So much school work...

[formerbabe]

So when I found out schools were closing, I got lots of supplies in to do loads of activities and stuff with my DC. I had lots of good ideas for arts and crafts, games, cooking etc but they each have so much stuff to do from school, there's literally no time to do anything. I keep seeing people put up on Facebook the activities they've been doing and ideas to keep their DC occupied but honestly I can barely keep up with the actual school work let alone doing anything else.

I don't want to sound ungrateful to the teachers and schools as they're doing an amazing job in difficult circumstances but I do feel a bit disappointed as there's so much stuff I'd like to do and feel like our time isn't our own.

i am working from home and trying to manage a 15 year old and 10 year old. they are doing some work and relaxing quite a bit. as long as they get enough done to keep up with their schooling for when they go back. if it isnt on line then this work isnt going to be marked anyway. can you imagine the teachers marking their 30 pupils marks for 3 months?

4 DC in 3 different schools here - 3 very different approaches.

Youngest are in (senior) primary and have been given learning packs to cover 4 weeks (2 weeks before Easter and 2 weeks after). There is max 1hr work a day to do. I am setting them some extra work - some additional maths in areas they struggle in, and a bit of extended writing each day. We’re also starting scrapbooks so they can research and make a project on whatever they want. This is still taking less time than a normal school day and no work at all after 3.30pm.

DD & DS are both in highly selective secondaries.

DD is in lower end secondary and has been told to set a daily timetable incorporating approx 5hrs a day. They are to focus on the subjects they would normally study that day. Today DD finished the work in less than 2 hours so is now doing extra work herself.

DS is in senior secondary school (4th form) and his school have suggested no more than 2-3 hours a day because the work is much more concentrated than in school - this is despite them being in the middle of GCSE courses. They are set a master timetable for a week and just do the work whenever it suits them through that week. He is, by choice, doing closer to 5hrs a day.

I think some teachers are giving loads so that the parents or kids that want to do loads of structured stuff have it, but I imagine your primary teacher will have told parents not to worry or stress about it.

So, don't worry or stress about it.

Do what you can / what you want to do. Just as employers need to adjust their expectations of parents who are now working from home and juggling childcare, schools who are expecting 5 hours of 'lessons' plus homework will need to adjust. These are unprecedented times and we all just need to middle through.

My DC is expected to be at desk working normal timetable. There are online lessons and /or tasks, six lessons per day, plus usual homework time. There are some online classroom things going on, live chats, split screen stuff with teachers. They have even been set work for PE, music, drama, etc, things that I might have expected to slide. There is a reading list and work is being set based on the texts.

Dc is at desk by 8am - on video chat with friends doing the same routine and so far isn’t finished on work until 4-5pm. DC has been home longer than 2 days and it doesn’t seem to be changing. DC is under the impression detentions and (ironically) isolation will be meted out on those students who haven’t worked, when school resumes.

My sons school is very strict having to sign into lessons at set times hes only year 7. Hes at his dads but we had to get him a phone to enable him to sign in at our house to do his work as he broke our laptop. I also have a DD who's in Y2 and DS who's in nursery. I dont think the schools expectations are realistic lucky primary school is less strict

What about the parents that don't have computers and printers at your school OP?

I have no idea. We have a computer, printer and I'm a sahm so time to help them...I have no idea how I could do this if I was wfh or didn't have a laptop and printer. School had said that if the work isn't submitted, they'll be in touch. I'm feeling really stressed. There's sheets printed out everywhere...some work is to be done immediately and some is more of a project over several weeks. I can't keep up

Your children sound older than those building dens in the garden, but it sounds like you are very lucky that you aren’t also having to wfh.

My oldest is primary age. We’ve had nothing sent home from school but I pulled them out almost 2 weeks ago because I have an underlying health condition. We do about an hour of school work in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. All this in books I bought myself or we have a particular topic we focus on (this week we’re learning about midwifery as that’s what she wanted to learn about). The rest of the time they run around outside building stuff in the garden because 2 year old can’t easily be contained and I technically am meant to be working full time.

I’m quite happy with this approach and wouldn’t really plan to do any work sent home by teachers, so I wouldn’t feel pressured to do it. They’ll manage just fine, but everyone learns better when they have fresh air and down time and aren’t stressed. I’m a lecturer and I wouldn’t expect that of my adult students so I can’t expect that of a 7 year old under these circumstances.

We are doing a bit of both, there is one computer so both children can not be expected to do 5hrs a day. DS also has autism and I am doing all I can to keep things as calm as possible.

We are getting a plan everyday but we are just doing our best in the circumstances.

my son's secondary has said their school hasn't closed its just moved. the children have all the normal lessons with stuff to submit. Generally it hasn't gone down that well as parents are feeling the strain - particularly in smaller houses with lots of siblings and one computer. I have to be honest and say I've been really grateful for it. my son has his own room and computer which is probably why. Its kept him busy from 8-2 and I think it will be easier to transition back to school when its over as he is doing stuff.

the primary school has been less successful. they keep sending long, long lists of resources which I am finding stressful. I think I lack imagination. I just need 3 short items like 'do the 5 times table today; ' read this poem' 'look up amphitheatres and draw a picture'

My y9 dd is getting through the set work by following her daily school time table. We’re a bit more haphazad with my Y6 dd as she doesn’t have free access to a computer and we don’t have a working printer. But I’m thinking the children have had a massive shock too, it doesn’t hurt to give them a bit of breathing space this week. They will catch up.

My y9 dd is getting through the set work by following her daily school time table

I'm thinking I might start doing this

I’m not stressing about it I didn’t sign up be a homeschooler so we are doing little bits here and there but mostly chilling, baking, drawing etc. life is hard enough with this being enforced on us !!

My daughter is in year 9 and has been given work for each subject of each day as per her timetable just as she would if she was at school! She is therefore doing that work set submitting it! If they were at school they would be doing it! I wouldn't want her falling behind! Some of her friends parents are not following it and I think that's sad because those kids are going to get so behind academically! It isn't a holiday they are still been give work to do. Yes some of the pieces take less time but I just tell her to read a book if she finishes early.
My other daughter is in reception and she is going an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon of structured learning like bear words and writing the rest of the day is a mix of play, puzzles and games. I wouldn't want her to be behind either academically!
To add I am also working at home so jiggling it all! It it is worth it so they keep up! They will get their two weeks off when the Easter hols comes round just like they would if they were at school!

The work set is there to occupy pupils, not overwhelm or overload. Pace it and use the time to also be a family.

There is no expectation on teachers to mark the work set, although many will choose to give some feedback. Don’t forget that teachers are also having to deal with issues like lockdown, attending hubs away from their usual school, looking after their own children/family members etc. Many (like me) will be on lockdown due to significant health issues and completing tasks such as curriculum review and development formthe summer term / changes for next year.

We have been gifted time. Spend it wisely.

There is no expectation on teachers to mark the work set

Really? Are most teachers not getting paid now, then? In my school, the expectation is that we plan lessons, prepare materials for them, deliver them, take work in and mark it just as if we were in school. It is expected that we continue to deliver the curriculum and expected that students continue to attend their online lessons - we've been asked to let tutors know of any students not engaging with online learning and they will contact parents.

I assumed this would be the norm, not the exception. Are parents really happy for their children to have what might be a five month break from education if the schools don't reopen until September?

Kelsoooo -

Because otherwise that's a very unfair ask. Many, many parents aren't able to teach children, regardless of parents own intelligence levels.

I don't understand what you mean by this. I'm not asking anything of parents. I deliver the lessons so I'm doing the teaching and marking the work.

they'll be expected to be in the right place academically for whatever year they're going into!

You must know how ridiculous that is? Many parents don’t have the time, resources or capacity to educate their children working to national curriculum/ACE levels. Many are also working from home while caring for their kids, some kids are splitting time between two parents. It’s nonsense like this that pressures parents into thinking they aren’t doing enough. My kids are primary aged, they’re doing activities in the morning learning as they go but I’m not remotely recreating the school day. My expectation is that there is a plan in place for kids who will have missed a whole term of professional teaching, and that this can accommodate each child at the level they now are.

Frankly it’s hard enough at the moment without adding further stress to the situation.

I have 13 year olds. There is a full day's work for each (they go to different schools) but I assume this was normal at secondary school level and the building tents etc is for primary.

they'll be expected to be in the right place academically for whatever year they're going into!

Nope. You're wrong.

I’m expecting my next class to have done nothing meaningful academically. Far more important to keep them healthy physically and emotionally. Parents need to use their judgement about what’s most important.

we've been asked to let tutors know of any students not engaging with online learning and they will contact parents.

Really? Are you secondary though, so students able to do it more independently?There are plenty of parents (my DH possibly being one of them next week) who are finding it incredibly difficult to do their own jobs from home properly and ensure that their kids are also getting an adequate education. It's impossible. Everyone needs to just do what they can right now.

I've seen multiple posts in facebook from teachers I know reassuring parents that they are not homeschooling, they are making the best of an unprecedented situation. If a child is old enough to self study (ie later half or high school) then they should be. Other than that you support as best as you and without getting overwhelmed and stressed.

I think lots of people are going to realise the value of teachers, nursery nurses etc once all this is over.

One of mine is doing all of it and extra. ( 5 subjects a day plus revision) the other is doing none of it, just other educational activities... He is suffering badly from the change of routine. Once he has recovered a little bit we will try to add more in.

I'm structuring the days like a normal school day but I'm a poor substitute for a teacher! It would be a normal school day if not for coronavirus and my DS is a bit behind his peers academically due to being a summer born so I don't want him to fall any further behind. He's Year 2 so was supposed to be doing SATs this year to prepare for junior school.

I've been furloughed from work though so I have nothing to do myself work wise, and I only have the one child so it's easy to get stuff done. I wouldn't even attempt if I had multiple DC and had to WFH too.

It's the Easter holidays in 2 weeks and there will be no schoolwork then, we can do all the fun stuff then.