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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

What does home learning look like for you?

13 replies

booklover164 · 11/04/2020 09:59

Before the holidays, we printed and sent home booklets for the children to complete. This is not possible now so I wondered what home learning looks like in your school? Thanks

OP posts:
olivo · 11/04/2020 10:15

We are teaching lessons live online so they are 70% 'normal' just with fewer games and no pair/group tasks. At the school I work at, all students have a laptop so most are managing fine. The preparation takes much longer as does the marking, as I hate marking online!

Dds have been given series of tasks which was fine for a couple of weeks but motivation not sustainable without any feedback, especially for the younger one who will move school s this year.

I suppose it depends on the age of the students as well?

booklover164 · 11/04/2020 11:23

Thanks @olivo. Sounds intense! It's a large primary school with a high percentage of FSM. Hardly any have tried own computers and some are without internet. Teaching lessons on line isn't an option unfortunately.

OP posts:
FlamingGusset · 11/04/2020 18:00

I teach abroad and my school is famously technology averse... so it's been quite an uphill battle ! We were also one of the first countries to shut in Europe with very little warning, so there were practically no guidelines on what to do.

Most colleagues are doing the best they can with uploading written work every week to the online platform, but I've started to do video conference classes once per week. Our school is looking to transition to more teachers using video conference classes, but it's obviously very dependent on personal circumstances.

The government has endorsed an online video platform which is what I use. As I teach English as a second language, I try and get the kids to speak as much as possible during this time as it's a skill that's very difficult for them to practise properly on their own.

I try to vary my activities and I also ask for responses on the class forum on the learning platform. Nothing is very going replace the presence of a real teacher in class, but we have to the best as can given the situation! It is difficult to keep them motivated though...

PumpkinPie2016 · 12/04/2020 08:09

I teach secondary and we are uploading work onto our SharePoint system. For students who we know don't have access to the internet/a computer at home, we are delivering work packs.

I am teaching my Y12 group live through teams. It's a small group so it's working ok.

My son is in Y1 and his school sent home a pack of work when they were closing. Not sure what they will do after Easter. I have bought some CGP books that we are working through as well so at least he has that.

Matildathehun77 · 12/04/2020 08:44

Before Easter I was putting two lessons a day linked to the medium term plan onto the class website. Engagement was patchy to say the least bit has improved slightly with perseverance. After Easter I'd like to send a copy of the new MTP home, make things a little bit more formal (clear curriculum links rather than busy work) and teach at least 1 Zoom lesson a day. All this is a bit of a pipe dream really though unless parents are willing and able to engage in this war.

Matildathehun77 · 12/04/2020 08:44

Way not war, although it feels like one some days!!

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 12/04/2020 08:58

I teach in a very disadvantaged area too, 700 secondary school. We printed off work packs for students who needed it, they could collect them before school closed, parents could get them if they had been self iso when they were better or if that wasn't possible pastoral staff delivered them, allowing them to check on more vulnerable students. The same work was uploaded on to Google classroom. Teachers are expected to check in throughout the day to reply to student emails, give feedback on work handed in electronically and then the normal admin for this / next year.

For this half term the same was done again, we produced worksheets which were printed and uploaded them and knowledge organisers in place of the PowerPoint on Google classroom. A letter was sent out asking parents to contact us if they needed work delivered or if they were going to pick them up, or if work was being completed online. Work packs put on tables clearly labelled with year groups in reception and a member of staff handed them out. Only one parent in reception at a time. Children who couldn'tget the work packs and needed them had them delivered.
As a department we've each got responsibility for a particular year group to respond to, produce work for.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 12/04/2020 09:05

DDs school set a daily challenge.

15 minutes reading,
15 minutes times tables rockstar
Spelling activity.
Comprehension exercise with a section for extended writing.
Numeracy activity.

They also list a large number of workbooks and website for extra work, encourage students to send in pictures other activities they have been doing, baking, making rainbows, gardening etc.

The school were posting a letter home for parents once a day and also one written for the children which was quite a nice touch.

BeeBella · 14/04/2020 22:16

At my secondary SEN we posted work out before the holidays, like you, and now form tutors are emailing home extra work to parents. We don't expect much to be done.

At DS's primary they're using Purple Mash. It looks great. All work set on there and marked, lots of 'extra' tasks and stories being read on youtube etc.

NeurotrashWarrior · 15/04/2020 12:11

I think when the BBC has its content up and running this will make things much easier.

NeurotrashWarrior · 15/04/2020 12:11

From 20th April

SansaSnark · 15/04/2020 16:01

Secondary here- we are setting work via Show My Homework, which most students can access via smart phone. The aim is to set work that can be completed with a smart phone and pen + paper, and then submitted via SMHW or email. Students are able to email with questions or they can message us via SMHW. We're using apps such as Seneca to set tasks as well- again this can be completed on a smartphone.

We are considering getting live chat going with teams during classtime, but this would be difficult as children have very varying access to IT and we don't want to disadvantage our disadvantaged students more.

For students with no IT or poor internet access, the teachers in school on rota are printing workpacks which they can collect or the pastoral team can deliver.

lorisparkle · 15/04/2020 16:23

My own primary school ds has work emailed home. This is usually 5 pieces of English, 5 pieces of maths and then a variety of other activities related to the other areas of the curriculum. Families who can not access the internet/printer can collect work from school.

Ds1 and 2 who are secondary get all their work through the schools SMHW app and the online portal. They are meant to be carrying on with their normal timetable. Students who have not got access to the internet can collect work from school.

I teach in a special school. I send home general class activity ideas that the families can do at home with stuff they have around the home. This is sent through our normal class communication app, I also send individual English and maths activities for each child. The school also does story and music videos that anyone in school can access.

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