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Original poster

Will the children ever catch up?

46 replies

Nostrings457 · 02/04/2020 17:42

I am a keyworker - senior management working from home, very stressful, decisions to make, lots of skypes etc...with 3 DC, year 2, reception and pre-school. DH also a keyworker who is at work.

I am just about surviving the day to day juggling of working and not neglecting the DC. Far too much screen time for my liking but I'm at a loss of how else to make this situation work.

The school app and FB page is full of home schooling photos which is making me feel so much guilt. Working from home goes against everything I usually do in terms of me not having screen time when DC are here.

I'm worried that DC will be behind when they go back to school. How much difference will it make to their education at 7 and 5? How much home schooling are people really doing?

OP posts:
WanderingLost167 · 02/04/2020 17:43

We are doing 2 hours with each child, one to one with my 6 year old. I suspect they will actually do better than expected due to the individual time we are spending on maths and writing especially.

SummerTanTime · 02/04/2020 17:46

Of course they will catch up, please don't worry.

Most people (IRL) are muddling through the best they can. Some will be doing the work themselves. Some will be confusing their children more than they will be teaching them.

At 7 and 5, keep them reading, keep doing mental maths, don't worry.

slimecentury · 02/04/2020 17:50

Please don't feel the guilt! I think because yours are little they will be fine. Where are they now and is there anything in particular to focus on? My school is just emphasis reading - to them and with them, and some maths to keep them ticking over (year 1) Get some workbooks or print outs and do half hour and reading early or eves. There are some good apps as well. Pre schooler don't worry too much. Reading again plus number or letter books and just lots of play and encouraging independent activities like getting self dressed etc.
I've actually muted the school whatsapp as it was getting me anxious seeing all the things people are doing but honestly just do what you are doing. Thousands more in same boat xx
We are coming in holidays so we'll have a breather too

thepeopleversuswork · 02/04/2020 17:51

If you have primary age children they will be fine. In an absolute worst-case scenario we're talking about most of one academic year. It's a setback but one they can recover from in a few months.

And it makes me really angry on your behalf and on mine that those of us who have to work are being made to feel so guilty about this home schooling thing. The humblebragging all over social media with pictures of children doing wholesome craft and learning Mandarin etc isn't helping. I know people are just trying to get through it where they can but its making some of us feel like shit.

I'm lucky that I'm able to wfh and I know a large number of people - specifically keyworkers -- are in a worse position but it does feel like a really two-tier system with SAH parents and those in two-parent families massively advantaged while single parents struggle.

I'm setting two exercises for my DD a day and counting myself lucky if she gets through them. I'm looking upon it as an exercise in maintaining some degree of structure and reminding her that she still has to have goals. Frankly I'm too busy and stressed to be doing it properly.

They'll be fine though.

mbosnz · 02/04/2020 17:53

I truly think if you focus on keeping them safe and well, mentally and physically, and yourself safe and well, mentally and physically, that's the main thing right now.

And after that, focus on reading, a love of reading, basics in math, and a love of learning which can always be googling something they express an interest in.

I, for myself, know more than I ever wanted to, about narwhals. . .

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 02/04/2020 17:56

Catch up to what, though? Everyone will be behind where they were supposed to be, so everyone is in the same boat and everything will happen 6-12 months later than it should.

Ohjustboreoff · 02/04/2020 18:19

I'm in the same boat @Nostrings457. Both myself and DH are frontline emergency workers with DC's in Reception and Y1 and we are struggling. I'm still doing 10hr shifts out of the house and so is DH. On our days off we are now expected to homeschool DC's, clean house, do shopping minus DC's and try and get some rest, ha yeah right! It's only been a few weeks and we are burnt out. On our school parent WhatsApp group are all these super cute pictures of all the homeschooling going on, makes me feel very guilty. My day consisted of Joe Wicks at 9am follow by numberblocks, colouring, YouTube French and then a 3pm snack which involved wine for the teacher!
I consider that a win.... say tuned for tomorrow's timetable. 11am Home Economics - how to make mummy the perfect Cosmo!

Ohjustboreoff · 02/04/2020 18:20

Or should that be Chemistry?

Parker231 · 02/04/2020 18:23

They won’t have anything to catch up - all children are missing schooling so will return at the same point they left off. One term (hopefully only that long) will be nothing out of their full period of schooling.

FlamingoAndJohn · 02/04/2020 18:25

I teach primary.

Please don’t stress. They will completely catch up.
Read to them, play with them, talk to them.
It’ll be fine.

Pentium85 · 02/04/2020 18:26

Primary Ed teacher-

Will not make a drop of difference.

Children that young learn much more and much better through interaction and play, such as reading a book or building blocks.

1-2-1 time for 30 mins can be much more beneficial than 6 hours at school.

Don't worry at all.

There is a reason child care and working from home doesn't happen normally, because it doesn't work.

And trust me, however much 'screen time' you think you're giving, there will be a parent giving it 10 x more and ignoring their child.

greensnail · 02/04/2020 18:26

I'm a keyworker doing a combination of going into work and WFH. Dh attempting to work full time from home. As a family we've had two bereavements in the last month and have another cost family member seriously ill now so lots of stress. Very little school work happening, im far more concerned about their mental health than what they might be missing at school.

EL8888 · 02/04/2020 18:28

I think yes. When l think back to school then the pace was slow. Plus a lot will be getting more individual time at home versus being in a class of 30 odd. I’m not running teachers down but they don’t have the time to spend 2 on 1 or 1 on 1 time with a child that often or for sustained periods of time

Foghead · 02/04/2020 18:29

I think if you keep the reading up - to them and listening to them, they’re getting some exercise, you’re talking to them and they’re watching some educational tv then they’ll be fine.

Sausagis · 02/04/2020 18:29

I'm "quarantine-schooling" my kids but I don't know they are learning much. I'm no teacher. I'm settling for "not bored" rather than educated!

Bilboard · 02/04/2020 18:30

I ll try to resume a letter from our school head teacher. We had been bombarded with different homework websites, ideas, blah, blah, blah ...some of us felt the pressure. This email was sent to us last week.
Most of us didn't choose home schooling, we were pushed into it. This us all new, for the teachers and the parents. We dont know what we are doing. What we are living now, it is not the "normal". We are living an emergency situation. No-one was prepared for this.
We all have different set ups, some of us work from home whilst the children run around, some of us have lost our job and don't know what's going to happen next, some are single families, some... ( you get my jist) We are all trying to survive.
The most important thing is that children feel loved and secure at this time. Everything else they 'll catch up with, we 'll go over a thousand times over the concepts they need to learn, they won't "fall back", but please stay safe.
I'd post the letter if I could but it's too outing.
This head teacher went up in my estimations immensely , and yes, i still do some work with my children (6 And 4) but all the pressure is gone.

ineedaholidaynow · 02/04/2020 18:31

For young Primary School children it shouldn’t make too much difference. I would keep up with reading and maths where possible, even if it just in games. I would also encourage some writing, as that will probably be the hardest thing to get children back into as they will be so used to using screens. But it just needs to be little and often.

Secondary school children I would be encouraging more work especially pupils Y9 and above as it will be hard to catch up.

Wewearpinkonwednesdays · 02/04/2020 18:31

Yes, I would imagine teachers will be prepared for what's to come when the children go back to school. I wouldn't worry too much about it atm. Infact all teachers have been telling everyone is not to stress themselves out.

Chrisinthemorning · 02/04/2020 18:32

Catch up with who? The children who are still having a normal school experience?
Schools will change the goalposts to take account of this- they will have to! All children will be at least a term behind of where they would have been and schools will just have to deal with it.
Parents aren’t teachers! We

meonekton · 02/04/2020 18:33

At your dc's age, I really don't think you need to worry too much. As long as doing regular reading and include numbers in everyday life, like reading clocks, counting something, etc, they will be fine.

PleasantVille · 02/04/2020 18:34

I wouldn't worry in the slighest about a 5 and 7 year old getting behind.

There will be 1000s if not 10000s of primary children not doing any work at all

RaraRachael · 02/04/2020 18:36

Don't stress about it. I'd far rather my pupils were happy doing a few of the tasks I post online rather than seeing photos of them on FB sitting in a mini home classroom with a parent trying to show how much they're teaching them.

We received no training whatsoever in using online platforms. We are muddling through and making it up as we go along. Believe me, I don't know a single colleague (however awful their class was), who wouldn't rather be there right now.

Lookingforwardtomyeastereggs · 02/04/2020 18:39

I really hope so. I've got two dc with a big age gap. Youngest was already quite behind before all of this, eldest is bright but lazy.

I keep hearing how "all of the children are in the same boat", but I'm not sure that's true. Some are on a cruise ship and some are clinging on to a rubber ring.

I've just about survived the last two weeks, wfh, dh still doing long hours out of the house, two dc with completely different needs.

Right now I feel like I'm failing at everything, my job, my parenting, this home education business. I'm just about coping with getting some work done, feeding everyone, keeping the house in a reasonable state and doing a little bit with the dc.

I'm trying to focus on the positives.

Justajot · 02/04/2020 18:41

Sadly there will be some educational gaps that widen considerably

Pentium85 · 02/04/2020 18:43

@Lookingforwardtomyeastereggs

You are not, I repeat not, failing.

You cannot be master of all things every day.

One day you will home school well, but work from home crap.

One day you will work from home well, but the children will only watch TV and eat chocolate.

Please, as long as you all go to bed healthy, you are doing well.