Page 3 | To expect homework and revision to be put on Teams?

Riversideandrelax · 2024-06-25T13:34:26+00:00

At my DD's school they use Teams but also have a paper planner. Some teachers put all homework/revision on Teams whether it is online homework or real life work. (Some go above and beyond and give summaries of the lesson's learning!) Some put the instructions for the homework on Teams but don't add the worksheet or whatever you need to complete it. Some just don't put it on at all. My DD is in Y7 and has autism. She is immature for her age and has a lot of executive functioning issues and motor skill issues affecting her writing.She does her best with her homework but I keep an eye on Teams to make sure she completes homework/revision. The problem is in class sometimes she doesn't get all the homework written down due to her motor skills. She also sometimes misses school and then does not know about the homework or test. Wouldn't it just be better to put it all on Teams then everyone knows? And include the resources so if someone wasn't in class they can still complete the homework. Surely in this day and age that's not too much to ask? It would make such a difference for my DD. I like to hear opinions as to if I am unreasonable before talking to the school.

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:21

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/06/2024 16:09

I think l just why some teachers put it on and some don’t.

If it’’s not whole school policy they don’t have to do it. If the kids still have a planner it’s fine for them to record it in there.

If the kids know their getting Mathsand they have the website why does it need to be on Teams.

My Dd used to get loads of maths set like this. They knew they had to do it, and they just worked through it.

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Oh and it is whole school policy.

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pumbaasmiles · 25/06/2024 18:21

My issue in this situation is the lack of continuity. My DS is waiting for an ADHD assessment and is highly likely get a diagnosis. That means, sadly, he needs support with organisation / planning. As a parent I find this really hard if different teachers set homework in different ways / formats. I need to know where to look to check stuff is getting done.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/06/2024 18:23

notnowmarmaduke · 25/06/2024 17:11

and the speed is dependent on the system, not the teacher, and how many teachers are currently using it. Just because one teacher can load something in 5 mins, doesn't mean that is possible for another teacher

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Yeah, l remember the school system used to run like dial up when everyone was uploading stuff for homework. Lots of crashes too

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:24

FrippEnos · 25/06/2024 16:16

If a school uses mymaths or whatever the current program is and they have to complete Hwk every week then to put it on a different medium is just creating work for the sake of it.

And TBH kids have found many work arounds to the online systems.
The app doesn't work.
My phone was flat.
The system was down etc.
I particularly love these two responses.
I couldn't upload the work
and
I've uploaded the work, but in reality they haven't, they have saved a blank page as and open source document and will then claim that its not their fault that you can't read it. Backed up by the parent who says "but they have uploaded the work I can see that they have"

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Don't get me started on our maths programme. Maths Watch! I hate it! It took us an hour to do one question on Pie charts because it is just so fiddly to use! Why not just let them do Pie Charts in their books with a real protractor!

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Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:26

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 25/06/2024 16:26

It's interesting that some teachers manage to put all homework/revision on Teams plus lots extra.

Guess what, different teachers have different amounts to do, and teach different subjects which have different pressures and complications, and whoch suit different methods. A full time teacher who is a head of department will often have less available time than a part-timer with no additional responsibilities. Not always, of course, as it depends on their responsibilities outside of school. But many teachers go part time simply because a full time workload is barely manageable.

And how on earth does it take you 10 min?! Perhaps you need some support in to how to use it?

Rude, patronising bullshit.

I mean object all you like but don't complain if the h/w isn't done, revision not done and cooking items not brought in! Why have a system if you're not going to use it!

Astonishingly, some schools still actually trust their staff to teach and manage their classes in a way which suits them, their subject and the majority of their students. If the school has not made it compulsory to set the homework on Teams, then the staff do not have to do so. Also, not all students with SEND like the same approach. It's hard to keep everyone happy.

The school has made it compulsory.

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Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:27

Pfpppl · 25/06/2024 16:27

Maybe we are talking at cross purposes if your school use planners or homework diaries as well. But that's not the case for my son's school. They did that for a while and it was a disaster, so moved to teams only. He has nowhere to write it down.

Here's an example of a teacher who has set homework on an external website but still put it as an assignment on teams. If they can do it, why can't the others? That can't have taken long to do.

And the difference with the work analogy is that my son has several "bosses" all asking him to do stuff. And he is part of different "teams" for different subjects, so has different groups of "colleagues". If a school has decided on one system of record then everything should be in that one place.

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I completely agree.

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Decompressing2 · 25/06/2024 18:29

When my daughter was in yr7, each subject teacher would ask the top student in their class to be the class contact if they needed homework advice.

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:29

Pfpppl · 25/06/2024 16:35

What if it isn't every week though? Some weeks no homework, some weeks external website, some weeks something else.

I will only back my son up if the homework wasn't on teams and he didn't do it as a result. He is genuinely not one of the ones you describe, he uses teams to know what is due and when. If it isn't there it's not on his radar. And if I can't see it I can't remind him use it as an excuse not to take him to an activity when I cba!

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We get sent a weekly email to let us know what homework our DC have. But of course if the teacher hasn't put the homework on it looks like they've done it all!

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Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:32

BibbleandSqwauk · 25/06/2024 16:47

I use it and put every assignment on teams, with the appropriate resources. It takes two minutes tops and means they have no excuse for not knowing what to do. It annoys me when my kids' teachers don't. The system is there, it should be used.

Yes, as a teacher it would be really helpful knowing everyone has all the information they need. Their parents also do. Everyone knows when it is due. No excuses for not doing it!

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Pammela2 · 25/06/2024 18:32

Teachers do have varying timetables, classes and marking loads. It is far more straightforward for content based courses to have ‘set’ homework that is linked to the content. However the skills based subjects, it would be more ad hoc.
There would have been a provision before ICT, and the onus was on pupils to record and keep themselves on track, so you could just ask about this.
This is an example of the ‘another teaspoon’ analogy in teaching. One, seemingly minor, task to you, is actually another on top of many for teachers to do.

I do think that pupils should be taking accountability for organising themselves as this is obviously a valuable skill. And your daughter will need to figure out the best way for her to do it to. You should speak to the school and see what they say- I’m sure they’ll be able to come up with something.

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:34

handmademitlove · 25/06/2024 16:55

As a school, we have a policy that if homework is not on the homework app then no-one gets into trouble for not doing it. Precisely because some students struggle to remember / take a note of the work / are not in class. This includes online homework set regularly such as Sparx etc - just because it is set every week does not mean a student will remember (as I may have pointed out to a teacher who failed to follow this policy!)

We use teams, but also have a homework app that parents have access to. It is not always necessary to upload everything to teams but there should be a note somewhere of any homework set and where to find the resources.

Please get in touch with the Sendco and ask what is in place to manage this for students who struggle - your child will not be the only one and they should have a way of sorting this out. It is a very common problem within the SEND world!

Yes, I imagine so! Unfortunately, getting in touch with the Sendco is not easy!

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Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:35

Scarletttulips · 25/06/2024 17:15

It’s a nice to have -

Teachers are there to teach your child 9-3

After that it’s your responsibility

As a mother of teens I can tell you hime isn’t an extension of school - it should be a different learning environment - cooking, gardening, meal planning, reading the gas bill -

These are your extension tasks.

Haha - sure but homework needs to be done too.

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Phineyj · 25/06/2024 18:35

I teach in a decent school in a not badly off area. We don't use Teams but a different app. We also seem to have not paid our Microsoft bill so unless it gets sorted soon we'll be back to chalk and talk and writing things down in about a week. Maybe carrier pigeon if we're lucky.

I'm not sure outsiders actually realise how bad things are IT wise in schools. Our stuff's older than some of the teachers. Most of us have to use our phones just to get through the teaching day (because our phones work).

And I say that as someone who always puts homework online and likes technology. I have to do 90% of anything involving computers and printing at home at my own expense. Or bring in the laptop I bought.

Best plan for you is definitely a small circle of reliable friends and a parents' WhatsApp.

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:36

HuongVuong3 · 25/06/2024 17:19

This thread is a wonderful example of why teachers are leaving the classroom in such huge numbers.

Rude, arrogant, patronising parents making excuse after excuse and blaming the teacher for their child's mistakes.

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I've not seen that at all.

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notnowmarmaduke · 25/06/2024 18:39

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 17:38

That's exactly how it is - a Mish mash, with noone knowing if they're coming or going! That was what I was saying about the teacher who it took them 10 minutes to put something on Teams because I appreciate it can take time to get the hang of something new. But I just got a defensive reply which seems to be the par for the course from many teachers these days!

Teams helps many SEN children. It would be nice for them to want to be inclusive in that way. Just seems an easy win for me if you want your SEN children

As much as I get what you're saying about not daring to suggest something could be a teachers fault, they all apparently want engaged parents who encourage homework etc. I have to say when I taught I would have bitten the hand off a parent like me! 😂

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I was not being defensive and teams is not new! for goodness sake, we lived on it for a year! I was answering your question for you, and you decided to take it that I was somehow incompetent!

now you are accusing me of being defensive and saying this is "par for the course" for teachers.

Look at your self! You asked a question, I answered it, you insulted me and called me defensive and extended that to all teacherhood!

i can see why staff in your child's school are not going to want to spend time engaging with you

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:43

BibbleandSqwauk · 25/06/2024 17:33

I teach. Yes there are aspects that are hard and there are some schools where it is completely unbearable and I am fortunate to be in a place that is fine but teachers are fallible and do sometimes get it wrong. I see colleagues tell off kids for missing or being late to activities because another member of staff hasn't let them leave X early, or let them into lunch as they should, or give them time to get changed. My form class complain about the lack of homework on Teams because if they miss a lesson through illness or a music lesson its difficult to find out exactly what it is - teens are not the most reliable source to catch up from. I can fill in the Teams assignment boxes in the two mins it takes for the kids to pack up and write "See Teams, due Tuesday" in their planners. Its really not hard and helps me too because I can see what I set and when I said it was due.

Of course teens are feckless and lazy and use every excuse under the sun but you just stay ahead of it and tech excuses are not accepted unless it genuinely is a total fail of the device - which I can usually check with a parent. I think its different in schools where students may well not have good access but then you set paper based work accordingly. I don't like the extremes on here of either teacher bashing or insisting they are the most wonderful selfless people who can do no wrong and work 28 hour days and all issues are kids' fault.

I think for me this is why I find it strange teachers not using Teams because for me too it is about me being organised too. And yes, that's exactly what some do at my DD's school!

Unfortunately, it is difficult to have a genuine conversation on here about issues at school because you always get the flock of teachers coming to tell you that as a parent you can't possibly have any idea about what teaching involves (forgetting many of us are teachers or ex teachers too!) and that how dare you even suggest a teacher could get something wrong or whatever. It's tiresome.

But usually a few people who do genuinely want to discuss it.

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Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:46

Soontobe60 · 25/06/2024 17:35

Perhaps you need to spend a day shadowing a teacher with a full timetable!
For every lesson I teach, I will usually spend 10 mins tweaking the planning, 10 minutes printing off any resources and 30 minutes marking the finished work.

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No, it's ok, some of us parents are actually teachers or ex-teachers too.

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Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:47

pumbaasmiles · 25/06/2024 18:21

My issue in this situation is the lack of continuity. My DS is waiting for an ADHD assessment and is highly likely get a diagnosis. That means, sadly, he needs support with organisation / planning. As a parent I find this really hard if different teachers set homework in different ways / formats. I need to know where to look to check stuff is getting done.

This is exactly my issue!

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Phineyj · 25/06/2024 18:56

So you're a former teacher?

Well then you know what the problems and constraints are and how to get things done in our imperfect system?

What's the point of the thread?!

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 18:57

Pammela2 · 25/06/2024 18:32

Teachers do have varying timetables, classes and marking loads. It is far more straightforward for content based courses to have ‘set’ homework that is linked to the content. However the skills based subjects, it would be more ad hoc.
There would have been a provision before ICT, and the onus was on pupils to record and keep themselves on track, so you could just ask about this.
This is an example of the ‘another teaspoon’ analogy in teaching. One, seemingly minor, task to you, is actually another on top of many for teachers to do.

I do think that pupils should be taking accountability for organising themselves as this is obviously a valuable skill. And your daughter will need to figure out the best way for her to do it to. You should speak to the school and see what they say- I’m sure they’ll be able to come up with something.

The thing is our SEN DC are having to manage in mainstream now. So things have to be more inclusive.

I speak to school continuously. They have not come up with anything other than - check Teams. It is all put on there!

And it may be useful for pupils to learn this but what you have to remember with SEN DC is they are often working on countless other things and you have to prioritise the best skills for them to learn first. As well as considering what they are mature enough to learn, what they need to learn first before they can learn another skill. You could apply the 'another teaspoon' analogy here. My DD 'figuring out the best way for her to do it' is just a step too far currently.

And as a SEND parent it is overwhelming the amount of things I have to do with regards to school. And being asked to search for homework, some days can be a step too far too!

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lemonmeringueno3 · 25/06/2024 18:59

OP, if it's school policy then you can raise it as a complaint or contact the SENCO about your child specifically.

But if it's not policy then teachers don't have to do it and some won't.

I guess it could be because they roll in at 9 and speed off the car park at 3 but more likely they're doing other things instead. You can't compare teachers because we all have different additional responsibilities that take up varying amounts of time, and also bigger departments have more staff to share such workload.

Newbutoldfather · 25/06/2024 19:02

@Riversideandrelax ,

I have explained in detail what you asked, but you decided to critique my teaching instead!

I do think you are very aggressive and coming across as ‘that parent’. There are a lot of Year 7 parents who just don’t get that secondary school is very different to primary, where teachers stay with one class.

Nonetheless, trying to see things from your perspective, the school should be helping your daughter transition and, if it is school policy, putting the prep on Teams. Just email her form teacher and the SENCO with the issue (politely, however hard you may find that) and explain the issues. I am sure that a reminder will be sent out.

I would, however, simultaneously advise you to form a WhatsApp group with a few friendly Year 7 parents where you can share homework if you are worried and, if your daughter is up to it, advise her to ask a friend.

Finally, you need to relax a bit. It is Year 7, not 11 or 13. The odd missed homework just won’t matter that much.

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 19:04

Phineyj · 25/06/2024 18:35

I teach in a decent school in a not badly off area. We don't use Teams but a different app. We also seem to have not paid our Microsoft bill so unless it gets sorted soon we'll be back to chalk and talk and writing things down in about a week. Maybe carrier pigeon if we're lucky.

I'm not sure outsiders actually realise how bad things are IT wise in schools. Our stuff's older than some of the teachers. Most of us have to use our phones just to get through the teaching day (because our phones work).

And I say that as someone who always puts homework online and likes technology. I have to do 90% of anything involving computers and printing at home at my own expense. Or bring in the laptop I bought.

Best plan for you is definitely a small circle of reliable friends and a parents' WhatsApp.

I would quite gladly see some Technology go (Maths Watch!) but other apps are pretty good.

Do parent's WhatsApps exist at secondary? The classes are all mixed and you don't meet the parents at pick up so not sure how that would work? And her friends aren't in all her classes.

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Lucia573 · 25/06/2024 19:04

I agree with you OP. Where I teach, all homework has to be set on Teams Assignments. It’s easy, consistent, removes lots of potential excuses/confusions. Parents can easily see exactly what’s expected. It’s very quick and easy for teachers to do.

Original poster

Riversideandrelax · 25/06/2024 19:08

Phineyj · 25/06/2024 18:56

So you're a former teacher?

Well then you know what the problems and constraints are and how to get things done in our imperfect system?

What's the point of the thread?!

Because I'm not a current teacher. What's wrong with asking current teachers? The point is to discuss. Which I am doing with some teachers who are open to discussion too.

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