Keyworker groups

VashtaNerada · 2021-01-04T21:31:01+00:00

Who’s teaching the keyworker children and does anyone have anything fun planned? I’ll be in every other week (primary). Tomorrow will be slightly improvised but would like to plan some fun stuff going forward.

PoloNeckKnickers · 04/01/2021 22:16

Won't they be doing the same work as their peers?

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 04/01/2021 23:48

Mine are being supported by a strong HLTA with support from another TA. They are a good team. They are going to play the videos on the big screen and support them in carrying out the work. I've linked loads of iplayer stuff for them to watch, they've got lots of football planned, board games etc.

Original poster

VashtaNerada · 05/01/2021 00:27

I think we’ll get through the work in the mornings @PoloNeckKnickers so thinking about ideas to do in the afternoons and maybe little games and things to split the day up a bit. At my school there’s lots of working parents so the work is really flexible to make it easier for them, not much live content at all.

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Subordinateclause · 05/01/2021 06:05

I did lots of painting with them last time. Easier in a smaller group and without having to fit it to a specific topic. I was quite shocked at how poor they were at knowing how to make secondary colours. They really enjoyed things like colour wheels. #artteachersofinstagram is also full of ideas as it has a lot of US primary art teachers who've been doing online learning since September so they post simple but effective ideas.

PoloNeckKnickers · 05/01/2021 06:25

@VashtaNerada

I think we’ll get through the work in the mornings *@PoloNeckKnickers* so thinking about ideas to do in the afternoons and maybe little games and things to split the day up a bit. At my school there’s lots of working parents so the work is really flexible to make it easier for them, not much live content at all.

I see your point! I agree with Subordinateclause - Art and more Art! Will you be able to do PE. How about yoga/mindfulness?

Original poster

VashtaNerada · 05/01/2021 06:26

Thanks, will see how today goes. Looking forward to meeting my new ‘class’!

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2ndMrsdeWinter · 05/01/2021 09:22

Mine (Secondary PRU) will be completing work online with my support. They need a normal routine.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 05/01/2021 12:01

Are your groups small? We have 20 of us still in one room, might as well just stay open really...

beckypv · 06/01/2021 17:23

Although I know that the kids love to be out doing pe, and as a teacher, it’s a great chance for the children to run off some energy, I think it’s really unfair that kids who are in school get to play football when no other children across the country are getting to do that at the moment because of the lock down rules. There is a lot of resentment in my area about the high numbers of children still in school.... and I think if they knew they were getting to play football with their friends then that would be another nail in the coffin to those struggling at home, isolated and doing home learning.

Original poster

VashtaNerada · 06/01/2021 18:25

@LumpySpacedPrincess We’re trying to make classes no bigger than fifteen. It’s definitely a lot more children than last time.
@beckypv I do feel sorry for children stuck at home but I think all we can do is to try to make sure the children at home have the best experience possible, and children at school have the best experience possible.

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Gentianpurple · 06/01/2021 18:28

We can have up to 22 in a room- and yes, we might as well have stayed open so they can be taught in person. They get the same input as the children at home though.

reefedsail · 06/01/2021 18:45

@beckypv

Although I know that the kids love to be out doing pe, and as a teacher, it’s a great chance for the children to run off some energy, I think it’s really unfair that kids who are in school get to play football when no other children across the country are getting to do that at the moment because of the lock down rules. There is a lot of resentment in my area about the high numbers of children still in school.... and I think if they knew they were getting to play football with their friends then that would be another nail in the coffin to those struggling at home, isolated and doing home learning.

I completely agree with this. What is the answer to it though? Should we prevent them from interacting with one another and try to do another job at the same time as teaching them to re-create the standard homeschool experience?

beckypv · 06/01/2021 19:17

Honestly, I don’t know the answer, and I absolutely wouldn’t want an extra work load to be given to teachers/support staff to create socially distant activities, like orienteering etc. .... but structured sports just seems a benefit too far. One of my sons was in year 6 last year and had the best experience in the summer term with extra pe, small classes etc. But that was available to all so felt ok and we weren’t at that point in full national lockdown. (Although I know for my other sons peer group who never got to go back to school, it was probably still irritating). It is different now, and we are meant to be staying at home to break the chain. So I think any activity that promotes mixing/ sharing of equipment shouldn’t happen. I know there will be contact as they play on the playground etc. But I don’t think the activities the school provide should promote it.

So I guess there are 2 sides to my point. Providing activities that are so far from what those at home are getting is harsh, and providing activities which promote interaction and therefore extra contact points, is not responsible whilst we are in full lockdown.

GetTheGoodLookingGuy · 06/01/2021 19:27

We've found over the last two days that we're struggling to get through the online work with the children in school. They've very chatty (Y6) and because it's all on topic we've been talking things through a lot. They're also getting used to the logistics of Google Classroom and uploading their work. The work we've set is as similar as possible to what we would be doing if schools were fully open - reading, writing, maths, spelling and a "topic" lesson everyday. I've suggested shorter lessons/less content on a Friday to give people a chance to catch up!

reefedsail · 07/01/2021 06:32

You've highlighted three things there that the children at home don't have:

a group of other children to talk to
a teacher or other adult who is not their parent to discuss content with
somebody who isn't trying to do any other job to help with tech

However good the online offer we make, it can't help but be better in school because of the social factors which just cannot be changed.

Parents know that too, hence the cross threads on here and the flood of people wanting school places.

Beachhuts90 · 09/01/2021 17:50

One thing I'd like to add is that it can be difficult to be in school when most of your class is at home. We are a 2 form entry and have a handful in each year group so are alternating which teacher is in doing kw kids and which is doing online learning. I was with kw kids this week. Many of the kids from the other class, who only know me from the playground (I am a TA), were very clingy. When kids are like this it is often because something is going on that is a lot for them to handle. Even if they seem okay, it is a lot for them too, and especially at their age (year 2) they would rather be at home with their families.