A “well being” day instead of remote learning lessons once a week?

[Mumba0111around]

Just found out children’s school is planning on introducing this for the rest of lockdown. Instead of remote learning, one day a week to be a “well-being” day with no formal lessons (suggestions instead include activities such going for a walk or BBC Bitesize). Rest of the week to be pre recorded video lessons for different subjects, worksheets same as currently etc (no live lessons)

What do others think of this? I would be particularly interested in hearing if any other schools have put this into place, and experience of how it was going.

Maybe not once a week, but I think it’s a good idea.

I would welcome this tbh, one of my dc hates home learning and cries most days, he is normally very happy so it really upsets me to see him so miserable.

My boy's school is doing this on the Friday before half term.

Yes, and excellent idea, and one that I would like to see continuing well after the pandemic is over.

I think it’s a good idea. The disruption we’ve all had to cope with is soul destroying. Anything we can do to remind us of the beauty of life is much needed. So cheesy as that all sounds, do things that you all can enjoy

My colleagues childrens school are doing this - screen free Fridays they call it - which I might support in primary, but its a secondary and they are in yr 10! So having missed so much school, and being in the year before their GCSEs they are missing even more learning

Thank you. I guess I’m worried that it is going to be even harder for them to catch up covering the Curriculum, one whole day a week without actual teaching from their teachers going forward seems excessive through lockdown!

We have started this on Wednessays.
It will be ok on the days it falls when I'm wfh (except his brother will be in Teams lessons all day, so resentment will increase as he already has more hours of work a day).
It will be absolute pants when it falls on the days I'm in work. DS will have the whole day on his own (older brother in lessons, Dad in teams meetings, Mum at work) without a couple of hours of worksheets and abusing the teams chat facility to keep in touch with his mates.

I think it wont be good for the mental health of the kids who have parents who cant rearrange their days to do all the nice stuff to submit photo evidence off as all the adults are working.

How old are your DC?

I think this would be pretty disastrous for getting through public exam syllabus if lessons are reduced by 20%

And the impact on years 10-13 is bad enough without slowing the likely progression through the required work by that amount

Of course it's a good idea
I hate how my school have approached this whole thing
The pressure me and my daughter have felt
My daughter not taking to it at all well
To be honest I resent it all too
I resent the school work
I resent all of it

Our school have started doing this, at first I thought oh for goodness sake but actually it’s really good, my kids get tired online learning all day with only 1.5 hour break

Our school has introduced wellbeing Wednesday and it's great. Primary

They are primary aged. Not quite so worried about the year 3, but the elder is year 5 (we are in a Grammar school area, so bit concerned for the impact on being behind for the 11plus later this year)

Um, what are Saturdays and Sundays for? Sounds like a stupid idea to me, as if children's education hasn't suffered enough

We don't do fridays. Our schools half day Fridays anyway, so 845-1020 in class, break 1020-1040, then class 1040-12. Half that time is spent fannying about frankly so we go out and explore the woods or hills instead.

Please no. It’s limited enough as it is.

For secondary, a screen-free day would be great and I know some schools are already doing this. Work is set to be completed away from a screen for each subject for that day.

5 hours of live lessons online each day is a lot, even though actual teaching is only c.20 mins.

I'd love a Wednesday to break the week up into 2 pairs. Battling 5 days in a row is a slog for us all.

Not so practical for parents that have to manage around their work schedules though. Not that any of this malarky is anyway.

We have wellbeing Wednesday at DC's school. We have 3 suggested activities, generally something crafty - make something to connect with someone, something active (make an obstacle course in your house/garden), nature walk/ take photos of nature stuff. I take the view that the activities are definitely optional so either catch up on other stuff or do "fun" home learning stuff like craft, baking or watch something educational that interests DC (planets week on cbeebies, Brian Cox, David Attenborough).

I find "teaching" (DC is 5 so I'm heavily involved) Maths and Phonics is much more my comfort zone than anything arty, crafty or touchy feely but actually it takes the pressure off for a day in the middle of the week.

I do tend to keep going with reading and maths apps daily, including weekends as it doesn't take long and keeps basics ticking over.

Aren't weekends well being days? Definitely not in favour of this for secondary, they've missed enough. Plus I'm still working all day so no chance for a long walk or baking etc. So it would be a day of being on the phone / tv

Our school has also introduced this from next week. I'm not sure about it... we as parents still need to get our work done, and structure is helpful for the kids. I have two primary aged.

I like it as an idea up to year 9, but would probably do half a day and have materials available for those who want to do more structured activities.

I think I’m gonna start this for my son. He’s in reception. He hates his online zoom lessons. It makes him sad. So I’ve been thinking about emailing the teacher and just doing it myself.

DDs school has started a screen free half day once a week. They encourage kids to go outdoors and get exercise etc. It's fine for us as I don't work that day but probably not that helpful for parents working full time and don't have time to take kids out in school hours. They have suggested going out in the garden but lots of people don't have gardens/ live in flats. I suspect some of the class just swap screen learning for screen gaming.

I’ve got to say I would absolutely love this if it was the case in my dd’s school. The workload is immense- times tables, Maths, reading comprehension, writing and topic every single day. She is in Y3 and it takes four to five hours to complete it all.
Some children are doing it all, vast majority doing most of it and some doing none. We would love to have a day a week to spend it outside, having fun and getting out of the house.