Another Covid Question re: dyslexia tutor

[nicolewi]

My latest Covid situation. I am so, so tired of dealing with all of these issues & decisions!!!

DD3's dyslexia tutor is able to come to our home during the school day to do tutoring. This is AMAZING, but I never expected our numbers to get this bad (around 20% positivity lately with a "very high" case burden). I also thought that we might be transitioning back to regular school in November, but we're continuing to choose virtual. 

The tutor wears a face shield but no mask. This was fine at the start when they could meet outside, but now it's too cold. I wanted my daughter wear a mask today and the tutor said she asks kids to take masks off when they meet with her because it's too hard to distinguish all the sounds through the mask. So, this lady is in my kitchen with DD, with just a face shield, DD has no mask, and she's coming from some private schools where she meets with kids with no masks. 

UGH. I pushed back about the mask a little today and she just said that her husband is doing fine teaching all of his in-person music lessons without masks (he's a retired band director), and the schools are still in session. 

She's an older lady and her son already had Covid, but she obviously isn't a believer in masks and is just going to do her thing.

So...what do I do? Forgo tutoring? Take the risk? Insist we need masking and let her decide whether or not to drop us as clients?

Additional info: This lady is literally the ONLY choice I had for private tutoring. Anyone else I found was at least 30 minutes away and there's just no way I can do that with the other kids.

I could re-start intervention at school, which is an O-G program--Sonday--but wasn't done with fidelity. I have already reached out to get more info now on how this would work for us as virtual students. My concern in the past was that it wasn't as effective as DD's longer, one-on-one private tutoring sessions.  

[abs]

I’d keep the tutor but insist on masks. If she isn’t willing then find someone else. Total pita I know.

[hocus2]

In an area with significant community spread I would have issues with her mask policy especially if she is sitting close to your kid. Just explain what you are comfortable with and deflect any commentary about what other people are doing because frankly that doesn't really matter. If you live in a shoes on house and visit a shoes off house you take your shoes off. I would consider getting a propane heater and have her work outside or do a virtual OG tutor from anywhere if masked indoors just doesn't work for her. I have a contact you might be able to use from where live.

Note that my younger one goes to a school that is OG based and the reading sessions are all masked for both children and the teacher. Could it be less effective as a reading intervention? Maybe but no one on the staff has gotten covid yet and they test once a month and that is more critical than a slightly faster reading intervention.

[tacom]

I’m rolling my eyes at her argument against masks... but I’m a speech pathologist who wouldn’t dream of working in person without a mask right now.

With 20% positivity and virtual schooling, I would stick with outdoors AND masked only, or virtual tutoring.

I would be especially wary of a person who is advertising that neither she nor her husband wear masks when working with the public.

[dcn]

I would insist on masks for both of them. Especially since she and her husband are interacting with students without them.

[smock]

Her husband is hanging out maskless with a bunch of musicians blowing particles everywhere and she's tutoring maskless at private schools? In a state with a 20%+ positivity rate?

Nope.

I would look into virtual dyslexia tutors to replace her ASAP.

[formerlyak]

Can you get some of those clear masks and tell her if she won't comply with masks, you will start looking for a new tutor?

[hermione]

I’d insist on masks. Her response that her husband is doing fine with maskless music lessons and schools being in session is even MORE of a reason to insist.

[pandorica]

Definitely insist on masks or find someone new. I know that sucks, but her and her H seem like covid waiting to happen.

[pinkpeony08]

I would switch to virtual or outdoor masked. My son is learning to read right now. Via zoom. If she isn’t willing to accommodate, find someone else.

[edwardo123]

There are clear masks. They are a pain and fog up easily, but it’s worth a shot. While not ideal, I was able to continue teaching Wilson reading via Zoom with students. Another option, is to set up a table in the garage with the door open and a space heater.

[steamboat185]

Not a chance. I’m dyslexic too so I get the struggle, but no.

[brooklyn]

No way would I let her in my home unmasked. Especially in WI! Could she tutor via zoom? My son is doing his speech and reading intervention via zoom.

[tacokick]

I’d ask if Typhoid Mary can do it virtually and if she refuses, find someone who can. It isn’t ideal to do it virtually but it’s certainly possible and then the location of the tutor wouldn’t matter at all so it might be easier to find one. You could even find someone on the East Coast to help with the timing.

[imojoebunny]

No Mask, no coming in my house, never mind sitting at a table with my kid. You can find virtual O-G tutors all over the country now. Bonus of covid! Both my DD and I are dyslexic, and I firmly believe in the power of O-G tutoring, because it let us get the education to understand science says wear a mask.