Drowning in a sea full of tiers

[Cismyfatarse]

Next thread. DD's birthday so can someone link.

What did he graduate in @ikswobel? It's been hard for anyone to get a start this year as it's difficult to take on new staff if everyone WAH or furloughed etc.

Hopefully companies are able to get their graduate programmes set back up again by the summer.

I actually think we've lucked out a lot despite some of the provision in Uni being a bit patchy. They've been able to do their exams and first year in Uni under normal circumstances. DS1 in year 3 of 5 and Ds2 in year 2 of 4 so mid uni and not yet having to worry about jobs.

DH and I both working and secure though I'm not enjoying my work at the moment. We are very lucky.

@WaxOnFeckOff politics...I think by the summer there will be jobs/ courses/ internships...just all on hold at the moment.

WaxOnFeckOff - I think even the shy ones at that age benefit from the interaction. I've 2 staff who are just finished their professional exams (which for us is the next step) and even an old bat like me found i was getting enthused about my profession again when I was doing study sessions with them

Fingers crossed @ikswobel

and yes @Tomorrowisanewday, he gets really anxious as well, I know he would be a great employee from a work point of view as he is clever and honest and reliable and hard working, i just hope someone can see beyond his demeanor and give him a chance.

Apparently teachers here only went into school yesterday so there’s still no plan.

Fucking brilliant.

I took on an almost graduate just before Christmas. Out of the half dozen I interviewed, he wasn't the most outgoing but he answered questions well. I went with gut instinct and so far, he's a great fit. Wants to learn anything I'll give him, cracking sense of humour and just fits with us. Which is really important in a small company like mine.

Your lad will get something that works for him - hard-working is no longer the dirty word that it seemed to have become

@WaxOnFeckOff I just have to hope they will be fine! It's the big lesson, they have studied so hard and yet the jobs aren't there for them.
It's so important that education is about personal fulfilment and motivation and not just for grades

@WouldBeGood teachers probably have been working non stop since Monday at least, definitely wouldn't worry! Most teachers do their prep work at home and not in school.

@ikswobel no, the teacher I know said they had just gone in yesterday to discuss what was happening.

Secondary school, this is

@Invisimamma

Lockdownbear, the threshold for social services intervention is far higher than that. Poor parenting yes, neglect, not quite.

My dp and mil were vaccinated yesterday 🎉 both nhs staff.

Good news on the DP and MIL front.

Oh well, not worth reported 'the friend' (me) I do feel rotten about it, older kid did actually make it out the door with pals for a short time. 4 yo is marginally better at home than he was as a 3 yo last year. He can work the telly this year - I think he mastered that while SI - sad but true!

That's me just finished for the night. Schools have been preparing for home learning for months. Teachers will do what is needed, most likely over the weekend too (like myself). Hopefully your fears are allayed on Monday.

@lockdownbear we all feel rotten about it, it's a terrible situation for all involved. Working, home school, childcare juggle is one of the toughest things I've faced. It's the relentless of it and knowing that you're doing things that just don't sit right (ignoring small kids, screen time, unlimited bribery biscuits). And I'm just a horrible version of myself trying to deal with it all, there's nothing left for 'fun mum' the tank is empty now.

The relentlessness and not knowing when its going to end. Maybe a realistic target 1st Feb is pie in the sky and we all know it.

Scot Gov need to come out with the plan for the future, catchup plan for those who struggled.

Interesting to read other kids are the same will only do what the teacher actually sets. Reluctant to do anything else.

My school is currently rejigging the timetable to make it into 3 blocks a day. This will be reduced subjects for junior classes but will make everything more streamlined and hopefully less stressful for all involved. Staff will be online and available all day but not necessarily live teaching all the time. Parents won't have the timetable yet as it is still being finalised.

I'm fortunate to be in a reasonable-sized dep't so we all have lead responsibility for creating resources for different year groups. Work will include some live lessons, narrated ppts, video links, Forms, Form quizzes, some worksheets and some assignments on Teams for detailed individual feedback. Any live teaching will be done to the whole gear group with other teachers answering questions.

Pupils will get feedback on every piece of work they do: sometimes that will be the score on the Form quiz (with a follow-up comment from the teacher if they have scored badly), sometimes it will be individual feedback, sometimes a narrated ppt or ppt explaining the answers, sometimes general comments on common errors.

It's not perfect but it will allow everyone to take part in something and does not require pupils to always be able to be on in real time to continue with their learning. I think that's fairer and takes more account of people's individual circumstances.

Feedback from pupils last time was that narrated ppts - where they could work at their own pace and at the time that suited their family circumstances- with the ability to message teachers on Teams with questions, was better than live lessons.

I know that none of this will be perfect and I'd MUCH rather be in school teaching but I know almost all teachers will be doing their best.

I absolutely share the anger and frustration around the exams and the expectation that we will just make it right. The debacle last year almost pushed me over the edge and I resent that some pupils will take it personally if their result is not what they perceive it should be from their known teacher rather than the anonymous SQA. I fear we will be left with another raft of people who feel that school has failed/slighted them, which I think is the root of much if the teacher-bashing that goes on here on MN. Just my opinion.

Email from the school this morning - normal timetable. Mixture of live classes, written work etc.

@neeko that sounds amazing. I'm exhausted just reading all you've managed to do in such a short space of time.

Rae36 - That's the plan. We haven't made it all yet! 😂

I can see from the threads already, that it's impossible to keep every parent happy with whatever is provided through home schooling.

I'm so glad DS is in senior school and they have pulled it out of the bag this time.

Mind you he was asking for some help on German word ordering which - despite ye ancient olde O level in it - was always a source of mystery to me , and if truth be told, I suspect most Germans as well. I had a stint as a 30 year old in Austria with work and used Google translate for my emails. Austrians are impeccably polite so it was only when I was leaving that they said they could never understand a word of my emails.

Sorry off topic, hope everyone's day goes ok. It's my non working day so going out for a walk with a friend whilst we still can.

I’m just grumpy as I want to know what is happening and had thought it was being planned before yesterday.

I blame the SG for this shitshow as they once again dumped teachers and schools in it at the last minute.

DS and I can’t really see the point of getting up really. Slipping into lockdown depression again. Must get a grip.

Enjoy your last walk, @rookiemere

Running pink, are you still reading along, how are you doing?

I'm just waiting on a friend joining me for a walk. It took me so long to de ice my car that I'm 35 minutes late 🤦🏻‍♀️

@WouldBeGood, I'm trying to just focus on one day at a time and not trying to plan ahead too much. I've booked a chippy slot for tonight as a treat, not good for the waistline but means no cooking and no dishes.

The small things become important, like clearing out a drawer or trying a new hand cream. The situation is bonkers and I just can't give it headroom all day every day anymore.

I have a fiend who is normally the most energetic and enthusiastic person I know. When the rest of talk about something like painting the hall, and it remains talked about rather than done, she will have it done that weekend, even she is losing motivation and energy, it must be bad.

Hope all those struggling make it through another day and give themselves a pat on the back or a small treat for doing so. It's hard folks.

@WaxOnFeckOff I need to do this. I’m normally pretty cheery but this last year is taking its toll.

I saw the thing on Twitter where you set yourself one thing to do each day, so at least a goal achieved, however small!