The Forty Second Republic - Lockdown 3 online learning struggles continue

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You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders, and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Do not give the staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

Place marking. Need to sleeeep.

January I am so sorry you're going through this but glad that you have managed to find a way to say goodbye. As if this pandemic isn't horrible enough its making us doubt every decision we make - its ok to make whatever decision you need to for you.

Please don't feel bad for bringing it to this thread, its another reminder of why its important to have support.

January I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. What a terribly sad time for you

for many more of you too.

I was musing recently about how the papers are usually full of "blue Monday" most depressing week of the year etc. This time of year can be hard for many anyway let alone all this heartache on top.

to all of you who are soldiering on with your classes along side challenges in your personal lives.
to january, wishing you and your brother peace and strength

Thanks for the x pen recommendations. Think I'm going to trust DH (this could end badly ) and try the bamboo. It's only £35 from argos and looks like it's compatable with all office docs (don't tell him I checked myself!!).

Will report back.

January sorry to hear about your brother. Sending and unmumsnety hugs.

Very glad to hear you have heating and hot water, Honey.

Crackle, don't go for the £35 tablet, the inking pad is only 6 x 4, size of a photo. I started off buying that one, but ended up buying the £55 one because you need a decent sized space to write. I managed to claim it on the department budget too.

You can write on pdfs, but open them in Microsoft Edge, not Acrobat. Then click on the "Draw" option at the top. This is how ds3 is doing all of his work and it saves so much faff.

... although his handwriting is so appalling that for English I've taken to snipping the sheet, copying it to PowerPoint, letting him type in text boxes, then saving it all as a pdf for uploading to homework platform!

Crackle, sorry, cross-posted. The £35 tablet I wrote about was the XP one.

@DreamingofBrie

Very glad to hear you have heating and hot water, Honey.

Crackle, don't go for the £35 tablet, the inking pad is only 6 x 4, size of a photo. I started off buying that one, but ended up buying the £55 one because you need a decent sized space to write. I managed to claim it on the department budget too.

You can write on pdfs, but open them in Microsoft Edge, not Acrobat. Then click on the "Draw" option at the top. This is how ds3 is doing all of his work and it saves so much faff.

... although his handwriting is so appalling that for English I've taken to snipping the sheet, copying it to PowerPoint, letting him type in text boxes, then saving it all as a pdf for uploading to homework platform!

Thanks for the tip 👍

Crackle, I just had a look at the £35 Bamboo. Writing area is only around 6" x 4", according to the questions answered. Based on that I'd recommend a larger tablet.

This is interesting!

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/17/lecturers-warn-they-will-strike-if-forced-to-resume-unsafe-teaching

My brother died in the early hours of this morning, quite peacefully in his sleep. Still taking it in, but don't think I feel bad for not seeing him. He had loving folk with him, including his lovely young keyworker who knew him before the dementia had taken hold. And I don't have to deal with grief plus two weeks of wondering if I'd got Covid and was passing it onto my DC/ possibly via them to their dad.

He hasn't been able to go to the funeral home who "looked after" (not keen on the terminology really) our DM as they're full.... but that's OK, pandemic and everything.

Found some v interesting research in the middle of the night, will post it later!

Thanks so much for the support everyone.

@JanuaryChill that is sad news, sorry.

I'm so sorry January I'm glad he went peacefully in the end.

January I am so very sorry for your loss. Big unmumsnet hugs to you and

@JanuaryChill

My brother died in the early hours of this morning, quite peacefully in his sleep. Still taking it in, but don't think I feel bad for not seeing him. He had loving folk with him, including his lovely young keyworker who knew him before the dementia had taken hold. And I don't have to deal with grief plus two weeks of wondering if I'd got Covid and was passing it onto my DC/ possibly via them to their dad.

He hasn't been able to go to the funeral home who "looked after" (not keen on the terminology really) our DM as they're full.... but that's OK, pandemic and everything.

Found some v interesting research in the middle of the night, will post it later!

Thanks so much for the support everyone.

I'm glad it was peaceful and hope all arrangements etc go well. Be kind to yourself especially in next few weeks.

I’m so sorry for your loss january glad it was peaceful for your brother

I’m so sorry January hopefully you can take some comfort in it being peaceful for him. And yes take time for yourself also

@JanuaryChill

My brother died in the early hours of this morning, quite peacefully in his sleep. Still taking it in, but don't think I feel bad for not seeing him. He had loving folk with him, including his lovely young keyworker who knew him before the dementia had taken hold. And I don't have to deal with grief plus two weeks of wondering if I'd got Covid and was passing it onto my DC/ possibly via them to their dad.

He hasn't been able to go to the funeral home who "looked after" (not keen on the terminology really) our DM as they're full.... but that's OK, pandemic and everything.

Found some v interesting research in the middle of the night, will post it later!

Thanks so much for the support everyone.

So sorry, @JanuaryChill-take it easy today xxx

, so sorry January. Take good care of yourself.

I also came on to post this - I don't know if it's been mentioned already. My school's LA asked education staff to get regular tests in November and I have been booking those in the usual way, however the govt website says they are no longer free to anyone whose school or employer has asked them to get a test.

The only way I can test, then, is a weekly semi-public LFT in the school hall. I gag and sneeze violently when I do them so I really object to that. There will be close contacts of a positive case having serial testing this week so really, I'm going to have to do it for the safety of my family.

January Sorry to hear your news

Look after yourself and take time away from school, don't be afraid to get signed off for a bit.

@JanuaryChill sorry to hear but glad it was peaceful - take care of yourself

There will be close contacts of a positive case having serial testing this week

I just can’t believe this is going to go ahead despite all the evidence. It is so wrong.

May he rest in peace. Take good care of yourself January.

I'm in school for 2 kw sessions tomorrow and finished before 2. Not looking forward to the pressure point of hod complaining when I don't go to the meeting she has called but I've checked with slt and my school hours and contractual terms remain the same and she can't except me to work in non contracted time anymore than she can be made to go to a meeting on a Sunday. Must stay strong 💪🏼

Today I really need to get a grip on the domestic front. Ds took the dog out for his early wee this morning and brought me coffee because he was after money for some PS4 game he and 4 mates have decided they will all buy and start from scratch together as their lockdown thing. Very luxurious to be brought coffee in bed as a single woman