To ask how you would feel if the decision was made to adopt blended learning to allow for social distancing in schools

[livevomitlaugh]

just that really?
Yabu- I would be fine with that
Yanbu- I very much wouldn’t be fine with that

It just would not be feasible for me. I am a single parent. I cannot do my job from home but I'm not a keyworker. I can't not go to work for half the week, how will I pay my bills? I don't have anyone who can do regular childcare for me. I cannot leave my 7 year old at home alone while I go out to work. So no, blended learning is not something I could support. At least not for primary school.

I think on MN some people are under the impression that everyone who isn't a keyworker can do their jobs from home and that's not the case at all.

@Covidnomore I didn't say mine were worse off. I'm saying that as a teacher, I wouldn't be available to work as normal if we had blended learning because like yourself I can't be in two places at once. I personally think blended learning creates more problems than it solves.

@MillieEpple I'm very grateful that we've managed to avoid that happening so far (two primary schools, different LAs). If the DC had to isolate I would have to be off with them, if I had to isolate presumably my class would too and I would have to provide online learning for them. All of us being off is logistically easier than blended learning, but obviously far from ideal as far as quality education goes especially for primary children who can struggle to engage with online classes.

Suzeyshoes can you provide some statistics?

All I have to go on is the facts. And the facts are that the vast majority of severe Covid cases/deaths are in people over working age.

Of course there are risks. I'm not saying there aren't. But there are risks everywhere. There are many allergy sufferers. But we don't ban pets, dairy, nuts, trees etc because on a population its seemed not worth the damage to so many for the benefits to a comparatively small proportion.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I think on MN some people are under the impression that everyone who isn't a keyworker can do their jobs from home and that's not the case at all.

Yep. And if you can wfh you have complete control over your schedule and can work before children get up and when they've gone to bed.

I'm sure my students would love a tutorial at 6am!

*The teacher keeps them focussed via Teams...

Asks questions, make sure they’re listening? Just normal focus and behaviour management.*

Except in class there’s the expectation of behaviour and focus, children follow their peers and teachers are on hand to actively engage children.

It’s going to be very difficult to do that online with kids who are way more interested in what else is going on, who wander off to the toilet or to get a drink etc. My kids need me with them online to keep them focussed or they’d wander, play about with the laptop, loose focus. It’s completely unrealistic to expect primary aged children to maintain focus, much less those with additional needs. I would be unable to work and support remote learning and there’s precisely no chance of my kids teachers being able to hold their attention without me supporting them to engage.

jerome sorry I am a bit sensitive I think.

I just think a lot of people have no clue about how hard it is for working parents with young children, even when they are at home.

How do you keep a 6 year old focused with no parental input?

@Covidnomore

How do you keep a 6 year old focused with no parental input?

Regularly asking the class to use the hand up function making the lesson interactive by asking questions ect

@SueEllenMishke yes, I agree. This will widen the gap between those with SAHPs or parents who can work part time/flexibly. Even if I managed to somehow drum up childcare for half the week while I worked, I won't be there to supervise any "online learning" so DS won't be getting any education unless we try and cram it all in at the weekends. I can't do it, I have enough to do as it. So many children would suffer, it is completely unfair.

[quote Waxonwaxoff0]@SueEllenMishke yes, I agree. This will widen the gap between those with SAHPs or parents who can work part time/flexibly. Even if I managed to somehow drum up childcare for half the week while I worked, I won't be there to supervise any "online learning" so DS won't be getting any education unless we try and cram it all in at the weekends. I can't do it, I have enough to do as it. So many children would suffer, it is completely unfair.[/quote]
The lessons could be live teams lessons so other than helping him get set up you wouldn’t need to

@livevomitlaugh did you miss the part where I said I can't do my job from home? I physically will not be there. Do you think I should leave my 7 year old home on his own with a laptop?

Regularly asking the class to use the hand up function making the lesson interactive by asking questions ect

Thankfully my school disagrees. They have already said they won't do live lessons for most of the years.

What they provided last time was actually very good. It definitely meant a lot of support from parents though.

But you really expect a reception / Y1 child to be able to use Teams in this way?

The lessons could be live teams lessons so other than helping him get set up you wouldn’t need to

But a while ago you said they'd all be prepared on one day of the week and pre-recorded? If you mean that they'll be classroom lessons streamed to children at home you are absolutely kidding yourself if you think that a young child will sit and watch a video of a classroom for a day - because that's what it'll be - without any supervision or parental input

Regularly asking the class to use the hand up function making the lesson interactive by asking questions ect

You're obviously not a teacher because you didn't answer the several people who asked, but reading your idea for how to keep a six year old focused for an entire school day I'm assuming you're not even a parent?

It's not blended learning it's part time schooling - unless you have an adult at home who is not working who can do the home schooling.

Children have been really damaged by all the time off school this year. Schools need to remain open to minimise further damage.

Absolutely not. I work and have a reception-aged child. At that age, the parent is doing the teaching and that is not feasible for anyone trying to hold down a job, look after younger siblings etc.

Regularly asking the class to use the hand up function making the lesson interactive by asking questions ect

That’s going to be useful when my 7 year old finds his Lego much more interesting than whatever’s happening on screen. Have you worked with primary children OP, ever met a 7 year old?

Oh and my 9 year pjs sound use the “hand up” function to ask her teacher if she’s seen the new Mulan, who her favourite frozen character is, if she likes her pink hair etc etc 🤷‍♀️

I work with younger year groups. There is no way online learning can happen effectively with our youngest learners. They need to be experiencing learning hands on.

I too have children which would be tricky in terms of how that would work. Do I go to work and teach the children physically in school? Or stay at home and teach my own children who would be off school? Also, if I am at home, who is teaching my children at school?

I don't want schools close. I want mass testing in schools as a start and therefore those who are found to be asymptomatic are isolated so help control the spread.

We know the general population of children will not get the vaccine so the only hope is for them to develop heard immunity. I think anyone who wants it should be given the opportunity to have the vaccine, whether you are in a front line role or not. I do believe that there needs to be priority given to those who are ECV and CV and I agree with care homes and the older population being those who are vaccinated first. If we want schools to remain open as currently is the case, with no more interruption to schooling, we need to start considering vaccinating staff in schools. If we don't , expect this shit show of some children in and some out for the foreseeable.

I’d also say lots of grown-ups are starting to struggle with Zoom and I’ve noticed engagement really dropping off in meetings. There is no way the average 6 year old would have the attention span to stay interested in a teams learning session for 6 hours.

They tried live sessions for Cubs, with all those suggestions of yours about hands up etc, OP. Absolute chaos. I really think you don't have a clue.

@FoxyTheFox

Not to mention kids who simply can't engage with online learning because they can't get their head around the concept. DS compartmentalises, school belongs in the school box and home belongs in the home box, doing online school work was massively stressful for him and he reached a point where he refused to do it.

Absolutely. DD2 was given the choice for the last week of term. She said she absolutely can't do home learning because Google Meet makes her panic so much she feels like she's going to vomit.

But, in principle it's not a bad idea. About half the parents decided to keep their children home when it was offered (before it was then withdrawn).

During the 1st lockdown the school arranged 30min zoom sessions. My children concentrated for maybe 15mins of that, and I know from their teachers that they are able to concentrate for longer in class. Video calls just aren't as engaging unfortunately.

In my op I was more focused on secondary schools but I still think it is applicable to primary also. As I have said previously I think there needs to be an element of discretion with individual schools