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How has COVID affected your teaching?

26 replies

CraftyGin · 26/09/2020 17:36

I am not using any paper, apart from class tests.

All my work is on Google Classroom, which students access from their Chromebooks. I am spending all my free time converting paper worksheets to Google Slides (which are far better than the originals), but this is exhausting.

I am doing Science practicals but have to figure in back-to-back classes. My technician is brilliant at making sure equipment is sanitised and quarantined.

I’m fortunate at school that I get to teach in one room, whereas most teachers are moving around school to teach in form rooms.

My Google Classroom lessons are all ready to go (a couple of days in advance) should I have to self-isolate, a student, otherwise well, self isolates, or we go into some kind of lock down.

COVID, in the way I am reacting, is a lot more work than normal. I am not far from melt down, LOL.

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Hibbetyhob · 26/09/2020 21:03

Apart from losing a lot of teaching time to hand washing, and wearing a lot more layers because of doors & windows open all the time, it hasn’t really.

But I teach year 1. Secondary is a whole other ballgame.

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LumpySpacedPrincess · 26/09/2020 21:42

Yeah, KS1 is just lots more cleaning and open windows, no social distancing.

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Kashtan · 26/09/2020 22:25

I wish we were doing practicals, totally banned in our school, and even some demos banned. 😳

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CraftyGin · 27/09/2020 13:38

Why are they totally banned, Kashtan? This is not necessary, and support in how to do practicals is all on CLEAPSS.

Year 7 are gagging for practicals. It would be so cruel to have them in the lab surrounded by equipment.

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Barbie222 · 27/09/2020 15:09

I am finding year 1 hard in forward facing rows: it's hard to manage resources and teach effectively in ability groups - plus all has to be whole class teaching as no space to gather a group at all. Going outside a lot. Feel shattered

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CraftyGin · 27/09/2020 15:37

@Barbie222

I am finding year 1 hard in forward facing rows: it's hard to manage resources and teach effectively in ability groups - plus all has to be whole class teaching as no space to gather a group at all. Going outside a lot. Feel shattered

Yes, gathering for group work is difficult (impossible) which is also a problem in secondary. We don't do carpet time, but I can imagine it is a huge shock to the system.de

I have changed my tables from groups of 4 to rows. The plus side is that there is less chatter, but the downside is that I have lost my differentiated groups.

If I do a demo, I film it and they can watch it on the main screen. I haven't worked out where to stand to appear less clutzy yet.
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fuckweasel · 27/09/2020 15:51

Less paper, more use of Google Classroom to submit homework.

More sitting behind my desk in my '2m safe zone'! My senior classes are getting used to showing me work on their own mini whiteboards to save broaching distancing guidelines.

With regards practicals, waaaaay more planning for the same practicals I've done for years! I can offer up tips for working safely in pairs if anyone's interested? Thankfully I am in a tiny school with a wonderfully obliging technician who works with me to ensure we are doing virtually the same amount of practical work as before. We have a workable sanitising/quaratining system in place (to be fair, we were doing so in the last few weeks before school closure so had a head start on this).

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Kashtan · 27/09/2020 17:24

@CraftyGin my school have issued a blanket ban on all practicals, I can’t even take y13 outside to use quadrats 😳 We subscribe to CLEAPSS and I think we could carry out some practicals safely but I am getting no where. And yes it seems super mean on the y7s. It’s not even consistent throughout school as they are cooking with the kids over in the DT block.

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Subordinateclause · 27/09/2020 19:27

Teaching lower KS2 is not that different to normal except no carpet time and having to do my own classroom 'assembly' daily. It's made me realise how much time we usually waste moving to and from the carpet, I can't say I really miss it.

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monkeytennis97 · 27/09/2020 19:39

KS3 babysitting with PowerPoints

KS4 theoretical work but no practical

KS5 same as KS4

Boring.

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Malbecfan · 03/10/2020 14:35

Teaching music is really really hard. I work in 2 schools, one primary and one secondary.

In the primary school, I work with up to 8 children in a mixed R/Y1 class so I do singing and lots of Kodaly work. The other classes are doing rhythm work based around their topic work (eg Indian music learning rhythm cycles, space exploration) or minimalist music which they love.

In the secondary, I don't teach year 7 & have most year 8 classes once per fortnight in a room with PCs so they are composing on them. It's going ok but we had internet issues last week and my fall-backs in my normal teaching room (busk something on the piano for them to sing or whack on a CD) were not available as I was in a Maths room. I see my A level group in the school library. Stravinsky wasn't very popular but Abba, Glenn Miller and Stephen Schwarz most definitely were.

I am having to be super-organised and have everything planned in far more detail than I ever did previously. The students are being pretty good and understanding that we're doing our best but it's completely exhausting. Must go & plan my next year 13 lesson...

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VashtaNerada · 04/10/2020 07:18

Y2 and it’s barely changed. Start and end times are different and we sanitise our hands when we enter the classroom but that’s about it. At my school KS1 are allowed table groups still and we’ve gone straight into the Y2 curriculum so it’s not changed much at all really. We still send books home (& don’t quarantine them on return - but I might start doing that next week now I think of it!), we share resources as normal. I suppose one difference is that teaching staff are sticking to their year groups as much as possible so I wouldn’t be asked to pop into Y1 to cover a lesson or anything. Our staffroom’s still open though.

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CraftyGin · 04/10/2020 13:54

Are you happy with that, Vashta?

My DIL's primary school has been closed for the last two weeks, as about 20 people tested positive (5 adults and 15 children). 2 of the adults are really suffering. Patient zero thought to be a Y4 girl.

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Hibbetyhob · 04/10/2020 14:15

@CraftyGin not Vashta but sounds similar to my school.

Overall I am happy with what we’re doing (which isn’t really any different from normal) because it’s the right thing for the children’s learning. I teach y1 so these children have missed lots of really important time in Reception class - I would absolutely hate having to teach them in rows because it would be so wrong for them / it’s just not what they are ready for, developmentally. Therefore if I tried to do that, my life would be a million times harder because behaviour etc would be worse just because it wouldn’t be the right environment for them. I also know I have children who really need positive adult contact because they definitely don’t get that at home.

I do worry a lot about my vulnerable TA, and do all I can to keep her distanced from everyone.

I think once we were back at school after May half term I made my peace with being at more risk of catching Covid. Now I just try not to think about it because my job is my job and I can’t not go to work - I feel (rightly or wrongly) that I’ll do what I can about the Covid risk for me & my class but within the bounds of doing what they need socially, emotionally & educationally (in line with guidance of course), and then limit interactions outside of school to protect those I know are more vulnerable. I’m lucky coming at that from a place of being about as low risk as I can be from Covid complications. Obviously I realise that’s not the be all & end all but it’s all I’ve got!

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Hibbetyhob · 04/10/2020 14:16

I do notice some of my colleagues are really bad at social distancing and I am really trying to maintain that.

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AllDoneIn · 06/10/2020 12:01

We lose 10 mins per lesson moving from room to room and ICT issues. That adds up.

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monkeytennis97 · 06/10/2020 16:31

@AllDoneIn

We lose 10 mins per lesson moving from room to room and ICT issues. That adds up.

Yup. Doing death by PowerPoint today with links for YouTube videos... after every slide the computer crashed, had to turn it off and on again, log in, find PowerPoint, settle down kids 17 times in one lesson! Argh!!!
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ohthegoats · 06/10/2020 18:59

Well.

Daily we're losing around 45 minutes to an hour for handwashing and general covid related faffing (waiting for others to finish their break slot, cleaning of hall etc).

Behaviour for learning is awful - they're still in 'home mode', expecting someone to respond immediately. Their social skills are also crap, so breaktimes and lunchtimes are hard going from a behaviour perspective.

This means I feel as if I've won the day if I get 3 lessons done and the children can recall something from at least one of them.

Curriculum wise, this obviously has an impact - normally would manage 2 foundation subjects in an afternoon, now we manage 1. I've cut out art and DT this term, which feels mean, but I know that they did loads of drawing and crafting during the last 6 months. Not the same, but if we go off again for any reason, they'll be doing loads more of that again.

It's not as 'fun', but I like not having whole school assembly, I like them going home earlier, and I love parents not being allowed in the building.

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DrMadelineMaxwell · 08/10/2020 21:43

What ohthegoats said.

We've kept art, linked to our topic, but not music. No hall use, therefore no using the instruments etc. One PE session as, again, no hall. And if it rains that goes too.

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jennybluetree · 17/10/2020 20:49

Blended learning. Teaching on Teams is hard work and about half as effective as face to face.

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neveradullmoment99 · 17/10/2020 23:33

I really miss carpet time. I am trying hard to stick to keeping my distance but its so hard when they ask for help. Also its all class teaching which is not that great but Im not happy to do groups just now as there is literally no space because of the row layout and it puts me at way too much risk. I use the chilli challenge to differentiate. The children get so bored sitting down on their chairs. I try to take them outside frequently.

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Fuzzyspringroll · 18/10/2020 10:29

I teach grade 1 (age 6/7) abroad and it's not that different. We still have groups, we still have carpet time, they aren't require to stay socially distant within their class. They are required to wear masks around school, which can be a faff but a kind parent has given me a whole pack of spare ones to throw at kids if needed. We have staggered playtime and lunchtimes, loads of handwashing (which eats into my teaching time) and have just been told to avoid any contact activities during PE. Luckily, we are still allowed to use the hall. We are also allowed to keep the heating on while opening all of the windows, so it warms up again after closing them.
I'm using it as an opportunity to move my STEM lessons outside and combine them with forest school.
There's no singing, which I find difficult with the little ones. I bought a portable speaker to use outside and we'll see whether that works. Now I just need permission to make a fire outside and we'll be all good.

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Fortheroses · 18/10/2020 10:42

@Fuzzyspringroll

I teach grade 1 (age 6/7) abroad and it's not that different. We still have groups, we still have carpet time, they aren't require to stay socially distant within their class. They are required to wear masks around school, which can be a faff but a kind parent has given me a whole pack of spare ones to throw at kids if needed. We have staggered playtime and lunchtimes, loads of handwashing (which eats into my teaching time) and have just been told to avoid any contact activities during PE. Luckily, we are still allowed to use the hall. We are also allowed to keep the heating on while opening all of the windows, so it warms up again after closing them.
I'm using it as an opportunity to move my STEM lessons outside and combine them with forest school.
There's no singing, which I find difficult with the little ones. I bought a portable speaker to use outside and we'll see whether that works. Now I just need permission to make a fire outside and we'll be all good.

Where are you?
The lower classes don't need to be sitting in rows.
I teach yr 4/5 (p5/6?)
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Fortheroses · 18/10/2020 10:43

They say they don't need to be but there have been outbreaks at nursery. Dont believe it.

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Fortheroses · 18/10/2020 10:44

While there is little risk to them, they can spread it to you.

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