Ceebeebies at school?

[3cupsoftea]

I'm interested to know opinions on this.
I'm pretty relaxed about screen time. I wish my child had less of it around the house but well, it happens. I was speaking to a few mums about parents evening. A few mentioned to the teacher that they were disappointed that the children (year one) watched ceebeebies during class time. There was back peddling of "they don't that much" but chatting to my child "hey what did you watch at school today?" So far it was 3 days last week and 2 this week. One day it was bing?!? At 6 years old? Thoughts?

I would be pretty unimpressed if my child was watching Cbeebies at school regularly. Programmes with a specific theme that fit in with what is being taught are fine but using it while you get on with other things is just lazy. Yes there's more pressure on our school children now but but why does that mean they are now less capable of sitting still at the end of the day while you hand things out etc?

And as for wet play, are board games not used any more? When I was at primary there wasn't an all-day children's channel (just a few hours in the morning and after school) and our teachers managed somehow. Plus, Cbeebies is aimed at preschoolers so I'm not sure how its meant to keep 30 children aged 5+ engaged?

Our primary school does not believe in "wet play" - kids come prepared for all weathers and still play outside at lunchtime if it is wet.

It is an enclosed playground, a quarter is undercover if it gets too bad. But we are in the South West, so it is a warmer wet...

Depends on how long they watch it for. It could be during milk time or in last few minutes of the day. This is fine. Longer slots during the day - not fine.

Also, if during wet breaks it would be ok. Although, there are usually games for this time or they can draw. This time is supervised by TAs and playground supervisors as teachers are on their lunch at this time.

We sometimes but on Bedtime Stories (CBeebies) or Signed Stories (ITV) as an alternative at story time. Not every day, but at times. Been know to show an episode of Alphablocks before too if it has fit into what we have done in phonics - again. not every day, just occasionally.
And our Y2s always watch Magic Grandad as part of their Victorian topic.

But then I also remember watching some TV programmes at school - How We Used To Live, Look and Read, Words & Pictures, etc.

I'm sorry feenie - forgot that as a teacher I am also not allowed any typos. I am an outstanding teacher, not an outstanding proof-reader. Pedant.

There are many reasons and I would argue lazy teaching is low down the list.

• wet plays
• the 5 minutes when it's being debated if they can go out or it's just too wet
• the 5 minutes after getting them back in soaked and wringing out the particularly drenched coats and shoes
• someone has wet themselves
• someone's thrown up on the carpet

blah blah blah

Every day from Sept-July is wrong. But at this time of year, sparingly... cut the teacher some slack.

Another teacher here....We use cbeebies around once a week/10 days, and it's always linked to our current theme. We watch Our family, or Do you know or the farming one. It's usually a 5/10 minute treat, and can be a great language stimulus. We have a No Wet Play policy, but our playground floods so we occasionally miss playtime when it's pouring so much our drains cannot cope. A quick Cbeebies educational program can be a lifesaver. Whoever suggested board games has never tried to play games with 30 4 year olds and 2 adults. The Screen doesn't replace our daily story and song time, but does give the adults in the room the opportunity to grab a wee/tea run. We don't get a morning break in my setting and a very short lunch because we serve meals in the classroom. I'm happy ( and so was Ofsted!) with how we use the educational programming.

We used to play outside unless it was really bad, on those rare occasions we were allowed to read comics, draw or chat, we loved it! No need for mindless tv programs, most kids get enough of that already. I wouldn't mind the odd educational program within the structure of a lesson but I object to tv for no reason. Disney DVDs at the end of term wind me up too, if you're not going to teach them, let the kids have an extra day off!

Oh well. I had cbeebies on for ten minutes at the end of the day. The TA was comforting a vomiting child and I had a million letters to give out. It's Friday night and I have ! I worked flat out all day without a lunch break or any other break for that matter. If people want to call me lazy, to be honest I'm too tired and too relieved to be sitting down at last to care!

Disney DVDs at the end of term wind me up too, if you're not going to teach them, let the kids have an extra day off!

We can't make that decision!

In my school, scissors are collected in the week before finishing (to be counted and reissued for the new year). Glue sticks are history (no money!) and felt tips are long since neglected thanks to no lids. Paper to draw on is seen as an extravagance nowadays.

We also need to move classroom (and modern teachers have a lot of possessions which need to get boxed and moved) and clear all surfaces for the big summer clean.

You try entertaining 30 overtired children in those circumstances!

Our girls are in y2 and they watch shows all the time and they are not linked to the lesson. Usually at the end of the day. Personally, I'd rather take them home early. They also must watch during wet play. There is no alternative. No crafts. They can't run in the hall, which is set up for this. It will form part of my discussion with the teachers. When we moved to the school, the head teacher said that this never happened at their school. Well, now it does.

I'm actually shocked at all the 'lazy teaching' comments from people who, on the whole, have never stepped a foot inside the classroom.

I have one connect 4 set in my classroom, drawing paper, a headbands guess who game and a word making connect 4. I have 25 children that need entertained during a wet play or lunch and if I want any more games then I buy them. I already provide pencils, pens, paper, snacks, food for an after school club at £20 per week, any other resources for interesting lessons and I have provided clothes and extra money to children who go without. Why on earth should I buy extra board games to entertain a large group of children for 15 minutes here and there when I can put on a dvd/cbeebies etc?
Unless you want to donate to a classroom fund for such reasons?

Also, using certain parts of certain programmes can help children understand the point in a more child-friendly way than simply talking at/to them and using a whiteboard.
Classes can't understand certain landscapes/the smallness of an island they've never visited/the comparison between city and island life if they've never been. Sometimes, just sometimes a video helps convey that.

It's no wonder teachers get such a bad reputation and report in the news; it's no wonder children don't respect teachers or their decisions; it's no wonder so many exceptional people leave the profession: the view so many people have of us is so negative, based on no experience.

When you're buying all the craft materials yourself, you're damn right they don't get to use them during a wet play.

As for letting children run in the halls etc that is all well if there is supervision. Usually there is a teacher or classroom assistant helping with lunch, other adult supervisors monitoring classes and no spare bodies to look after anyone else.

Be annoyed at the school budget cuts resulting in less staff, particularly the support staff who make all of those things possible. Don't be annoyed at the people who are trying their best to juggle 30 children while managing unmanageable work loads, trying to get their own lunches, lessons prepped and resourced, dealing with violent incidents and whatever else. It's like pissing in the wind, while balancing on a unicycle on your head, while on fire and trying to maintain a sense of decorum.

Bloodyhell I wonder why people even bother sending their children to school at all since it's such a crap place to be.

I'm 56 and we watched tv in primary school so it's hardly anything new. It's 10 minutes occasionally it's hardly the end of the world.

Mind you, if I was a teacher which would never happen I'd have them doing sleeping lions instead

Tbh Go Jitters is great fire geography abs morals. Octonaurs normally a geography link. Bing always have a moral - dont kill butterflies, don't steal etc. Alpha blocks and the number one obvious link. That's just toddler's favorites. Its easy to see how it can link in and also many examples of where it can be used as a filter.

Used to take 10 minutes just to wants our tally up when I was at school

I'm a teacher. My children watch 15 minutes of Numberjacks, Come Outside or Jackanory Junior each day during snack time. All 3 of the above programmes have educational value, the kids love 'em and it gives me the valuable time to change reading books, writing back to parent messages via the communication books and setting up for the next session.

Please don't be so quick to gather your mob and pitchforks.

I'm not convinced that fb should be a part of the everyday curriculum in schools, but I know why it's there and the reasons have been stated already.
There aren't enough staff and no one to cover while the teacher is doing another school duty (e.g. They are also the deputy head/senco/earlyyears lead), not enough resources for children to do craft stuff/games during wet play, teacher has to sit and do extra work with small group/individual and there is no one to sit with the rest of the class so teacher has to deal with both groups, it might just be a one off because the teacher is having a shit time, feels really ill but has come in to work because they know there is no budget for a supply teacher. Etc.
Rarely it might be a rubbish teacher but I think that isn't a common reason.
I like to think it isn't used every day though, silent reading is a much better use of time for children but I can imagine it is very difficult to get that level of quiet with that many children in a group situation.
I've just asked dd (year one) and she has said she watched a Disney film in golden time today, her older ds and db don't remember watching tv/films for golden times so I wonder if it's just this (young, inexperienced) teacher. Previously the other two did stuff like junk modelling, sticky pictures or just playing with whatever toys they have in the classroom.

What sailorcherries said. It's bloody ridiculous that teachers have to buy their own equipment/don't get breaks/have to spend class time moving rooms to prepare for summer cleaning etc etc. I think it's a pretty strange system. I can totally see how people end up sticking the telly on, but to my mind it's a symptom of things being not right.
If we as a society seriously can't afford to put more money into schools (what, we seriously can't? Or we don't want to...) then can't we just have shorter days?

Bing is shite

My daughter spent an afternoon watching Angry Birds and Horrid Henry the other week. I'd much rather CBeebies!

I'm a teacher and my class sometimes watch CBeebies bedtime stories during snack time. Never any other time (apart from maybe the last day of the year!). Snack time is seen as a non-teaching time on our timetable with KS1 and 2 having the same overall in class time. During snack time the children eat and drink while I change reading books etc. They are also free to finish off work, pop to the loo etc.

Not one of the teachers posting who does this has given an even remotely acceptable reason for small children regularly watching tv in school. You are actually trained to deal with 30 children in a classroom setting, are you not? Regardless of weather, or if books need changing, or your topic requires visuals (for numbers? you need tv for numbers?), or it's only ten minutes until home time.
And my question again: what do you do when the kids just aren't interested in keeping quiet and watching inane programmes meant for preschoolers?

Kitchenwitch

I think you need educating in reading and comprehension, my dear.

Have a look back at my post where I stayed VERY CLEARLY the educational value certain programmes have within lessons. You are aware, surely, of different learning styles and that in order to deliver good lessons that teachers needs to engage all different types of learners and facilitate their learning styles? If you are, then I fail to see how you cannot grasp why programmes can be incredibly useful tools. Actually - I can completely see why you can't if you're not a QUALIFIED TEACHER who understands their profession.,

Then I suggest you also re-read other posts where other teachers have painstakingly explained why CBeebies and other such programme providers can be very useful during a wet break situation.

Deary me. I'm really unsure as to how much more clear, concise and informative posts you require to understand the reasoning behind professional people's decisions as to do their jobs.