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Original poster

If schools get closed how to teach subjects from home

61 replies

KoalasandRabbit · 14/03/2020 11:55

Looks like our secondary maybe shutting soon and looking into ways of teaching from home / helping kids learn from home during that period. Hopefully things will be provided by school but would like to have back-ups. Am also wondering how our rural internet will cope with 4 of us on at once as DH's work is also closing and he will be wfh too.

Maths we have books, science have a Kerboodle password so those are OK. Looking for resources for English x 2, Geography, History, French. Thanks very much. Year 8 and year 9 top sets and year 9 has started GCSE in English and History.

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Original poster
KoalasandRabbit · 17/03/2020 13:38

DD's school is closed for year 9s going forward - other years sent in. Work has been sent for English and school say they are investigating how to teach online for the others. Glad DD is out. DS still in for the moment. Said it's due to staffing levels and only year 9 atm, other years may follow. DD says they are the most difficult year but also presumably want to keep GCSE years in and maybe then gone oldest to youngest so DS in y8 maybe next. Hoping its soon.

DD was off today but up to yesterday no-one had checked / given children any passwords. It says on letter don't e-mail any teachers. Thankfully we are up and running with our own system and DD has made a timetable and we've signed up to Seneca and it's going well today.

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Darbs76 · 15/03/2020 19:35

Our school uses google classroom to set homework so I’d imagine they’d set work with resources. My main worry is DS’s GCSE’s in 2 months. My daughter will be fine in year 7

CoffeeAndToffee · 15/03/2020 15:40

Thank you FloggingMoll for the list of websites, some really useful links there.

Oblomov20 · 15/03/2020 10:02

Watching with interest. Haven't heard anything recently from school.

Original poster
KoalasandRabbit · 15/03/2020 09:34

Thanks for the recommendation Cat sent it on to DD. Not currently getting any enthusiastic vibe for English but hopefully one of the above will inspire her. Smile Wish school didn't make them take it in year 10, its her weakest subject.

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Zodlebud · 15/03/2020 09:29

@fedup21 I heard it from the deputy head at a school who I am good friends with (not the school my children go to).

This news article seems to support it but they don’t quote any sources.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/hertfordshire-coronavirus-uk-schools-alert-3941670.amp

fedup21 · 15/03/2020 09:16

All schools in Herts received an email this week I believe. It should have been countrywide.

What exactly did the email say? Who was it from?

FloggingMoll · 15/03/2020 09:08

I've got lots of contacts in HE and they're all prepping for closure - some have even done so. The general consensus amongst teaching staff in my neck of the woods is that they'll string it along as far as they can towards Easter and then close.

On the other hand, I tutor secondary school students and they've all been told that the schools will stay open. I've been wondering whether, aside from the economic implications, they're also trying to mitigate panic amongst the kids.

Bloody dark times, at any rate.

@Cat0115 Ooh, will check them out! Thanks for the tip.

Original poster
KoalasandRabbit · 15/03/2020 00:40

At our school up until last week the Head was sending out messages saying everything is carrying on as normal, we will never shut, all international school trips are on. Friday's newsletter said the same including Italy, Spain and French trips are on, we know there's a ban on Italy travel now but we are going Hmm, if children get coronavirus we are staying open. Only hint of anything was parents evening is cancelled on 19th as we'll be preparing for school closure. Atm teachers are giving different messages - one of DDs said on Friday the school will never close. DS's teacher said school closure was imminent and school was preparing a website for when they are closed. DDs form tutor said school being told week by week if open that week and all they knew was open until Friday.

My kids don't have anything yet nor do I. We may get something at some point but lots of teachers are off and many supply teachers are in. Maths is being taught by art and PE teachers last week. Science by a supply computing teacher. The school have said it may have to close due to a lack of staff. Hopefully they'll have a good work from home set up but I wouldn't bet on it. The Head is currently off and we have a temporary Head who seems to be acting like an ostrich.

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Zodlebud · 15/03/2020 00:38

As you read through the thread though more teachers are being told to prepare.

Seems all a bit scattergun and inconsistent though. I think the plan is to keep schools open but to enable remote working if necessary?

noblegiraffe · 15/03/2020 00:31

Check out the (lack of) action on this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3842540-Teachers-What-is-your-school-doing

Zodlebud · 15/03/2020 00:26

If this hasn’t happened then I am a bit WTF about the whole thing as our school has definitely been told to do this.

Zodlebud · 15/03/2020 00:25

All schools in Herts received an email this week I believe. It should have been countrywide.

Comefromaway · 15/03/2020 00:19

*All schools have been prepped for closure

Er, hate to burst that bubble but no.*

Agree. Dh can’t believe the difference between his school & ds’s school.

noblegiraffe · 14/03/2020 23:54

All schools have been prepped for closure

Er, hate to burst that bubble but no.

Zodlebud · 14/03/2020 23:44

All schools have been prepped for closure and been advised that work should be made available for children to work at home.

Whilst I totally understand concern from parents, the teachers are still responsible for this - even if it’s web links to sites like the above.

At my children’s school they have set up Google classrooms for each subject and every child is expected to log on and do that subject during normal timetabled hours. The class teacher will also be available via messaging during that time to assist.

Cat0115 · 14/03/2020 22:39

Mr Salles on You tube is better than Mr Bruff for Eng Lang and Eng Lit.

Original poster
KoalasandRabbit · 14/03/2020 22:34

Thanks noble must have read that too quickly. So much happening today.

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noblegiraffe · 14/03/2020 21:46

Schools are not closed in NI. Foster said that when they close it will be for around 16 weeks.

Original poster
KoalasandRabbit · 14/03/2020 21:02

Northern Ireland has announced schools are closed for at least 16 weeks so I'm assuming our closures may run until the summer. DD thinks they will go over work again but not sure, may depend how long it is - think the longer the less likely that is. Anything is possible though atm - DH is French and that's just gone into lockdown and my niece has no school indefinitely, both parents now wfh but have to school her in the morning and work until late in the evening. It will be challenging.

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Pipandmum · 14/03/2020 20:57

Our school was testing online classes via Skype or the like for A level and GCSE students.
My daughter missed a month off school last year due to illness (Y9) and though she was given some work to do at home she coped fine and caught up no problem when she returned, and now all the kids will be in the same boat. I wonder of they'll consider extending the school day in the summer term to make up for missed time? My school did that when we were shut for two weeks due to blizzards. We went from an 8-2.15 day to 7.30-3 for a term.

Original poster
KoalasandRabbit · 14/03/2020 20:47

Thanks very much - sure they will be useful. Getting the kids motivated will a challenge but having the resources is half the battle so thanks for all your great ideas. I've given them all to DD.

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FloggingMoll · 14/03/2020 20:27

@KoalasandRabbit Absolute pleasure, hope they're of some use!

Whilst I remember, have a trawl on iPlayer for documentaries and such-like - I saw a brilliant one a while back presented by Ian Rankin on the historical context behind Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde. You can also buy the (fairly recent and excellent) BBC adaptation of An Inspector Calls on Amazon Prime, which is GCSE set text for many exam boards.

Original poster
KoalasandRabbit · 14/03/2020 15:02

Thanks very much noble, that's really helpful. Will check those and others out.

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noblegiraffe · 14/03/2020 14:32

Some possibly useful links here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_staffroom/3845498-Remote-teaching-resources

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