Half day mornings could work. I could get them on the bus or drop off. They would have to ride the bus home since DH is on phone calls all day with hardly any breaks. Or I suppose he could take calls in the car (but not ones where he needs the computer). Then at least he is here so they don’t kill each other in the afternoon but he would not be able to facilitate elearning but hopefully they are fine with that portion and do more if a homework style for afternoon/ evening.
Me too. I’m very torn between needing my kids in school for a lot of reasons and wanting no part in them having the risk of exposure that comes with school.
Same. We're Fairfax County, VA, so we've currently got the choice to either opt into full time online learning for the whole school year, OR have two days a week in person/three days asynchronous (it's not clear if you can change from in person to all online at any point). DH and I both have the flexibility to work from home so we could make all-online work (though it would be a challenge) and that's of course going to minimize exposure risk, but educationally/developmentally my kids would absolutely benefit from two days a week in a classroom. It's hard to figure out what the right balance is.
That said, I find it really unlikely that there's going to be in person school at all in the fall. It assumes that there's not a second wave of COVID cases as restrictions are lifted AND that there will be enough teachers willing and able to be in school buildings to accommodate that many kids two days a week. I think the school should really be focusing on quality online learning for the fall, and planning for a reassessment of the situation over winter break with the possibility of starting in-person instruction for the second semester.
That’s about how I’m feeling, that it’s unlikely for September. But I’m freaking out about that possibility. All three of my kids are slipping into deep depressions without peer interactions, and H and I are swamped with work and basically ignoring them. I hope they learned *anything* for the last 1/3 of the school year but doubt they actually did, and didn’t have the time to enforce school from home.
Post by sillygoosegirl on Jun 26, 2020 9:48:04 GMT -5
Based on the survey sent out, it seems like they plan to go back on a regular full time schedule, with an option to instead sign up for full year 100% online. Survey mostly focused on what parents want hybrid learning to look like if it needs to happen because of a second wave.
The whole thing felt very discouraging to me, since in spite of our initially very successful early lockdown, now that we've reopened, wave 1 is taking off like crazy. It was frustrating to see them treating this as a contingency plan, when all the evidence points to massive uncontrolled outbreaks by Labor Day here.
Anyhow, we've decided to homeschool, and I have so much less anxiety since making that decision. I'm still watching with great interest though... since what happens with the local school will likely determine what happens to our pod.
Me too. I’m very torn between needing my kids in school for a lot of reasons and wanting no part in them having the risk of exposure that comes with school.
That said, I find it really unlikely that there's going to be in person school at all in the fall. It assumes that there's not a second wave of COVID cases as restrictions are lifted AND that there will be enough teachers willing and able to be in school buildings to accommodate that many kids two days a week. I think the school should really be focusing on quality online learning for the fall, and planning for a reassessment of the situation over winter break with the possibility of starting in-person instruction for the second semester.
I would assume schools are open 4 days a week each with half capacity not just 2.
In NYC I do expect schools to open with a hybrid model though November at least. COVID+Flu might force them to close again. Remote learning was a total disaster here so I hope a hybrid model continues though the entire year and we don't have to go fully remote. I also thing starting with some live instruction is better than starting remote and flipping. At least you can build some relationships before you go virtual.
We are planning to be in school in the fall with smaller classes, pods of kids, social distancing and masks. Priority to lower and middle school on campus; high school is using a hyflex model.
That said, that’s the goal. We’re also working really hard on improving distance learning. We expect to be home for much of the year.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
hocus2, yes, the FCPS plan is buildings would actually be open five days a week, two days each for two groups for general education, and the fifth day as needed for specialized student support and teacher planning time.
I don't think they're going to have enough teachers/staff signed on for in-person instruction to make that possible though.
hocus2 , yes, the FCPS plan is buildings would actually be open five days a week, two days each for two groups for general education, and the fifth day as needed for specialized student support and teacher planning time.
I don't think they're going to have enough teachers/staff signed on for in-person instruction to make that possible though.
The power of your union may be the deciding factor then. In NYC the union has a fair amount of power so if they refuse to go back to the buildings they just won't open. You could see that playout with the live instruction this year which the union kiboshed.
In other states I don't know that unions are as powerful and teachers will have to make personal choices about coming in or leaving their jobs. I wouldn't be shocked if some states create special hiring laws for the fall to fill the spots needed with folks who wouldn't normally meet requirements. There are states who already relaxed their teacher qualifications for other reasons.
GA teacher here. The district has asked for exactly zero feedback from teachers about how school should be handled. The parents received a survey with the following bullet points, so the superintendent and his staff can plan.
• Opening on Aug. 3 in-person, at-school instruction with additional, reasonable safety measures; • Opening on Aug. 3 online with a more rigorous version of Digital Learning Days remote instruction; or, • Opening on Aug. 3 with both options in place. Parents would choose one option for their child.
I strongly suspect we will have option 3 in place, with both in-person and online instruction. So great. I will have the equivalent of 2 full-time jobs (because preparing for online learning is a fuck-ton more work than preparing in-person lessons). I will be exposed to all of those vectors. I'm high-risk because of my auto-immune issues, as is my daughter (as well as her fiancee who is living with us). I have NO IDEA what procedures will be in place for my protection. I can tell you this, though. My desk is going to look a lot different this year. Gone will be the cup full of pencils, pens, and erasers for the students to use. Also gone - my scissors, tape, stapler, hole punch. I won't be giving access to the school's graphing calculators. And I have a student roster that is generally easier to manage than most, since I will be teaching Precalculus and Calculus this year. So, yeah. The closer we get to preplanning (July 27-August 1), the more anxious I get. This is year 28 in the classroom for me, but I have 2 children in college and absolutely cannot afford to quit.
Our state board of ed will release recommendations on July 10th, and our school district has been working on plans and will modify them if needed once they get that report. We should be able to enroll on 7/13 and will have info at that point about what all it will entail if we have in person school. Right now the plan is in person school or online. No mention of a hybrid option yet. Not even a hint about it. Or about masking.
But yes lots of people saying if masks are required they will homeschool, and other people saying if masks AREN'T required them will homeschool, or they will demand their kid only be sat next to other masked kids.
Our school announced kids are going back full-time in the fall. No masks required of students, only faculty and staff. If cases pick up, they might require masks on grades 6-12, but not the younger kids. If it would get really out of control, they'd close the schools again like in the spring. They sent a survey out to parents about 3 weeks ago and I think that factored heavily into the decision. They sent us a 50 page document of precautions they will be taking to ensure as much safety as they can.
Our school announced kids are going back full-time in the fall. No masks required of students, only faculty and staff. If cases pick up, they might require masks on grades 6-12, but not the younger kids. If it would get really out of control, they'd close the schools again like in the spring. They sent a survey out to parents about 3 weeks ago and I think that factored heavily into the decision. They sent us a 50 page document of precautions they will be taking to ensure as much safety as they can.
I'm in the bay area in California. We are moving counties this summer, so I have been keeping up with both. All kids and teachers will be wearing masks in both places.
The county that we are moving to is planning to open back up five days per week for all kids. Kids will remain 4-6 feet apart in classrooms and each classroom will distance from other classrooms. They are doing walk throughs of all schools to figure out how to utilize MPRs, outside areas, etc to best work it all out. There may be a full time distance option as well.
The county that we are leaving will be offering 1. full time distance learning or 2. two half days per week (kids leave before lunch time) with to be determined distance learning on the off days.
I am not sold that cohorts would actually decrease exposure levels. All of the parents that I know in the district that we are leaving are having to patchwork together a variety of aftercare, camps and swaps with other families to try to get time to actually work. Our town has probably 10 different private aftercares (at least) in addition to the school based one.
Pretty much throwing everything back to the districts.
Some key points: has to be some face time in class, can’t be 100% virtual
Masks for all staff. Students encouraged.
Social distance
No indoor sports. Bathrooms sanitized between each use.
I'm glad he didn't call for 100% virtual, and I completely understand why given the makeup of our districts it would be difficult at best to find a one size fits all solution. However, this feels like a non answer answer after building up for a few weeks that guidelines were coming.
He did say that districts had to let parents know what the plan will be at least a month before school begins (so we should know if we're 100% in the building or hybrid by the beginning of August). So we'll have a few weeks to plan to have childcare now that the state is up and running for the most part (thankfully H can work from home since I can't).
Pretty much throwing everything back to the districts.
Some key points: has to be some face time in class, can’t be 100% virtual
Masks for all staff. Students encouraged.
Social distance
No indoor sports. Bathrooms sanitized between each use.
How do they suppose schools can sanitize bathrooms between uses? Our school has 3 floors with 12 sets of boys/girls bathrooms. They do not have the manpower for that.
Pretty much throwing everything back to the districts.
Some key points: has to be some face time in class, can’t be 100% virtual
Masks for all staff. Students encouraged.
Social distance
No indoor sports. Bathrooms sanitized between each use.
How do they suppose schools can sanitize bathrooms between uses? Our school has 3 floors with 12 sets of boys/girls bathrooms. They do not have the manpower for that.
My school has a bathroom in every classroom (the older rooms have two tiny bathrooms each).
How do they suppose schools can sanitize bathrooms between uses? Our school has 3 floors with 12 sets of boys/girls bathrooms. They do not have the manpower for that.
My school has a bathroom in every classroom (the older rooms have two tiny bathrooms each).
So now teachers not only have to enforce social distancing and mask usage but also sanitize bathrooms?
Post by DotAndBuzz on Jun 26, 2020 15:36:13 GMT -5
Our public district (younger daughter) is offering 100% at home, or blended part time at home, part time in person learning, assuming it's safe to resume in-person in the fall. Regardless of which option you pick, there will be synchronous, live classes, not just a worksheet dump at the beginning of the week. No specifics on HOW any of that will work (other than they will be supplying every student with a digital device if they need one) just that it's what they're working towards.
Older daughter's private school is also working towards some sort of in-person instruction, but I've heard they're putting cameras in every classroom to allow students to stay home full time and still get the live classes as if they were in the building. Not confirmed yet, just information that they're working on system designs, etc. I do like, however, that they have an entirely separate faculty team dedicated to managing student stress and wellness around this whole thing. That they recognize it, and want to DO SOMETHING about it is encouraging.
Right now, both kids have flat out said they want to stay home. I SAH, so it's something we can do, logistically. So right now, that's our plan. And looking at the way things are trending, I just don't see how in-person instruction is going to happen. Our state has an education re-opening task force (comprised of educators, parents, health officials, etc), so we'll see what they say in a few weeks.
It seems like our plan is 2 days a week (either Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs). Cameras in all classrooms to watch on the days you are home. More assistant teachers so the main teacher will teach and there will be an assistant in each group who will monitor the students watching to ensure their questions are answered etc. Then everyone home on a Friday doing virutal.
Post by starburst604 on Jun 26, 2020 16:38:27 GMT -5
Our town hasn’t issued the final plans yet but some nearby towns have. They plan to open for FT in classroom learning in Sept, but per the state they have to be prepared for 2 other models - hybrid of in person and virtual, and completely virtual. MA is very low right now but well aware that things could take a turn for the worse again. Grades 2 and up will have to wear masks as well as staff. I’m not sure about classroom sizes though. So far the town has been proceeding as if things will be full time in Sept, I just paid the bus fee and registration fee for extended day.
Our school district in central Illinois just sent out a family survey asking about what our family’s ranking of hybrid schedules would be, along with what we felt should be prioritized when students are in school. The options were -
1 week on, 1 week distance Morning and afternoon cohorts (everyone goes half-day, with distance learning for the other half of the day) 2 days on, 3 days distance
It’s hard to know what’s best. I ranked half day cohorts as first preference for us, but we’ll do whatever the school district decides as best. I’m encouraged that they think we’ll be able to go back in some way, but I hope they make the decision quickly for the sake of the teachers and their preparation.
I am in IL too and PRAYING half day is not the option. I can’t leave work halfway through the day to pick him up and drive him to daycare.
I’m curious how cameras in the classroom would work. I imagine there are some serious issues with confidentiality (students who have aides, special services, etc) as those would be broadcast to parents? It would be interesting to see how parents react to seeing a real time video of me having to clear my room bc a child is destroying the classroom... I don’t know how I feel about all this. It’s definitely complicated.
Our school announced kids are going back full-time in the fall. No masks required of students, only faculty and staff. If cases pick up, they might require masks on grades 6-12, but not the younger kids. If it would get really out of control, they'd close the schools again like in the spring. They sent a survey out to parents about 3 weeks ago and I think that factored heavily into the decision. They sent us a 50 page document of precautions they will be taking to ensure as much safety as they can.
Our school district in central Illinois just sent out a family survey asking about what our family’s ranking of hybrid schedules would be, along with what we felt should be prioritized when students are in school. The options were -
1 week on, 1 week distance Morning and afternoon cohorts (everyone goes half-day, with distance learning for the other half of the day) 2 days on, 3 days distance
It’s hard to know what’s best. I ranked half day cohorts as first preference for us, but we’ll do whatever the school district decides as best. I’m encouraged that they think we’ll be able to go back in some way, but I hope they make the decision quickly for the sake of the teachers and their preparation.
I am in IL too and PRAYING half day is not the option. I can’t leave work halfway through the day to pick him up and drive him to daycare.
Yeah, there just isn’t a right choice. I acknowledged in my survey to count our responses with less weight than those of families who cite childcare struggles we won’t have. It was also hard responding because we do not have any IEPs in our family at this time, and I want them to focus on getting kids with those special academic needs back in with their teachers. I answered the questions with just my school-aged kid in mind, but used the notes to plug for the greater good.
I’m curious how cameras in the classroom would work. I imagine there are some serious issues with confidentiality (students who have aides, special services, etc) as those would be broadcast to parents? It would be interesting to see how parents react to seeing a real time video of me having to clear my room bc a child is destroying the classroom... I don’t know how I feel about all this. It’s definitely complicated.
I am certain this wouldn't be allowed where my kids go because of privacy.
I’m curious how cameras in the classroom would work. I imagine there are some serious issues with confidentiality (students who have aides, special services, etc) as those would be broadcast to parents? It would be interesting to see how parents react to seeing a real time video of me having to clear my room bc a child is destroying the classroom... I don’t know how I feel about all this. It’s definitely complicated.
I am certain this wouldn't be allowed where my kids go because of privacy.
I am a SAHM, but agreed to cover a school based SLP's maternity leave last semester to see if I'd like working in the schools, whooo boy did I pick the right senester? I was not comfortable holding group Google Hangouts for this reason though we never received specific word from the district not to do this and I know other SLPs did them. Most of our in school sessions are groups, or mine were. My issue in doing group sessions was how do I know who is watching just off to the side of everyone's camera? I did individual video sessions for those who wanted them and that pretty much confirmed I did not want groups. Random people in the backgrounds I didn't know. Uncle Buck popping his head in to say hi....on the other hand our school is very big on parents volunteering if able and since I normally SAH I am at school often and know who has aides from being there so much. So it is hard, there isn't a great answer.
Today, I received an email on letterhead from the district superintendent that says they are forming a task force with what seems like every department in the district (admin, special ed, food service, transportation, etc). It was thoughtfully worded.
I just cannot believe that we are on our own and starting from scratch. Clearly.
How do we not have proper national guidance? Frustrating. Pathetic.
3 weeks ago, I was feeling confident we would start the year in the classroom.
With numbers exploding now, I'm much less confident.
I think I like the idea of cameras in the classroom. I don't think thats been floated here.
We shot that idea down pretty much immediately. It doesn’t help (kids at home can’t really ask questions, no interaction) and unless your lesson is a lecture, they are better of doing asynchronous learning anyway. The only way I see that working is if the teacher can then manage breakout rooms with the online students which seems unlikely while trying to also manage an in-person class.
There are also massive privacy issues with this. It’ll never fly with any state with a union.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”