To want to quit home schooling

[cookiesandcream27]

I'm so fucking sick of this. I'm working full time from home. Everyday I'm trying to spend at least an hour going through the kids official school work with them - I.e the work that's been sent via an app from school. Everyday it ends in tears. I'm impatient and on edge because I should be working. They are bored and not interested in it. I'm really bad at trying to explain stuff. The resources and tasks that are being sent all require various different logons and systems they more often than not don't work. So I spend more time faffing with that and getting more cross!

I feel like I just want to give up. They're getting nothing from it. But I'm aware that all the other kids seem to be doing it and contributing all their work to the class blog and don't want mine to be perceived as the ones not bothering.

I'm trying to keep them drawing, reading, gardening etc. But it's so hard to keep them engaged when I'm working and not doing it with them. Feeling like I'm failing at everything at the minute.

Im not doing the stuff the school is sending out its very ' projecty' Instead im doing oak academy and white rose maths. The oak academy would be really good for a child to do in their own if you are wfh.

How do you feel about the term home learning @TAKESNOSHITSHIRLEY?
I know “homeschooling” means you don’t send your child to school ever but surely what children are doing now is learning at home?

My kids are the same ages as yours OP and we try and keep the maths ticking over. That's pretty much it. I have given up home schooling beyond that. DH and me both work like crazy and in the spare time I need to do some essential duties like cooking meals and playing with the children. They have been brilliantly creative coming up with their own ideas for playing and crafts and they both like reading. That's it. Educational enough. If everyone is stressed no one is learning anything anyway. It is utterly ridiculous what working parents are supposed to juggle. Avoiding a nervous breakdown will be a massive achievement in itself. That's all I am aiming for.

You're doing absolutely fine. I was just laughing with DD1's teacher about life in our house right now.

DD1 (14) has SN and needs support just to start a task. She drew a picture today, which was an amazing achievement for her. Job done.

DD2 (12) has 5 lessons per day of work, but struggles to get going. We limped through French, got maths done and I've just persuaded her that ITC needs to be looked at.

DD3 (11) is more of an independent learner, but stressed. She yelled at me in hot tears of fury this morning, because the printer had printed her arithmetic paper on A3 blue paper instead of A4 white paper. We sorted that, then she did her VE Day work. Then came PowerPoint, that she hasn't learned to use. Exhausting.

Yesterday, for art, DD2 had to make homemade pigments. Kitchen in chaos. I had to convince her that the teacher did not intend her to use food colouring as her pigment, even though it was in our kitchen.

It's only Tuesday.

But really what else is there to call it?

Remote learning. It's just like homework, but more of it. It's not home schooling.

As I've already pointed out, nobody, including schools or the department for education, expects you to 'teach', 'school' or 'educate'.

Your children's teachers are still using their expertise to provide explanations, resources and learning activities, in line with their carefully planned curriculum, to improve progress for hundreds of students.

You're being asked to supervise and prod your own two.

Teachers or real home schoolers do both things at once usually; explaining concepts, differentiating for ability, picking up misconceptions, supporting, rephrasing, questioning, extending etc. AND managing behaviour including cajoling the lazy ones who won't try. Even now, teachers are remotely encouraging and engaging.

Why is it so hard for some parents to sit their kids down and let they try for themselves? It's very rare a child can't attempt anything at all. If they get it all wrong, teachers will explain and adapt, maybe pitching slightly differently for it to be accessible independently.

I feel your pain!
I’m in similar situation. I consider myself doing well if I manage 1 task per child per day. We don’t do anything taxing - a times tables worksheet , handwriting sheet (or copying out my writing), a bit of reading (priority) or phonics.
Their stamina is decreasing by the day.
It will all have to be dealt with next term with support at home before / after school and at weekends when things return to normal.

@WillAshton wow, you're nice

I'm not managing it because I'm working too.

What's more annoying is smug parents posting on the school page what they have done each day, just bore off !!!

I have been struggling. 7 and 5. On very bad days, I have been (and this is probably not the answer ether tbh) been telling them yes, you can have screentime, but making them watch alphablocks or numberjacks so they are 'learning'. Aside from feeling like I want to smash my phone due to the annoying music, thats been going ok. Feels a bit lazy though but honestly, I find it hard to believe that a lot of parents are not struggling, nevermind those trying to work at the same time. Teachers at my kids school seem to be expecting a LOT from them, DD has commented that the work, when we were following it to the letter for the first week or so..is apparently more than they usually do at school!

@WillAshton - wow - the OP has already that she is also working from home and has to be available for phone calls.

When the DC’s are back at school, teachers can sort out where everyone is up to and recap so that everyone gets back on track. It’s more important now that the OP keeps her job and ensures her DC’s are as happy as possible in the lockdown circumstances.

I've only read the first few posts, but our school was a bit all over the place to start with. They have now got a lot more organised and DS 9 can do a lot on his own now.

But what I'd say is sod it. Log onto BBC bitsize, get them to each do the work for their year group and job done. It's all at the right levels and has been linked to the national curriculum, so will keep them ticking over nicely. As there are printed off work sheets one can use the computer while one does work sheets if they need to share. They are also doing a short TV programme for each school day. DS has been doing it for maths because he love's maths so much (he'd spend all his time doing maths, it's other subjects we have meltdowns over) as he wants to do more then what school are sending. Plus it took our school 3 day's at the start of term to send out the first weeks work.

They have been ok but not great.

Was going through similar thing with my son (he's 15 yrs) . All he wants to do his play games with his friends online. He just doesn't stay focused and always has excuses after excuses as to why he can't do his work efficiently.
So the school rang about his non-completion of numerous task.
I have now sent him back school. (Started yesterday). He starts at 9am and finish at 1:30.i drop him off and pick him up.
So far so good. He's now almost caught with all his work. When he got home today he said, mom I feel so much better now that I have done most of my work.

He's going in three days per week, Mon Tues and Friday.
My stress level is now manageable.

I can only imagine how tough it is for you. Do what you think is best for you and DC in this difficult time.

teachers are saying they won't be able to catch up what they've missed as they'll have to carry on.
It's tough, I know but you do what you can, not what you can't.
On the media requests boards there are loads looking for families to take part, several about home education. For anyone who is interested. I was looking for something else and found them all.

I'm not managing it because I'm working too.

And yet your AIBU wasn't that you wanted to quit your job, but you want to quit your home schooling (aka parenting!)

"When the DC’s are back at school, teachers can sort out where everyone is up to and recap so that everyone gets back on track"

Teachers shouldn't have to. Teachers are working now and always worry about their pupils as individuals. If parents don't think what's provided is worth it, it'll be their kids that lose out.

Some people are quoting huge numbers of kids who aren't accessing anything or doing any school learning. The fact that many are in this position doesn't mean everyone may as well do it and that it's okay. It's a huge worry. It's not a case of there being no need to complete it because the figures are there, but evidence of so many being so vulnerable to risk or not functioning well. Hearing high figures of domestic violence doesn't mean we all might as well be one of those statistics.

Ah, yes the uploader parents. We have a few of those in the class, bless them. Profile is a non-working parent, ONE child and plenty of lovely cardboard, glitter, stickers and other supplies. I could do a much better job of home-whatevering if that were us but my toddler needs constant supervision and attention, I'm meant to be working and I'm also trying to get groceries for us and some neighbours.

I'm not working and still finding a real struggle with similar age children. And and our school are running a full online timetable. It's tough OP. Really rough. If you're having a bad day find some related topics on BBC bitesize and have a day off schooling.

@Devlesko, the not being able to catch up will be in respect of older children. DS(15) is Y10, GCSEs next year, very little time to catch up on the curriculum. His school is doing a live timetable and we leave him pretty much to it, but he is older and understandably more independent than the OP's children.

Primary school children should be able to catch up in the main subjects of maths and literacy. What it might mean that schools will have to leave out other parts of the curriculum, particularly for some children who didn't manage to access the work, for whatever reason, whilst the schools were closed.

@WillAshton so would you advise that I quit my job instead so that I can focus on home, sorry remote schooling my child for the next few weeks before they go back to school?

Believe me it is a worry for me. If I didn't feel pressure to keep them on track I wouldn't be getting so stressed trying to juggle everything. However I am but one person and can't do two things at the same time sadly. I presume you have the time to dedicate teaching your kids, others don't have that luxury.

To say it's laughable that I can't be constantly helping and supervising my kids is quite cruel given the circumstances.

I think it must be really hard to wfh and supervise play let alone teach young kids. In fact I couldn’t do it.
I’m currently home schooling dgc (dd key worker so kids live with me half the week). I’ve worked in education for years and am fine with the work - sourced myself as nothing from school. However after dog walk we really only do maths and English as I need to do other stuff. Lego is great and I don’t mind Minecraft. We play board games after tea .
I applaud anyone home schooling and wfh.

We have streamlined it too. Both working full time (me nhs - so stressed any way!)

We are trying to keep reading going and maths. Maybe some hand writing if I can persuade them. I have a yr1 yr3 and y4.

Bloody nightmare, I cant even imagine how awful it would be to have to work from home and teach kids.

Give yourself a break , let them enjoy themselves. I'm more aware of my girls just being happy (and also me) they will catch up when they go back.

@cookiesandcream27

No, of course I wouldn't. But you didn't dream of saying it. You DO, based on your thread, appear to think you can let your kids' education slide and you've got people telling you not to worry, because it'll just be fine. But it won't and it needs doing.

If you read my other post (as you've focussed only on the fact that I think it's ridiculous that you won't try letting them sit, safely in your house, and get on with it themselves, without interfering) you'll see that I pointed out (repeatedly) that nobody wants you to teach them.

Based on what I've read on MN, your school is providing more than lots of others are getting. Teachers are working and can be contacted. They'll want to know if they've pitched the level of difficult too high or low for your children's independent ability, as usually they are there to differentiate instantly. They will be flexible. But the same as going normally to parents' evenings and taking an interest, your role here is to support and not undermine.

I am going to set you two pieces of homework op.

1. ask yourself if your children are happy
2. don't give a shit about what anyone else thinks or is doing (and this is your extra challenge for further credit) including @willashton

Nobody knows your circumstances or what's best for your children like you do.

Going to war over school work everyday can be the greater evil in comparison to a child falling temporarily behind.

Come out of this proud of yourself and your children. You've worked from home with two primary aged children. They have stayed at home with a working parent. It's has to be all about getting through that set up with your mental health intact.

@WillAshton hardly a helpful response. Especially to those of us who feel guilty already. My dh works ft. I work part time. I have three primary aged kids (11,10 and 7). The 10 year old has autism and other Sen. School won’t send us differentiated work. The 7 year old has extremely complex needs and he needs watching like a hawk. We’re all doing the best we can. Our teachers can’t be contacted. School doesn’t let you. Ours aren’t helping us at all despite us asking. They’ve left us to it. The two teachers per year group are sharing work and aren’t doing any marking. I’m not a teacher. I have one child who is bashing their head into a walk as the work is too much. I’m trying not to let my kids education slide and I’m sure OP isn’t either.

Can you do schooling on a weekend and let them just be during the week? Then you can focus on work without the stress and they will catch up for the week? It sounds very tough op.