To cry into a bottle of wine tonight?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

I know I won't be alone hear, but today the details of the kids homeschooling has been released. DS should be on call 3 times a day and DD once. Other work to be completed in between.
DH working full time - has to be active online between 10-4pm, has meetings etc.
I am a teacher - have to teach on Teams 2-3 hours a day and complete paperwork, correspondance and planning.

How do we do all this?? The kids are 8 and 5 so will need help logging on and the youngest needs supervising for pretty much anything school related.
Can someone tell me it is okay not to be able to do this? AIBU to contact DS teacher and say there will be days where I just can't get him online on time if at all at every slot?

We’ve just had day one of a similar set up here.

Two DS (8 and 10). Luckily we have two laptops - both expected on separate Google Meet calls for registration at 8.50 then log off and log onto a different Google Meet link at 10.45, then a different call again at 1.15 for registration and next lesson. I have had to help both with this as the links aren’t always posted correctly. Plus have to help 8 year old with the work and to sit still etc. 10 year old started crying in his maths lesson as the school internet is rubbish and the teacher kept cutting out so he couldn’t hear the instructions (teacher is in school simultaneously teaching keyworker kids).

Meanwhile one teacher is sending worksheets via Google Classroom and the other via the Dojo app which involves me logging onto that via the iPad, emailing the worksheet to my hotmail account then printing from hotmail (Word won’t open on the iPad). Both have to complete their work in handwriting as we don’t have a Microsoft office licence so I need to take a photo of all their work and upload onto Google Classroom and Dojo respectively.

And I work full time with calls all day.

Sit down with DH and plan with him. Don’t take on all the mental load, otherwise it’ll fall to you by default.

DH will have to cancel meetings and speak with his manager for flexibility too. It doesn’t rest all on your shoulders.

YANBU.

I feel so sorry for so many people. Me and DH don't have school age kids (indeed they've left home now,) and none of us have been hugely affected by the pandemic or lockdown... We have each other (me and DH,) and great neighbours, a big garden and a lot of open space/woodlands etc, outside our little village to walk round, and even WE are pissed off and sick of it all!!! It's just never ending........

My heart goes out to you @Ohdoleavemealone and anyone else really REALLY struggling. It must be so hard to have to home school your kids, and especially if you have to work (from home) as well.

So yeah, crack that wine!

Edwinbear is completely right.
By the end of the last lockdown our Microsoft Teams meetings were very relaxed affairs, with people excusing themselves for all manner of reasons. Delivery man at the front door even.
We are all going to just have yl middle along together.
Tour DC are 8 and 5. They will catch up and they have the advantage of a Mum who is a teacher.
In the nicest possible way, you dont need the wine, you (and DH) got this.

@Serin
Thank you. I do feel extra guilt on the teaching front though. Like I am putting the education of otherS (teenagers)before that of my own.

@NichyNoo it sounds as hectic as my days are to become! Well done for getting through it.
I teach at college so am lucky my timetable isn’t as full as other teachers and I don’t have to worry about being on premises so I really shouldn’t complain.
It just at first glance seems so unachievable.

I don’t have anything helpful to contribute OP as I am thankfully not in this position (my only DS is in nursery), but just wanted to say to you and all parents (95% mums I’m sure) in the same position: this is unimaginably difficult and I am so sorry you have to do this.

Ugh. I cried today. A barrage of Google Classroom daily and weekly tasks and emails and last minute reading practice Zooms and other teacher Zooms and a timetable that suggested, in all seriousness, a homeschooling schedule nonstop from 9-3 for 5-6yos. (They graciously allowed a 15 mins morning break.) I have a job. So does DH. Who could possibly deliver that schedule, other than a SAHP who has only one child and a cleaner?

I don’t have a device for my youngest to get online as my eldest in secondary needs it. I’ve told the school that she will work out of textbooks, do her school apps on an evening/weekend (when the iPad is free) and practise her instruments. I’ve offered to send an overview every week of what she’s done.

Don’t worry about not being able to log on. I not sure schools realise how restrictive it is for parents of primary kids. I much preferred the girls old school where they sent us link and we could complete to our own timetable.

Even if I can setup a desktop, laptop and iPad for 3 of us to be on teams at the same time, most people's broadband can't take that hammering, esp with everyone else doing the same.

We mostly did workbooks and offline for the younger one the last time around.

This is absolutely ridiculous, I feel horrified in your behalf! My kids are 8 and 6, I've been dreading the remote learning instructions arriving but school have been very understanding and said that work will be on Microsoft teams, it will be uploaded the evening before and to be handed in by 7pm on the day 'if possible', they said we know how stressful this is for working parents so basically do whatever you are able to do, if you don't submit in time it won't be marked but don't worry about it.

I'm baffled at any school thinking this is acceptable! Me and DH both required in work but not keyworkers so kids will be going to my mum's and she won't be able to do it with them. I will do as much as I can each day without wrecking my mental health or theirs.

On your behalf**

OP all you can do is your best. I know some schools are setting out what might seem to be quite daunting schedules but the teachers will understand if not everything is possible (and are probably equally stressed trying to deliver teaching to your dc whilst dealing with their own). I am sure your DC’s teachers will be sympathetic if you explain.

Last time for example our school ended up saying just try to get the maths and literacy done if you can but please don’t worry if you can’t manage everything.

To an extent they’re kind of damned if they do, damned if they don’t. For every parent who feels overwhelmed by the structure there’ll be another who doesn’t feel the school is offering enough structure. For every parent who finds the idea of getting dc online for live learning three times a day stressful, there’ll be another who is outraged that the school aren’t delivering live learning for 6 hours solid. And so on and so on.

As my mother always used to say, just do your best, no one can ask for more

Ours are also having 3 hours of zoom lessons (3x 1hr each), and a parent mentioned she wouldn’t be able to attend them all due to work - the teacher didn’t mind at all as long as the related work (which she sends over during the lesson) is done at some point. Speak to the teachers, they’ll be reasonable.

This one kw thing makes me cross
DC nursery has been forced to close because staffs kids cant get school places due to only have 1 kw parent.

Their non kw parents employers wont tolerate them being solely responsible for homeschool all day and feels if kw partners job must be done & outside home.... kids should be in school.

Nursery staff earn sod all so nursery ends up closing - exactly what boris was NOT aiming at.

As primary teachers we are told to set 3 hours work minimum a day by the DfE. However we all know that ever single family situation is different. Technology, parents working, number of siblings etc. Everyone is trying their best. Just let the school know you will do what you can when you can. Noone can ask for more than that. Be kind to yourself.

I am in the same position. Live teaching from home. We have one laptop so my primary daughter is unable to access her school work as we can't be on teams at the same time. Today she has been alone, just read a book. I had to contact her teacher to explain why she hadn't registered or engaged with work. I feel like I've completely let her down today in comparison to my pupils.

Also the guidelines state something along the lines of if you have seen no engagement with a family over a week then make contact to discuss. It does not say a primary age child needs to attend X number of online classes a day and hand I every piece of work.

@flumposie

I am in the same position. Live teaching from home. We have one laptop so my primary daughter is unable to access her school work as we can't be on teams at the same time. Today she has been alone, just read a book. I had to contact her teacher to explain why she hadn't registered or engaged with work. I feel like I've completely let her down today in comparison to my pupils.

This is exactly what happened in this house too. 4.5 hours or quality, live delivery including a Google Form Quiz, a Kahoot, a Padlet, 3 interactive worksheets which I monitored and gave advice to as they were being completed and a Walking Talking mock. Meanwhile, my 8 and 6 year olds watched power rangers because I have the only device. Next week will be different. It will have to be.

Seems unreasonable to expect a 5 year old to be online for a meeting 3 times a day even if you weren't working. Surely you would be better making up your own time table them rather than going by the schools..I don't think they can stop you.