AIBU to give a massive shout out to teachers

[Ihatefish]

This week I’ve been so amazed by how very hard the teachers at my son’s school have been working, they’ve had to deal with teaching classes where 50% of the pupils have turned up, making sure home schooling is available and working, answering questions from pupils and staff, making sure all the kids are happy whether in school or at home. They had no notice yet have done an amazing job. As a parent at home juggling work and homeschooling I really appreciate the enormous effort they are making in v difficult circumstances-so a big big thank you from a grateful parent to all the teachers on here -you’re amazing

Absolutely YANBU. My DS's school have been incredible, right from the moment back in March when it became inevitable that schools would close.

Whilst both DS's miss the sociable aspect of being in school their education has continued seamlessly. I know we are very lucky and this is not the case in all schools.

Teachers are doing a great job but the hardest work is still to come when they will be expected to close the gaps in attainment and ensure all the children have caught up, with limited extra time and resources. Teachers have a mountain to climb and they deserve our support at all stages.

Meh. Teachers who are not in hubs right now have it easier.

In the autumn term, I took my hat off to all teachers. I wrote my DS' reception teacher a letter to say thank you so much for making it all seem so normal, so safe. I cannot imagine how hard they must've worked: getting 30 kids to wash their hands throughout the day, all the new SD regs to deal with, bubbles etc.

Now? My DS is having half an hour "live" with the teacher and then a few simple tasks or similar set each day online. I don't expect loads more as he's in reception - in school I'm sure the bulk of his day is playing outside/playing in groups etc. But it's not difficult and teachers who aren't in hubs and just doing the odd live/setting work online aren't working anywhere near as hard as they had to in school as they're not managing a classroom. It's the parents who are having to manage the kids, get them to focus on the work etc.

Sorry to be the one, but wasn't it (Head) Teachers who wanted schools shut?

Oh and this whole "teachers have had to move online/it's so much harder doing it all virtually etc", that's the same of most roles which have moved to virtual. The real "heroes" are the IT staff who've made it happen.

Massively impressed with teachers and support staff at ds school. He's only in reception but has at least 5 items of work a day. They have a dedicated support team for remote schooling so the minute it's uploaded they look at it and comment, even the teachers who are teaching in school make sure they have the time to look at the work and comment. And when we had issues logging on in the first place they did everything to make sure we got there.
As an aside after a week of home schooling a spirited little monster you can see why teachers are amazing

My kids's primary school continue to amaze me with just how awesome they are.

Thank you Teachers

@Ylvamoon

Sorry to be the one, but wasn't it (Head) Teachers who wanted schools shut?

SAGE said it, teaching unions, many people did. This was because schools were seen as a place where the virus could spread.

Having 30% of your school in (as mine does) will not help as much of the spread as having, say, 10% which we did last time.

It is a pandemic. I will do what is needed. But it is a massive juggle and if, because so many children are in, we still have massive virus spread, we need to wonder if this was the best way to do it.

And whether we wanted schools "closed" or not, does not take away from the fact that this week has been a little like an entire profession starting a new job on the same day. You know, when you get to a new workplace and even if you know what you are doing job-wise because it is a new place you need the photocopier code, to know where the loo is, the policy on lunchtimes, etc, etc.

Except in this case you have to do your existing job at the same time!

Meh here too. I feel as if my kid doesn't exist to teacher. We feel totally disconnected to the school really now to be honest as so much time has passed. Or is this a positive opinion only thread? Shall I delete? I sometimes don't understand the purpose of these threads. Glad to hear there's some teachers out there doing a top job for kids, it must be a tough job even at the best of times.

@tempnamechange98765 at my school, every single member of staff who is not shielding or isolating is physically in school full time. Looking after/teaching key worker and vulnerable children. Providing remote learning for all children. Emailing parents. Sorting out FSM provision. Ensuring children with EHCPs are being given their allocated support. Providing differentiated work for children with SEN who aren’t in school.

I don’t know any colleagues who are in ‘hubs’ at the moment- it seems to be this is VERY different to last time with many more key worker and vulnerable children in which means most staff being utilised.

I hope your son does get some more stuff put in place as that doesn’t sound like a lot, but many schools aren’t doing anything ‘live’ for the reasons I’ve mentioned above.

My year 11 wasn't looking forward to online learning and had switched off a bit once exams cancelled, but there is really a spring in her step again after a few days of live lessons. The teachers have rolled it out brilliantly from a standing start and I have already sent them a thank you card.

@tempnamechange98765

Oh and this whole "teachers have had to move online/it's so much harder doing it all virtually etc", that's the same of most roles which have moved to virtual. The real "heroes" are the IT staff who've made it happen.

IT staff? in schools?

In primary schools there are no IT staff. It's the teachers having to learn how to do this stuff on the hoof.

As a recently retired teacher, I can only imagine how insane it's been for those I left behind. And it's love;y to read how appreciative many parents are.

There are plenty of other threads for people to moan on, so maybe those who want to rain the parade can stick to those?

I got involved with my granddaughter's homeschooling (year 1)one day this week and I was very impressed with the organisation of work online, the cheerful teams session explaining the work and foresight in having hand delivered text books to all children beforehand.

👏

They are amazing

Many years ago. Was a teacher
On a good week I was tired and exhausted

These kids have been through so much also
Teachers have done an amazing job in many ways !!!!!!
I respect them hugely ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

We don't have any well teachers at home, they're all in school with around 50%of the children in whilst simultaneously teaching the majority of the rest of the children online and providing home learning packs for those not online. Lessons start at 8.45 and finish at 3. Everything taught in school is replicated online. So everything has to be uploaded, lessons have to be changed to enable those at home to take part ( for example, it's tricky creating electric circuits at home without all the equipment so alternatives have to be resourced) We have several teacher isolating as they recover from COVID-19 so some teachers and TAs are covering two classes at the same time! Our parents have been almost universally appreciative - apart from the one who complained that we hadn't allowed her child to join in the PE lesson ( the child was at home so we zoomed a Joe Wickes video whilst the children in school went out and a played football- apparently that wasn't fair!)

Nice thread, OP.
Many thanks to all teachers. You have a hard job, even in the best of times.

Saw this today.

Can't tell you how much I hope it's true

@tempnamechange98765

Oh and this whole "teachers have had to move online/it's so much harder doing it all virtually etc", that's the same of most roles which have moved to virtual. The real "heroes" are the IT staff who've made it happen.

'IT staff'

Thanks so much for the support from parents and carers much appreciated at the end of a manic week!

What a nice thread to read as a teacher who contracted Covid at 20 weeks pregnant from work.( working from home this term thank goodness)
Means a lot to read that people appreciate what we do and makes putting our own health at risk feel worth it

I'm not talking about IT staff in schools! I mean all the IT staff throughout the country who've moved all businesses to virtual this last year! Not going to say what I do as it might be outing but honestly, our IT department have moved mountains!

People thinking there are IT staff in primary schools.
People thinking teachers should have been expecting to switch online whilst being threatened with legal action if they shut.
People thinking live teaching online is practical or even effective.

That level of ignorance is shocking.

I'll take that OP ... cheers 🍷

The week started horrifically and has ended with a few rays of light ... we've (TA and I) spoken to every child in our class, hand delivered home learning packs and had an online assembly with the whole class. We've got all our lessons planned and 3 daily live lessons scheduled for next week.

We've also tried to keep as much normality for all the CW's and vulnerable children that are in class.

I'm exhausted, truly bone shatteringly 'knackered' ... but we'll make this work and we won't let your children down - they're the best bit about teaching!