Is anyone finding the continual recording and uploading of primary school kids work stressful

[whatthefuckishappening]

The continual recording of young children's work is really frustrating for us. To try to get an uninterrupted video of young children doing their "work" to send to school is driving me insane and is sucking any enjoyment out of activities. Anyone else? I'd rather school just stopped and we focused on reading and writing activities that we chose for our "work" without having to send and record everything. It is dong my head in asking them to repeat stuff they've done and shushing other kids, moving mess out of the way, stopping to upload onto slow portals etc, constantly trying to recapture the moment. I'm hating that part. Think I just needed to rant!

Also only videod stuff is commented on (unless the comment is to video it next time). How am I meant to "do" stuff with just him (one on one attention is tricky at best of times as they're all young) whilst also recording myself doing it. Nursery for me was meant to be about childcare and playing with friends his own age, whilst getting a bit school ready. He can write and read basic words at a level that is fine for when he starts reception, so maybe I just switch off from the school stuff and go awol as I don't want to have a phone to my face the whole day.

Omg. That's ridiculous. Tell them no. Seriously. That's is nonsense.

That's insane. OTOH, our DC school haven't set any work at all - they've sent out a pencil and a blank workbook and that's been the sum of it . Something between the two extremes would be helpful!

@whatthefuckishappening is this a private school by any chance?

Have you tried telling them how much the videoing is affecting the work/play time you have with ds?

Please do, put your foot down because honestly, that sounds a bit batshit!!

I said something. They also then said random, unobtrusive videoing is ok when he's playing games etc too. However, that again then takes me away from the baby or getting their lunch or uploading/downloading stuff etc whilst videoing and uploading and will be met with a request/suggestion of another video. If I'm the one playing with him, it takes me away from doing that. I don't have a fucking video camera set up in the corner of every room in the house. Worksheets or photos aren't commented on. It's all about assessing for developmental milestones. It's bizarre. Yes, it's private.
Work set is far beyond the level they've been doing at nursery which makes it extra fun. I think the teacher setting it is used to older kids e.g. PowerPoint, lots of writing etc or maybe she is an assessor. His teacher is off.
The odd photo is fine but all this videoing whilst dealing with a four year old's attention span is shite. He's four so if I send a worksheet in, it's clearly him who has done it. Do they really think parents are going to be doing the work for their four year old? Can they not just think "oh he's completed this worksheet, that ticks a box" AAGH.

We’ve not been asked to that 🤷🏼‍♀️

What are they going to do about it if you don't? Keep him in detention? Phone home? There's nothing really of consequence they can do.

I'm an ex-teacher, I love education. I left largely because of the legacy of Gove's reforms detracting from the actual educating and reducing teaching to a load of bureaucracy. The most important thing you can do at present is spend some time working on some skills and learning appropriate to your child's needs and your circumstances. Not jumping through arbitary hoops.

I've gone off-piste because that works better for our circumstances. The key bit is that my DCs are doing some appropriate learning (one has various high functioning SNs) Fortunately our school is not being excacting about it, because it's just not viable and I would not be busting a gut (mine or the DCs) to try and play along because we have to live with the consequences longer than the class teacher does. I'm happy to be in touch with school, and I'm well known through voluntary supporting, but I have to prioritise what we can live with for now.

This is absolutely crackers. Just say you're not going to do this (and consider choice of school or if this is a blip due to circumstances.) You can't go on like this.

You know if you've done a bit of movement and read a story that day. Far better not to be stressing you out over pointless filming and you actuallybare present and the kids enjoy you being there.

This is insane. He’s not even at school! Tell them that your religious beliefs don’t permit you to use video as it will suck out his soul. It sounds like it pretty much is anyway! My y5 has been told 2 hours a day. A four year old - 10 mins reading, anything else a bonus and should be presented as play.

There’s no way I would video DD and post it online. Even to a secure site.

I upload pictures of finished work and even that’s a hassle. I work in IT training so I’m used to figuring out systems. It took me 2 sodding hours to work out how to upload images of work to the school forum. I had to try so many work arounds and update various settings. It was so unintuitive I couldn’t believe it and of course no help guide.

Madness!

DS1’s school has been very sensible (Y2). Plenty on offer but several messages making it clear that they know that everyone is in different situations and that please can we at least read with them. Teachers are commenting on everything I upload. But we’re both trying to work FT from home and there’s DS2 (just 4) to keep occupied too. So uploading work is hit and miss. We’re lucky that I have my laptop (distinct from my work one) so DS1 is using that when needed.

Wow! That sounds insane, and he's only in nursery as well
No wonder it's stressing you out!

We got a blank exercise book sent home and I'm just gluing work into there. But expecting it ever to be looked at but it gives the kids the feeling school still cares (for the one leaving in July I get the distinct feeling management at least don't but I pretend)!

Only do what you want to OP - you don’t have to do anything!

I have one EYFS, one KS1 and one KS2 child using Tapestry, Seesaw and Class Dojo for work . I’m just taking a couple of photos of each a week!

I loathe google classroom and Show my Homework. DS’s school uses both and I'm back and forth looking. We do what we can. Frankly I don’t really give a hoot if everything is completed. We give him maths and spelling tests. DH and i still work. Im full time in the office, DH a farmer, its lambing season.....

Our head has more or less said “Here are some resources and your teacher will be in touch but, you know, do what you need to do to get through. Things will sort themselves out when school resumes.”

Or that’s how I’ve chosen to interpret it

What happens if you tell the teacher 'no, we're not doing that - here's a quick pic to use for marking?' Just curious really - with my job no way I could do all of this!

Honestly? I think that it's time for a call or email to the teacher to say that having to video your child throughout lots of activities is proving to be really disruptive. You'll do XYZ reading, ABC writing, baking and exercise and are able to take a photo of these and email it at the end of the day and that's about all.

Mine are aged 4 (pre-school) and 6 - at an outstanding rates infant school (if that makes any difference). School have said daily reading (using Oxford Owl free e-books), spellings, counting in 2's, 5's 10's etc. , a few online learning games, but nothing to video, nothing too prescriptive and the overarching message from the Head is don't worry, do as little or as much as you can, stay safe and enjoy spending time together which is just as important as doing school work. So in reality we're not doing much more than we would if they were at school eg reading and weekly spelling. Lots of playing, baking, exercise, garden time etc anything fun to fill the day, whilst we're both working full time from home.

Every time I read posts about education on mumsnet I'm struck by the amount of pressure on young children nowadays. Resist it! Most of these children wouldn't even be in formal education
In most European countries - they would be learning through play. Our children are some of the most stressed (and their parents) and we don't need any extra pressure putting on at present. Just read, play games and have fun!

We are watching movies and eating popcorn today. Baby asleep on my lap. Kids cuddled up to me. House still a shit tip. Not attempted to look at any portals. Not taken any videos. Enjoyed being and playing with kids, rather than stressing. Much better day. Fuck it! Not often got flexibility to do that so bloody lovely.

That’s the spirit, OP We’ve done sweet FA since lockdown, really, and I’m sure everything’ll pan out ok.

That sounds like a better plan OP! We have a couple of online platforms to use (not mentioned so far on here), plus workbooks etc. They have a diary to fill in daily and I found some exercise books for them to do their English in plus anything I ask them to do eg 'go and research clouds for science this afternoon' sort of thing.

@daisydalrymple if the work is the same as the online stuff, just take a photo on your phone of what he's done and email it in. Don't make him redo it just to video it as that'll drive you bonkers :(

Don’t do it if you don’t want to.

We had worksheets sent home. We have worked through them but then were sent a letter to log into something called seesaw.
We tried today but there was no direction as to how to upload answers.
DS (7) figured it out by adding a picture of a load of scribble and 'mum smells of poo' and uploading that while i was texting a parent to see what to do.
It is currently 'awaiting response' from his teacher.
He will do maths ok but its a nightmare to get him to do anything else.