National 5/ Highers

[happyrage20]

In light of what John Swinney said today about it being unlikely schools return to normal in the next academic year, how worried are you about your teen in exam years?
My husband and I have worked full time through lockdown and we have left her to it mainly. Just realised last week when I got a chance to have a look that she has barely engaged. Marked stuff as handed in but nothing done. Teachers have dished out the work then few days later put up the answers.
Only had 2 things marked the whole of lockdown.
So I've sat on her all week (she's a procrastinator and now overwhelmed)
What will happen? I'm scared she will be marked down now and this will go against her.
No idea how they will cover the course for exams next spring?
Bound to be even worse for Highers students who didn't even get their nat5 exam experience!

What's your thoughts on what will happen? (I know no one knows )

The HOY actually told me not to be hard on him, he's a good kid and will catch up!

While I appreciate it is hard in schools just now, our schools head comes out with some crackers too. Communication isn't his strong point! Latest was 'dont panic the sqa will need to lower their expectations next year', but favourite was 'I am aware other schools have been setting work to placate' 🤦🏻‍♀️

Placate! I am reminding myself I have good knowledge of language and there is no need to resort to swearing.

Having pupils engage and submit work and sometimes even have a bit of banter with me while engaging has been bright points on tough days. Explaining instructions over and over again via email, but knowing that in class I'd repeat, rephrase, check understanding in minutes not hours has been both frustrating and hilarious.

Knowing that a third of the class (average I will have 5 maybe more on my timetable) for a range of valid reasons haven't engaged and trying to create a "catch up pack" for return.

That wasn't placating.

Low expectations seem to be such a big problem in Scottish schools.

Setting work to placate - what a load of rubbish. The private schools near us have been carrying on pretty much as normal with online lessons provided when kids are not in class. I'm sure the work they set is not to placate parents but to obtain the best results from the kids.

In terms of motivation, what teenagers need is a plan with a defined goal at the end of it. Parents can’t rely on the state education system at the moment. Students need live teaching and engagement, but that is possible with online learning.

I’m a great believer in the 80/20 rule. Kids need to concentrate on the learning that’s going to produce most results. So it’s not how long they study, but how effective it is.

I was a chemistry teacher for over 20 years. I left over a year ago to start a business as an online chemistry tutor. I use live webinars and they get great engagement. It’s unbelievable how slow schools have been in providing something similar.

Well unlike you (blatant plugs for own business aren't allowed on mumsnet by the way) schools aren't just needing to cater for individual pupils who clearly already have decent ICT if their parents are enrolling them for your webinar, they have to provide the best help they can for the full range of children from the full range of family backgrounds.

Thanosatemthamster you’re absolutely right—schools should cater to every pupil. That’s what GIRFEC is all about.

During lockdown pupils could have been issued with chrome books and dongles to allow them access to IT for live teaching. In fact I know of primary schools where this happened. I live in Aberdeen.

When the schools go back the pupils could be spread out and still get live teaching by webinar from a subject specialist. This is a better plan than only a few students being taught at a time, without a specialist teacher.

BTW, I was highlighting how one teacher can do this better than the majority of schools—I didn’t even mention the name of my business. So I don’t see how that’s a blatant plug.

In 2015 (I think) Nicola Sturgeon prioritised education and said she would be judged on it. Little did she know what 2020 would bring. Since we have already "saved the NHS" by lock, we must now sacrifice our children's education and mental health. I am dismayed at the lack of innovation and creative thinking of the COVID-19 Education Recovery Group which seemed to resign itself in May to part-time education. I agree with @Needachemistrytutor: education in Scotland must adapt and evolve. We must challenge Scottish Government twofold: to re-open schools fully in August and to invest in making education in Scotland resilient: it is clear that we can no longer rely on chalk and talk.

Try again ...

In 2015 (I think) Nicola Sturgeon prioritised education and said she would be judged on it. Little did she know what 2020 would bring. Since we have already "saved the NHS" by locking down, we must now prioritise our children's education and mental health. I am dismayed at the lack of innovation and creative thinking of the COVID-19 Education Recovery Group which seemed to resign itself in May to part-time education. I agree with @Needachemistrytutor: education in Scotland must adapt and evolve. We must challenge Scottish Government twofold: to re-open schools fully in August and to invest in making education in Scotland resilient. It is clear that we can no longer rely on chalk and talk.

You're so right Frazzle, though I must be imagining all the online learning we are producing (and my dc's schools), and how quickly we've picked up things like teams and google classroom and produced audio lessons and feedback and had zoom staff meetings and just got on with things really.
I think the ideas of webinars led by a subject specialist could have their place but they completely miss out on something very important to most children - a personal relationship with their teacher. Their own school staff know them, their skills, needs and personality, and that surely is part of getting it right for every child, not just an anonymous expert.

I certainly don’t consider an online tutor an ‘anonymous expert’. Tutors develop relationships with their students or else they wouldn’t be able to engage them. In fact, being able to do that online, shows how good they are at making that connection.

I agree with that, my dc had a tutor who was very kind and engaged. I was referring to the idea of having pupils spread out with a specialist delivering a webinar to them. I assumed you meant the specialist was delivering to more than their own class

Yes I was Thanosatemthamster. Regular live webinars by, for example, a chemistry teacher is far bettter than only getting a chemistry teacher half the time. Social distancing in schools means normal class sizes being halved at best. There's no way a school can spread out the pupils in different locations (or times) and have subject teachers teaching all of them. Wouldn’t you rather your child got the maximum amount of teaching in the subject they’re sitting an exam in?

Like a previous poster, I find your posting under "need a chemistry tutor" pretty cheeky. You appear to be on Mumnset just to promote how good a chemistry tutor you are.

I’m wondering what you’re on Mumsnet for, as you don’t seem to be contributing to the thread discussion.

All you've contributed is plug after plug for your tutoring business.

May I ask, politely, @Stillraining, what do you do?

I see John Swinney will address Holyrood today about the government’s plan for schools. Do you think they’ve finally realised how angry parents are about the ‘blended learning’?

I am on this thread as a parent of a High School pupil and have posted accordingly. Unlike you, with your very obvious advertising, which is against MN rules. Just look at your MN name, FGS, and you appear to be a brand new poster.

Quite a turnaround by John Swinney today. How are schools supposed to respond with two scenarios to plan for? Will parents be getting two timetables: one for full-time learning and the other for the ‘back up plan’?

I've been looking at the thread between "stillraining" and Needachemistrytutor , and I must say that rudeness should play no part in exchanges or thoughts on Mumsnet ; it needn't necessarily be the case that the person is into sell-promotion , no more than I am promoting art . Please keep it polite .

Seriously - you call yourself "needachemistrytutor", post for apparently the first time on Mumsnet, and go on at length on a schools thread discussing schools going part time about what a great chemistry tutor you are. But you're not self-promoting? Calling that "cheeky" was very restrained.

I'm new here and scrolling down and see " stillraining" having , I think , a rather rude presumptuous rant at "Needachemistrytutor" ; personally , if I was saying these things , I'd want to make sure that my statements were accurate , otherwise , keep your thoughts to yourself . I said previously that there should be no place in mumsnet for these comments , so , "stillraining" rein in your thoughts please .

No. Unlike "needachemistrytutor", I am not breaking any MN rules. Perhaps, as a complete newcomer, you shouldn't be ordering other members around? One of the things I most value about MN is that people aren't allowed to use it to try to make money out of other people. That's really important.

newcomer or not , I am experienced enough to see someone who has a very opinionated agenda : " ordering people about " making assumptions about " Needachemistrytutor" 's motives for being on mumsnet ; I'm not here to defend anyone , but your tone of accusation is without foundation : I don't see any attempt to " sell " anything , no more than I am " selling " art ( want to buy a " knock off Van Gogh ? . can I follow your lead in assumptions ? you were either very good at chemistry , or .............