To expect homework and revision to be put on Teams?

[Riversideandrelax]

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.

For this YABU and if you take this attitude with school you won’t get very far.

It is policy.

Roll in at 9 and speed off at 3? Ok.

It seems some don't find it quick and easy. I'm not the best at IT but can teachers not just use their phones if computers are old? That seems to be what many teachers do.

A lot of Teachers do not understand the learning platform that their school/academy have set up (Teams/google classrooms/senaca or others). Getting some of them to read an email is a challenge, never mind using teams. (And no, it’s not always the older teachers).

Our school uses a different program, but the official policy is that copies of all work and all instructions must be uploaded. All changes must be uploaded. It’s good for everyone, but especially ND students.

dd has autism. She has nearly perfect grades in every class, except for the few teachers over the years who refuse to comply with school policy and use the online system. They are also the teachers who are breaching her education plan because it requires all instructions be written and parents get a copy, all of which can be done easily with the app.

these are inevitably the same teachers who are weeks or months behind on grading and enter dozens of missing assignments at once.

it is infuriating.

I've not critiqued your teaching at all! No idea why you think this.

I just asked how long are your lessons if you have 3 before break and how come half your 10 minute break is gone with these 3 lessons taking at least 5 minutes each (I think you said) to write the homework on Teams?

Nothing wrong with asking for advice. Was just checking if that was what you wanted, or a moan!

Here's mine then.

Probably not unreasonable.
Wrong time of year to get it sorted.
Teachers will be setting as little as possible at this time of year...especially to year 7.
If it's to do with assessments, contact the Head of year and ask for a list of revision for assessments.
If DD's regularly missing the same lesson ask that that be taken into consideration when mentor meetings etc are arranged.
Focus your attention on year 8. Make a parents' WhatsApp. Make sure DD has details for reliable ideally swotty friends.
See if you can get her to do homework at homework club/study hall. Supervising teacher should be able to see all the homework that's been set and ask a colleague if it's not clear.
If she doesn't have an EHCP, maybe get the ball rolling on that.
If she does, make sure homework's discussed at next annual review.

No, it's ok, I get on well with everyone at school. I think people just read this in a way it wasn't intended. I wasn't being passive aggressive, I was being genuine.

I suppose some people prefer technology more than others. But maybe they should learn how to use it if that is the system used at their school?

Yes, it has such an impact on many ND pupils. Some teachers just don't understand.

We're actually not allowed to use our phones (official policy). Although we have to or nothing happens.

I certainly couldn't upload homework as the WiFi's crap and nothing syncs.

Same in the NHS I believe. Although at least the Russians aren't trying to steal our data I suppose.

When were you in teaching? More than a decade ago? Imagine you still have the same computers...

This sounds like sensible advice to me.

I think it's incredibly frustrating as a parent of an SEN child when very small easy things that would make school more accessible aren't done. I fully accept that despite my son's SEN being diagnosed and documented he will never get beyond token support as he is not very badly behaved and funding is so bad only those with the very highest needs actually qualify for support. But not uploading the homework to the VLE, or regularly giving out worksheets that are photocopied so small that its physically impossible for him to write in the boxes you have to write in, or being made to do work over and over again for poor presentation when the child is dyspraxic and can't do any better - thats all pretty crap. And yes I fully understand teachers at secondary teach hundreds of kids in a week. That the teacher shortage means many staff are teaching out of subject and so it's all more difficult and time consuming to plan. (Been there, done that, left like everyone else.) I am very sympathetic, but ultimately all those knocks really impact my child's school experience and mental health. I really really hope a change in government brings more education funding as I do worry if he will make it through secondary if things continue.

For the OP, lower your expectations a bit. Get it put in her IEP that the teacher needs to put homework on Teams or check its in her planner correctly. Inevitably not all teachers will read or remember the IEP and this won't always happen. But if she can't do her homework, don't stress about it and don't let her stress about it either. It's not worth it.

For the record I have a ND child and fully expect to spend her year 7 WhatsApping other parents in desperate hope of a blurry worksheet photo. Who I shall repay by taking the kids places in school hols when they are working.

Well, bit of a moan as well! 😉

And yes, I absolutely take your point about the time. I've just been taking a bit of a stock check as to what's working and what's not ready for September.

She often misses lessons due to not being able to cope so it can be the same ones due to that.

I'm not really sure how to go about a WhatsApp. Should it just be everyone in the year group as they are mixed around for classes. But I could add the 4 parents I know!

Again trouble is they are mixed around so would need to be multiple friends which she doesn't have! She has 2 new friends who are in some of her classes, one friend from Primary in her form and one other friend from Primary in none of her classes. She doesn't have friends in all of her classes.

She's not able to do homework club at this stage yet. But hopefully one day...

I have applied for an assessment for an EHCP....Sendco none too happy!

We use our phones in my part of the NHS anyway!

And yes, 7 years ago! And oh dear....!

Surely if the Homework is on Teams, you do it. If it isn't on Teams, you don't. Sorted.
I would love to work in the schools where uploading files to Teams assignments (even opening the Teams app itself) was a work of moments...

Yes, it's very good.

Thank you, that's good advice. I do worry too much.

I'm sorry to hear about your DS's difficulties.

And I really hope the same as you.

Genuinely - how will you meet all these parents and get their phone numbers?

It's not sorted if you've got an upset and unsettled DC due to this issue.

Are you not allowed to use your phone either?

4 parents is a great start! They will know other parents and you can build it.

For the love of all that's holy don't try for a whole year group WhatsApp unless you want to be back on here in September 😂

The person to make friends with would be the SEN admin person (the Keeper of the Extra Time Spreadsheet). Effusive thank you card maybe before end of school...

Fortunately for me DD is v sociable and will ferret out the info for me, plus I work at the school so will attack the problem from both ends while trying not to hack off too many colleagues.

@Riversideandrelax ,

What is your long term concern, leaving process aside?

Are you worried that she will get into trouble or fall further behind? Does she get stressed about it?

What subjects is it where she isn’t getting homework?

I would fully relax about everything for the remainder of this academic year and e mail her form teacher for Year 8, as soon as you know who it is, together with the SENCO. Try to arrange a meeting early next year with both of them.

A sympathetic form teacher can really help her get organised and chase other teachers up about prep.

I hope that is useful.

Oh, I'm great friends with her! First name terms and everything 😂 I'm going to go to the shops next week and buy rather a lot of thank you cards!