To think “fuck it” to home schooling after this?

[Justgivemewine]

So we do ds2’s, year 7, maths homeschooling, ds2 is quite able, so he gets most of the questions right ( they mark themselves) but we had some stress trying to get a couple of questions to match the answers provided by the teacher as one answer was blatantly wrong and another question we aren’t sure about either because it was stuff he said he hadn’t covered yet. Even so, he gave it a go but couldnt match the answer given. Turns out that answer given by the teacher was wrong and ds2 actually been right all along.

Other maths questions are apparently a recap on work already done before lockdown but ds2 claims “but we havent’t done this”, me being a maths bod try to explain it to him, much frustration on both sides as unknown to me at the time some of it’s a totally new concept for him.

Later (ie after the work was due in) we get an email from teacher, admitting errors in answers, and explaining later questions are actually year8 stuff that they haven’t covered yet in year7 and with explanations how to do it.

Wtf, if they are giving questions from year8 to year7 students, how about a bit of warning beforehand before parents get superstressed. Maths is my thing anyway so trying to explain concepts you think your child should already know (Because the teachers say it’s a feckin recap)is doable, but not everyone is a maths bod. Some parents might ace the english or art homework instead, mine don’t stand a chance 😂

Lots of unnecessary stress and upset could’ve been avoided for everyone.

🌸🌺🌸

@Justgivemewine fair dos! Hope you're having a much better day today (and that you get out for some exercise to keep your maths bod in shape 😜)

That is so lovely to say Justgivemewine

Thank you. (I’d follow your username as advice and treat yourself to a !)

My maths bod comment was tongue in cheek op
Don't worry about it, people love to moan so you helped give them something to do

We have encountered some errors in the published textbook that dd is using for maths. When we find them, we take a screenshot and email to the teacher with an explanation of what we think is going on. She can either explain our error in logic, or confirm we are correct. Given that dd has two parents who still use mathematics as a regular part of our careers, we have yet to be wrong, but i am perfectly willing to hear that we are interpreting incorrectly and the book is accurate.

This ain’t new to distance learning for us. We have long used the online textbook and questions for dd’s nightly math homework. Textbooks should not have errors, but they do.

Some days I hate autocorrect. I absolutely did not type “ain’t”

Actually I think they were the response.
My kids are bright, can be cheeky like all kids and of course I find it challenging teaching them whilst working myself all day.they are 9 and 11. Of course I have to mug up on quadrilateral equations and Shakespeare comprehension and geometry etc for their next days submission and multiple emails from the teachers “of course they have covered this your child is just thick etc” and then “ well WHERE is their submitted work...?”

Very sincerely I am sure teachers are happy to get rid of to home schooling/ parent bashing. I’m not the only one who thinks this.

Not new here. Just a massive amount of “well over to you now”
“Are you not doing a really shite job at teaching your kids?”
“GMT guidelines say parents must not contact teachers as teachers cannot answer home school questions all day”
(“ oh and by the way I told you your children are little shits”)

So the above might be why I seriously consider home schooling.

Bubblebu

the chips on your shoulders must give you serious backache.

@Bubblebu I think you should consider home schooling your children for sure. Do stop making up things (by putting them in quotes) regarding what the schools say though. No school says your children are thick as shit, do not under any circumstance contact school etc. I can imagine they make say can you try and do a bit on your own if you are messaging 50 times a day since they do all have 30+ pupils to consider plus they are covering key workers children but whatever. I usually hate these Facebook meme’s but one I did like was ‘parents are about to find out that the teacher was not the problem’. I suspect a lot of this is coming from blaming the school/teacher when your child acted up, didn’t understand, messed about and got told off and now you have then at home all day - what a shock, they are not very well behaved and won’t concentrate. I take my hat of your teachers. I really do.

@Bubblebu those 'quotes' are a pack of lies. No teacher has called your children 'thick' or 'little shits' and your language does make me wonder if you're finding your 'cheeky' kids quite hard work today.

As if a teacher would actually tell a parent their child is "thick" or "a little shit!"

As if a teacher would actually tell a parent their child is "thick" or "a little shit!"
I know.

What's more likely is that the work was indeed based on something previously covered in class, but the 'cheeky' student didn't do it in properly or messed around and so has a knowledge gap there. Now mum is annoyed that the consequence of DC being a bit 'cheeky' is being felt at home when they require more input from mum to do what should be entirely reasonable work.

It’s unfortunate that you’ve experienced a couple of errors and others have experienced a lack of help.

We’ve been fortunate that the school is supportive and helpful, we have been encouraged to contact teachers directly and home learning is going smoothly. I’ve been impressed at the organisation and level of communication.

Are other subjects ok or are you purely focused on the maths because of your interest in it?

"I usually hate these Facebook meme’s but one I did like was ‘parents are about to find out that the teacher was not the problem’. I suspect a lot of this is coming from blaming the school/teacher when your child acted up, didn’t understand, mess"d about and got told off and now you have then at home all day - what a shock, they are not very well behaved and won’t concentrate. I take my hat of your teachers. I really do"

This.

This exactly is what I am receiving.

Thank you

Sally

of course they might not SAY it but they very very very clearly THINK it.

And a lot of parents I know whose children are at the school my children are at are thinking the same thing.

I am not blaming the teacher.
No one disputes that teachers do a good job.

It is just the total one way control freakery from teachers now because the government says they must still be "teaching" but clearly they are not teaching but they are still telling parents what they must be doing (and thinking behind their smirks "your kids are right old little shits") and sending out regular messages saying "why have you not uploaded your child's work?" " why are you not accepting my invite to a children's zoom meeting?")
It is fine I guess I just think - ok let me totally home school you do not need to see their work.
If all parents said that does that not totally appeal to all teachers? no pupils! Hurrah.

of course they might not SAY it but they very very very clearly THINK it.
So the teacher didn't call your child a little shit.

You're just objecting to the fact that the teacher has commented that work set is based on previous work that for whatever reason your child hasn't done properly. It sounds like you and some of your friends have children who misbehave at school, but now you're annoyed when you're seeing the consequences at home.

For what it's worth by the way 'cheeky like all kids' isn't a thing and suggests their behaviour is disruptive. The vast majority of pupils aren't cheeky and find the cheeky students irritating because they routinely disrupt the education of the majority.

If all parents said that does that not totally appeal to all teachers? no pupils! Hurrah.
You do realise we actually LIKE our students?

Your posts come across like your child has been disruptive and cheeky in school so doesn't understand some of the work set, they are being disengaged at home (probably much like school) and you're feeling frustrated that you're having to do as much as you are to compensate for their conduct in school.

Thanks for that LolaSmiles

For the avoidance of doubt both of my parents are themselves teachers.

I have two primary school children who are not trouble makers, who are not the very brightest in the class are not the most stupid.
In ordinary times I do not get any messages from the head teacher about my children's behaviour.

This week alone I have received dozens and dozens of invectives from the teachers of both of my children telling them to submit this homework and be on that zoom and why have you not done this and why has your child not done that? and "well if they cannot do it alone it is because they did not concentrate in class they should be able to do it totally unsupervised" etc etc and that is just not true - I am supervising them all day long! and some of the work (comprehensions / maths etc) whilst they have some working knowledge NO they do not understand it without one to one supervision.

Sorry but that is exactly how it seems to me.

So as you say there can only be one of two conclusions
Either as you say my kids are as thick as shit have been acting up in class are incredibly naughty and have very low levels of concentration...
or

the teachers are somehow missing the target on "supervising" home schooling by parents.

Ds year 10, had work set also in maths they hadn’t covered. He emailed his teacher, teacher replied ‘well spotted ds, you are right I’ve set you year 11 work my mistake’, he then emailed the class saying the same and apologising with the correct work attached.

Teachers are human, mistakes are made. A couple of parents mentioned it on fb, but no one was complaining, just saying check your child has looked at their messages so they are doing the correct paper.

In the grand scheme of things- it’s no big deal.

Bubblebu

So your main rant is that the teachers are doing their jobs, but its not to the level that you think it should be so they must think that your children are "thick" or "little shits"

Sorry but it still seems to me that the problem here is you.

Either as you say my kids are as thick as shit have been acting up in class are incredibly naughty and have very low levels of concentration...
or

the teachers are somehow missing the target on "supervising" home schooling by parents.

It is probably very likely a combination of both.
The teachers are trying to supervise the work (you mention Zoom) but actually very hard if the children don’t sign in (your post implies that) and it is obviously impossible for a teacher to supervise ‘home schooling’ to every child all day.

Coupled with children who are not engaged and bucking against what you are obviously trying to do and yes, I can see that it must be very stressful for you.

However, I don’t think anyone can blame anyone for this (maybe Covid-19) and I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion your children’s teachers think that they are as ‘thick as shit’. They are highly likely to be worried about them and want to help (hence the getting in to contact with you).

No FrippEnos

My main rant is that all (very password heavy and hard to get into) platforms for my children to start working on (Seesaw Rising starts etc) were emailed by a parent mail at 6pm on Friday 17 april with a direction to get going by Monday morning but with the following (in bold and capital letters) at the front of the parent mail:

"Please note that in line with Government guidance during this period teachers will:
Not be live streaming lessons from their homes;
Not be engaging in video calling with parents;
Aim to set tasks which children can have a go at independently - we are not expecting you to know all the answers to help your child at each stage.
Set tasks which are age appropriate for their year group.
Not be marking per se but might comment and give feedback"

So

DO NOT CONTACT US - WE WILL CONTACT YOU (regularly! - and be telling you regularly how shite your kids are kind regards) and all that

ChloeDecker

I have been literally supervising my kids all day every day at the kitchen table (with my own work laptop) trying to help them with (what seems to be untaught) comprehensions and maths exercises and helping them screenshot their work.
Whilst fielding work emails and then also multiple emails from teachers every day "sign into this zoom meeting" "I am looking for your childs x homework etc"

Ironically I actually enjoy helping my kids with their work but the constant messages from teachers managing their children's home schooling are very stressful.

Sorry.