To think schools will close soon

[hibbledibble]

We may well have as many cases by new year as we did in the first peak. In which case school closures could be a very real possibility.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Yes, I can do that, but I’d still be displaying the Google Meet to the present pupils in the classroom? Or I’d have to share the lesson PowerPoint early via Classrooms and not be online at the time?

I’ve just spoken to my son (very computer savvy) and he reckons you’d need two graphics cards to separate the two elements of the lesson and have it so that the online group could see what you were doing without infringing on what you were showing the present class. He also reckons having two screens would make this possible. But I have one chrome book and a docking station.
I think there needs to be mandatory, consistent training so all teachers understand what to do and how to deliver it.

[quote DBML]@KittyMcKitty

Yes, we use Google meet to do online learning. So I invite the pupils, speak to them, present my PowerPoint and talk it through and then question them.

But, if I was also in class at the time, the Google meet would be what I would be presenting to the rest of the class would it not? Whatever is on my screen, gets projected onto the whiteboard.
I’m trying to work out how I deliver a normal lesson, but with learners looking in from home, without those learners being seen on screen or without filming anything I shouldn’t be. There clearly has to be a way, but I think I would need some training on this.[/quote]
No you don’t present the meet - you put PowerPoint on board in normal way and share info on meet in normal way.

My children say visualisers are also fab - write in small whiteboard and visualiser will project it in class and share with the Meet - my dd (yr 11) maths teacher does this v effectively

Sorry, I’m probably making myself look really thick now, but this is helping. Thank you...

My computer is docked and I’m by the board going through the PowerPoint.

I’m also on Google meet, so the children at home can see the PowerPoint. But they can’t see me and what I’m doing? They can hear though.

They have access to worksheets I would have uploaded earlier.

I am not able to see who’s online though.

Is that about right? Sorry!

Early years online is going to be a problem. I’ve got a reception aged child and 2 weeks of home school was really hard. By the end she couldn’t be bothered anymore and we had to bribe her. It took a good 2-3 hours a day and involved a fair amount of prep to try and make it fun. At that age parents are having to teach and instead of it being fun and play-based with peers, it sets parents up for a bit of a battle while working. And we were in a position where there was an iPad for her, we’ve got lots of resources, has a subscription to twinkl and are generally v engaged parents. Many 4 year olds will just be in front of the tv for weeks if lockdown happens again. Let’s not pretend that they’ll be receiving a proper education.

@Tiquismiquis - my friends Reception DD spent lockdown in front of the tv as both parents were working 10 hour days from home, permanently on the phone or zoom meetings. It wasn’t what they wanted for her but they had no choice.

@DBML

Sorry, I’m probably making myself look really thick now, but this is helping. Thank you...

My computer is docked and I’m by the board going through the PowerPoint.

I’m also on Google meet, so the children at home can see the PowerPoint. But they can’t see me and what I’m doing? They can hear though.

They have access to worksheets I would have uploaded earlier.

I am not able to see who’s online though.

Is that about right? Sorry!

I use teams. I have the webcam on me and my whiteboard and I share the ppt. On the screen for my class I have the same ppt. On my PC I can see who is online and see the chat where they might type responses. They can hear and see me.

[quote Timeturnerplease]@ArseInTheCoOpWindow I’m interested too. I’m a primary teacher. How does this work when you’re not teaching from the board? Many of our lessons are hands on and practical - not many at all are taught from the front. How do you avoid other children being on camera when the teacher is in the thick of the children, who are all participating as we teach? Where is the camera mounted? How does it know to follow the teacher and not other movement?[/quote]
Yes, in my secondary school we are only allowed to stand in a box at the front. We are not allowed to be hands on or practical or near the children.

Parker231 I’m not judging. Mine did too and I felt horrid about it. Unfortunately that is the reality of trying to juggle work and small children. It nearly broke me last time.

I know some posters have said high schools close and primaries stay open. On an educational basis I think it should be the other way round. Primary school kids have years to lfill gaps. Every single year in high school is an important year with a curriculum in every subject to be completed during that year, it's not so easy to just catch up. Yes I understand parents of primary kids need schools for childcare but high school kids need their education and don't have the luxury that primary school kids have of having years to catch up.

Early years online is going to be a problem.
not really. our prep did full zoom curriculum from preschool very successfully during the last lockdown. Took the teachers about a week to figure it our, but if its set up properly its very possible

All three of my teenagers have been told first week back is home learning, although my DC in yr 10 will most likely be back in school on the first Wednesday back.
If the new strain is as bad as they're leading us to believe then schools will most definitely close
In DC's college ye 13 are starting back in week 1 then they'll let us know about yr12 depending on locas case rates

@ohnothisagain

Early years online is going to be a problem. not really. our prep did full zoom curriculum from preschool very successfully during the last lockdown. Took the teachers about a week to figure it our, but if its set up properly its very possible

Only if all pupils have the tech at hone to access it, which is much more likely in a prep school than your average state.

ohnothisagain I’m curious how you’ve done a full day of zoom lessons for reception. Mine has done zoom ballet classes and she can hold the attention for about 30 mins. All her home education has been activities, 1:1 things, some videos of the teachers etc. I’d also imagine it’s much more complicated for a class of 30. Lots of my colleagues at work can’t sit through hours of zoom without faffing on their phones etc so I don’t know how you’ve got small children to do it. Genuinely curious - not being snarky.

It's sad that we are heading down this route, and the majority think that it is likely. Everyone acknowledges that this isn't an easy decision, but it may become inevitable sadly.

Schools should be protected as far as humanly possible. We have allowed pubs, nail bars and hairdressers to open, shut down all non essential areas of the economy first. Scientists are still analysing the figures but could it be the ridiculously crowded high streets causing some of the spread?

Op different threads show different results.

On another majority don’t agree with lock downs any more. I would read too much into what people vote for.

Wouldn’t

I hope not. As I wrote on another thread, our school has had zero cases, no bubbles sent home and very high attendance which includes staff. Same with other local schools.

I would rather shut everything else before schools are closed

And that is exactly what's happened which is now why we've got mass unemployment, hospitality and tourism industries in tatters and shops closing left, right and centre.

Keeping schools open in November was a huge mistake. We knew that they were hotbeds of infection then.

Less than 10% of the workforce are parents of primary aged children. So basically the rest of the workforce, the entire economy and many, many industries have suffered because of pandering to this small percentage of people.

And schools were never safe anyway.

@SecretSpAD

I would rather shut everything else before schools are closed

And that is exactly what's happened which is now why we've got mass unemployment, hospitality and tourism industries in tatters and shops closing left, right and centre.

Keeping schools open in November was a huge mistake. We knew that they were hotbeds of infection then.

Less than 10% of the workforce are parents of primary aged children. So basically the rest of the workforce, the entire economy and many, many industries have suffered because of pandering to this small percentage of people.

And schools were never safe anyway.

100% agree

Less than 10% of the workforce are parents of primary aged children. So basically the rest of the workforce, the entire economy and many, many industries have suffered because of pandering to this small percentage of people.

That’s only if you make it all about adults and not children themselves. Which is the issue - adults overriding a group that has no voice and putting themselves first.

@PencilFace

I hope not. As I wrote on another thread, our school has had zero cases, no bubbles sent home and very high attendance which includes staff. Same with other local schools.

And every single school that is in a terrible state now was in that position just a few short weeks back. You're being very short-sighted.

@PencilFace

I hope not. As I wrote on another thread, our school has had zero cases, no bubbles sent home and very high attendance which includes staff. Same with other local schools.

Exactly the same at our school. I realise we are lucky as we have a lot of outside space and outdoor learning is a big part of the day year round (poor buggers!) but it would be bloody sad and very galling if we were forced to close having had no cases in 3 months in a school of 500 teachers and kids.

I can't teach my son (some SEN) and he can't teach himself from a power point. He is year 10. Another lockdown and school closures will be the final blow to his GCSE chances

And someone at home with the time to access it with them - most 4/5 year olds can't zoom all day by themselves.