it is imperative that you maintain your GPA. Enlist her aid in specifics of what she would like you to do for the A. There is no way that she should base your grade on a curve of a class that's more experienced than you - as a whole. She may be sympathetic to your cause and offer specifics of the kind of paper/project she wants. If she is still not specific and unhelpful I would do this:





1. A paper on the history of tap dance.


2. I would perhaps take a lesson outside of her class; a couple of times per week - but I would make certain that the class was small and @ your level. Perhaps you could even pay one of the more advanced students in your class to help you? (You would probably pay far less...offer $8-$10 per lesson.)


3. This will sound crazy, but practice the steps sitting down in a chair. This will enable/force you to keep your foot ankle movement smaller, and will allow you to learn the steps w/out worrying about your balance. Once you get the feel of what you're working on, try it standing up %26amp; holding on to something (the back of a chair, a wall, dance bar). Then try it center floor and work on your balance, posture and form.





Lastly, is this class an elective? It sounds like a ton of trouble if it is...maybe, if all else fails, you could drop it and take something else? I have a feeling that part of the teacher's attitude may be due to past experience w/ people who take the class, thinking it's a "gimme" %26amp; don't take it seriously...So, if you do pursue the above course, make certain that you make it clear that you are not "one of those" types. Break - a - leg :)