To wonder why teachers are not teaching my child?

[Nickynackienoo]

I am a nurse redeployed to itu. Doing 13 hour days and stressed up to the eyeballs at the moment. My children (12 and 8) go to school on my work days and on my days off i keep them at home with me according to the government guidance. As far as I can tell, the teachers at school are just childminding and not teaching anything. How is it that they can have just 4 kids in the school and not manage to get them to do at least some work? How can I possibly do the job of a teacher on my days off? They have send so many links via email that I can’t make sense of, it’s so overly complicated. Surely as key workers they should be doing the job they are being paid to do? I must be missing something, can someone fill me in?

they are being supported to complete the same work on Google classroom that the kids at home are doing, and then either playing in the playground or doing non screen based creative stuff/reading when that is finished.

That's pretty much exactly the same setup as we have - time to do the Home Learning activities set up for their class, with support if needed, and time to do other things.

Aim is to keep the two groups - at home and at school - at least nominally in line, although we completely accept that children's home experiences will be so different that some will have done almost nothing when they return, and others will have done everything we set and more.

You either can't have been here long or are someone that is guilty of stifling "debate" by trotting out this old trope

About 14 years in various guises.

If "another teacher bashing thread" isn't stiffling debate I don't know what is

FWIW I think my DD's teachers are cracking - I have been vociferous in support thereof.

I have also met some absolutely awful teachers. But then I better no go on lest it is "teacher bashing"

The daffodils were decided upon in a thread on The Staffroom to be used as a response when a teacher bashing thread is started. Because they’re actually really bloody upsetting threads, so we want to give flowers to each other.*

Fab, I wondered if they were for the OP. Here's some for the fellow teachers*

In my school children of key workers are supervising work set by their class teachers. Work is set daily with videos or PowerPoints or reading and relevant worksheets if appropriate. So no links for parents (and children) to make sense of. Staff in school can then easily manage supervising children from different year groups doing their work.
I think the problem is with your children's class teachers for not setting clear instructions and specific work.

Wow! I am actively teaching literacy and maths across 4 zoom meetings with a bit of Spanish thrown in and my class is begging for more! I can’t imagine their reaction to a letter a week!

Oh, and if a child doesn't understand the work, and it's not something that the staff in school can help with, then the child or the staff contact me, as the class teacher, exactly as happens for the children at home and via the same routes.

PinkSparkleUnicorns

Its showing solidarity and a care for teachers health and wellbeing.

It was started when there were swathes of threads all asking this same question and basically crapping all over teachers.

That doesn't mean that questions can't be asked but there is a huge difference between

'what are the teachers at my child's school doing'
and
'what are teachers doing'
the answer to the first is
'ring the school and find out'
The answer to the second is
'stop generalising about all teachers and schools'

Secondary teacher here so can only comment on the older child.

When I’m at home I’m setting work for the 11-16 year olds in my classes to do and giving them feedback on their work. I have no expectation of the parents to teach them - I expect the students to log on, access the work being set and have a conversation with me (email, google classroom or I can phone home if needed) if they can’t do it or something doesn’t make sense. The parents role is to cajole the kids in to doing this and set some kind of routine, with varying degrees of success which I completely understand. They’re doing their best in the vast majority of cases.

When I’m in school I am still doing the above but I’m also taking the parent role and cajoling the kids in to doing the work for their teachers. The kids that are in for us are literally just sat at desks working through what’s been set, with a few breaks. I’m occasionally sorting out an IT issue or contacting a teacher for the student if they need me to, like a parent would, as that’s the role I’m in for that day.

I can’t teach maths, science or French, like I wouldn’t expect a parent to do at home. They’re not my subjects.

Nobody is getting ‘taught’ in the way you think they are. If there are problems with work being set or email links, your 12 year old should be able to resolve it with their teacher. You don’t really need to be involved. You have enough on and like I said, teachers know your position and that you will be trying your best.

I do agree with the above poster though who said that it’s a bit much to expect our kids to do the same amount of work at home as the ones who are at home all day.

Yes but it's not like the ones who are home all day, are all doing the same amount of work anyway.

Some will have parents who are just far too busy with their WFH

Some will have given up trying as it's causing too much stress for both parents and children.

Some will have far too much on their hands, trying to look after toddlers/newborns etc.

None of it is a level playing field and never will be, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Just chill and give your kids as much work to take to school as you think they're capable of. I'm sure if there's something they don't understand, the teachers will answer their questions.

Key workers are not the only working parents. The children of key workers are not at an educational disadvantage.

I only found out my kids comp hadnt had a single teacher in to mind the key worker kids, the whole month had been done by support staff and supply teachers so bear that in mind OP

I agree your children need access to a pc while in school to get all the work set by home based teachers done while they’re there so you’re not stuck with it all

As a teacher we have been very clearly we are a childcare setting and not teaching! Obviously we help them as we can but we are also setting work and all sorts of other jobs.

Don’t they make them do the work set?

What would teachers say if you went to work in as a nurse In ITU but didn’t do any nursing?

Flowers for teachers 🌷

I am actively teaching literacy and maths across 4 zoom meetings with a bit of Spanish thrown in and my class is begging for more!

We can't do that, because the availability of suitable devices in pupils' homes doesn't allow it- so there may be 3 children and a wfh adult sharing a single laptop, for example (though we are also loaning laptops).

What we are doing is setting a variety of tasks (which may start with a video, or powerpoint, or e.g. a bit of Bitesize and be followed up by a written task or a quiz or an online Maths programme or a worksheet) that are designed to be child-understandable, can be accessed at any time, handed in or self marked, and feedback given remotely. It covers the full Primary curriculum, but takes account of what's possible at home, and the new material - e.g. lots of online PE videos - that are now available.

It's working OK so far...

MarieQueenofScots

About 14 years in various guises.

Then you should know better.

If "another teacher bashing thread" isn't stiffling debate I don't know what is grin

Except this is normally put forward after the shit has been flung

FWIW I think my DD's teachers are cracking - I have been vociferous in support thereof.

I have also met some absolutely awful teachers.

And neither of these points are wrong and neither of these points generalise.

But then I better no go on lest it is "teacher bashing"

Why? Unless you are planning to state generalisation as facts about a whole profession and claim it to be the truth.

#solidarityteachers

I should add that there’s a vast difference in the experience of my primary and secondary child.

Primary teacher uploads a maths workbook on Mondays abs tells them to do a bit every day. It’s not differentiated or marked. I could do that, I’m not a teacher.

Secondary teachers are setting a lot of work, links to videos, marking, giving feedback. Also in constant touch. I can see that’s a lot to keep on top of.

I don’t think the primary class teacher seems to be doing nearly as much. It’s clearly evident.

I do think OP has a point - I would just email the school and query it. It seems sensible that the kids would be supported to do the home learning work that other kids will be doing at home. Obviously it's unlikely they'll be taught a full curriculum like a normal school day but putting them in front of their work on a school computer (or printed off as appropriate) then they can answer the kids' questions as we would do at home.

It's not teacher bashing. So bored with hearing this. No one is above criticism.

I'm not sure I understand why they can't be encouraged to complete work at school either under the proviso that only basic assistance will he given. I'm not teaching my child but I am facilitating her learning. Why can this not be done when they're at school? I don't think it's teacher bashing to ask this, it's critiquing they way the current system is set up, that's all.

I would also say that big virtual hug to all the teachers too. My DCs school and teachers are trying their best. It’s not hitting the mark all the time for me - but blimey, I think they’re doing a remarkable job given this horrible situation. I think the problem is that the range of provision is so varied but this requires a national solution.

@Nickynackienoo BBC Bitesize is good. Also good for maths are the NCETM key stage 2 lessons - www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/54454#UpperKS2Fractions

It sounds like your 12 year old is getting the same as he would if he were at home, so I am confused. In fact more, because he is being supervised by someone who ahs time to supervise without home distractions and has access to the work and a computer.

I cannot see why this is wrong, OP.

On other threads, you see non keyworker jealous that keywrokers children are in school and panicking about their DCs falling behind.

@WidowTwonky - I'm sorry, I don't understand this comment The OP is doing 13 hr days. When is she supposed to homeschool? It’s not the same boat as us wfh (PP made that comparison). I do think it puts her kids and those of other keyworkers at a disadvantage.

My DS is in year 8 - he's doing homeschooling at the moment. Today he had three pieces of work to do plus a project which he's been set to research on line. He's doing that downstairs at the dining room table.

His friend, who's parents both work in the local supermarket so count as key workers, is in the same year. He has exactly the same work. He's doing it at school, in a small group of 7 children with a teacher or TA (depending on the rota) overseeing that he's done the work. Just like I oversee my DS. Where's the difference? The only difference is that DS does his work on the dining room table and his friend does his in the library.

If a child is set work and isn't doing it so the parent has to take up the slack at home then there are two people to speak to. One is the school to ensure they are overseeing the work being done and the second is the child because they are obviously messing about in school rather than getting their head down.

I'm not a teacher so, in theory, my DS's friend could be said to be getting more help with his on line work.

I don't understand why any key worker, sending their child into school, should be doing home schooling UNLESS it's a day off during the week - in which case they are the same as I am.

If the kids are set the work they should knuckle down and do it. Many of the kids in school are in a better position than the home schoolers who have other kids, parents who are juggling and other things distracting them IF the school is ensuring work is being done and the kids are actually pulling their weight and doing it. If the children aren't then the parents need to sort them out.

I'd be expecting them to be given access to work and encouraged to do it, with support if needed, for a couple of hours a day.

Other than that I think YABU if you expect more. It's a worrying time for everyone, especially children of key workers who are scared they may lose a parent. I think relaxing teaching and letting them relax and even have a bit of unstructured fun is good for them.

You would think that the teachers might be able to do a bit more and not just pass the buck.

Aren't you lovely?? They are doing exactly what they have been told to do!