Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

wirelessdude01

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

You're the exception not the rule. Teachers like you do exist in this pandemic its just finding then is like a needle in a haystack. L Safety this and safety that is a total excuse not to go back when the deaths are non existent amongst the age groups being discussed.

It still does not change the time and interaction often given is again non existent. I am doing HOMEWORK with my children that is all. There is no teaching.

What ages and classes are they in?

Tell us what you in an ideal remote teaching world want? Structure the day from 9am to 2:30pm and we'll tell whether it is possible and/or feasible.

History Queen

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

You're the exception not the rule. Teachers like you do exist in this pandemic its just finding then is like a needle in a haystack. L Safety this and safety that is a total excuse not to go back when the deaths are non existent amongst the age groups being discussed.

It still does not change the time and interaction often given is again non existent. I am doing HOMEWORK with my children that is all. There is no teaching.

It's non existent or you are getting homework levels of work every day and two zooms a week? Which is it?

What do you think should be happening?

I'm not going to tackle the fact that you think this is about deaths. Or the fact that you apparently know what every teacher is doing and how effective it is.

mirrorwall14

Millem wrote: »

It’s a tough situation. What age are your kids? If they are young I am guessing you would need to be bedside them anyway with zoom etc?

My son’s teacher puts up videos on each piece of work on seasaw. As a teacher I know how long a 5 minute video takes to make!!! (Ages!!!) He is in senior infants and would get distracted if I let him sit there by himself. I have to be beside him anyway. He gets loads of work. It takes hours!! I give him a break after each piece and then he wants snacks/drinks.
Zoom once a week which lasts an hour and it is torture for me here with 3 kids. At one stage I had to breastfeed the baby then the younger boy arrives in with no pants on because he wet himself!!!

I actually preferred the last lockdown when the teacher just put up a list of work.
Chalk and talk with me! I loathe Aistear

I am a secondary school teacher and my colleagues are teaching through teams. The feedback from parents is that it is very intense and they want the lessons shortened.

I’m with you on aistear. I could never ever have been a primary teacher!! I’ve had to contact our teacher twice already since this one started to say we will do the best we can but we’re over run with work. We were the last time too. Childminder is doing a bit with him thankfully which is making it all a bit easier this time around

Have to say though, as the mum of a 2 year old and a just turned 6 year old, the difference in concentration level between this year and last year is stark. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still senior infants so he is incredibly slow but he’s so much better than last time. And the 2 year old can actually play properly for more than 30seconds so it’s all a little easier

sReq | uTeK

helpful wrote: »

Probably lazy parenting. Cut their child benefit they’re not working hard enough I say

Haha, lazy parenting. Right now I am sitting with my 6 year old doing her homework since 11am after also doing my 8 year olds sons curriculum during the week whilst working myself. In between that lm doing night feeds for my 4month at 2-3am for a couple of hours a night but ye, totally lazy.

Beasty

sReq | uTeK quit the generalisations about teachers and their approach/attitude to teaching

Whatever your personal experiences you are in no position to judge all teachers. Try it again and You will be as a minimum threadbanned

km79

Well would you look at that
On the Internet
On one of the links provided earlier

The questions every parent has about the reopening of schools - but the Department of Education won’t answer

https://www.independent.ie/news/the-questions-every-parent-has-about-the-reopening-of-schools-but-the-department-of-education-wont-answer-40030136.html

sReq | uTeK

History Queen wrote: »

It's non existent or you are getting homework levels of work every day and two zooms a week? Which is it?

What do you think should be happening?

I'm not going to tackle the fact that you think this is about deaths. Or the fact that you apparently know what every teacher is doing and how effective it is.

I'll break it down for you. Teaching is not handing out Irish, English and Math. HOMEWORK is not teaching its the same they would get AFTER a day of teaching where they LEARN the concepts allowing them to complete their homework.

Teachers are correcting homework, at least they are in my children's school. But as for explaining and taking the time to discuss and introduce the concepts around the new homework thats not forthcoming.

wirelessdude01

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

I'll break it down for you. Teaching is not handing out Irish, English and Math. HOMEWORK is not teaching its the same they would get AFTER a day of teaching where they LEARN the concepts allowing them to complete their homework.

Teachers are correcting homework, at least they are in my children's school. But as for explaining and taking the time to discuss and introduce the concepts around the new homework thats not forthcoming.

What ages and what concepts?

Have you enquired of the teacher why it isn't happening?

History Queen

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

I'll break it down for you. Teaching is not handing out Irish, English and Math. HOMEWORK is not teaching its the same they would get AFTER a day of teaching where they LEARN the concepts allowing them to complete their homework.

Teachers are correcting homework, at least they are in my children's school. But as for explaining and taking the time to discuss and introduce the concepts around the new homework thats not forthcoming.

Capital letters don't make your point clearer. Teaching does involve assigning work. Have you heard of discovery learning? Very useful methodology but not in isolation obviously. Have to say I can't take your assertions seriously because of contradictions and sweeping statements but again, if you aren't happy contact the school directly and outline your concerns.

Millem

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

I’m with you on aistear. I could never ever have been a primary teacher!! I’ve had to contact our teacher twice already since this one started to say we will do the best we can but we’re over run with work. We were the last time too. Childminder is doing a bit with him thankfully which is making it all a bit easier this time around

Have to say though, as the mum of a 2 year old and a just turned 6 year old, the difference in concentration level between this year and last year is stark. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still senior infants so he is incredibly slow but he’s so much better than last time. And the 2 year old can actually play properly for more than 30seconds so it’s all a little easier

My 3 year old is ignored God love him. Some days I feel he is banished to the playroom while I spend hours at the homeschooling. I could send him to his Montesorri but have chosen not to. He has asthma. When I heard the ECCE has stopped till the 8th March I went out and bought more play dough so have him at the table doing puzzles/play dough/colouring.

It’s tough for everyone
I wouldn’t be happy to send either son back to school at present.

Random sample

Locotastic wrote: »

They started back testing them yesterday.

Plenty of close contacts have been tested over the past few weeks but officially all contacts being tested again as of yesterday.

So we will see the effects of this in the coming days and hopefully get some sort of a plan for the DES to get us back to school.

Has anyone had a reply from Norma about all of this? My local tds are good to reply to concerns raised, but I’ve had nothing from her except a generic reply from her secretary to say he would show it to her.

mirrorwall14

Millem wrote: »

My 3 year old is ignored God love him. Some days I feel he is banished to the playroom while I spend hours at the homeschooling. I could send him to his Montesorri but have chosen not to. He has asthma. When I heard the ECCE has stopped till the 8th March I went out and bought more play dough so have him at the table doing puzzles/play dough/colouring.

It’s tough for everyone
I wouldn’t be happy to send either son back to school at present.

I hear you. We switched to childminder in august after the mess that was trying to teach from home during the first lockdown in the hope it would be allowed to continue and that by it being far smaller numbers would be safer. Essentially we are bubbled with her and one other household (the other child at the childminders). Not sure Id be comfortable at creche myself either tbh

Actually one thing that might be helpful would be suggestions as to things that have worked for entertaining the younger age groups.

I picked up a big bag of that old school air drying clay online and they’ve been making things every few days and loving it. Add in the metallic paint set and they are having great craic. So far a multitude of pots and the latest is a sword. Stick on a YouTube video and let him off. The two year old just mashes it lol

I also picked up some márla because it doesn’t dry up like play dough and it’s much harder so good for hand strength

Lego and knex are our saving grace for time

Bananaleaf

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

Haha, lazy parenting. Right now I am sitting with my 6 year old doing her homework since 11am after also doing my 8 year olds sons curriculum during the week whilst working myself. In between that lm doing night feeds for my 4month at 2-3am for a couple of hours a night but ye, totally lazy.

Honestly though, have you said this to the principal of the school? Granted it shouldn't have to be said but what school/teacher/principal could live with themselves knowing the above and not acting on it. Even if your child's teacher is doing their best, there has to be someone in that school who can step in to provide you with some additional help.

I have added 3hrs and 10mins to my working week since lockdown providing additional support. Some of that time is checking in with students in my school who might be struggling to do or engage in online learning or maybe their teachers can't provide lives but the student can't learn from pre-recorded so they have a session with me explaining things and providing explanations. I'm not telling you this to be thanked for it, I'm telling you because there HAS to be someone in your school also willing or able to do this, even if your child's teacher can't.

The SEN teams in schools work so hard and we are mostly doing our roles unpaid, so it is for the love and dedication of it. Your child doesn't have to have a diagnosed need to avail of this support. The model has changed and once they are struggling, additional support is open to them (subject to allocation/availability) If you reach out to them I would be amazed if they don't get back to you.

sReq | uTeK

History Queen wrote: »

Capital letters don't make your point clearer. Teaching does involve assigning work. Have you heard of discovery learning? Very useful methodology but not in isolation obviously. Have to say I can't take your assertions seriously because of contradictions and sweeping statements but again, if you aren't happy contact the school directly and outline your concerns.

Ha, discovery learning for 6 and 8 year olds....jesus I've heard it all.

Are you honestly telling me that the daily workload assigned which replicates the homework they would get after a normal day at school constitutes teaching? Is this really the stance been taken.

As for capitals, it's an easy way to illustrate a point without tone or the need to bold,been used for decades on forums.

As for sweeping contradictions, I'd like you to highlight these. I've said teachers are issuing and correcting work. I've always said the teaching side and understanding the concepts is not forthcoming and left to the parents.

Teachers have the ability and the means to sit in Zoom and present to the class via PPT but that would actually involve doing some work.

But yes, keep harping on about safety and not getting back when the statistics released by the CSO clearly illustrate the risk is non existent within the classroom.

sReq | uTeK

History Queen wrote: »

It's non existent or you are getting homework levels of work every day and two zooms a week? Which is it?

What do you think should be happening?

I'm not going to tackle the fact that you think this is about deaths. Or the fact that you apparently know what every teacher is doing and how effective it is.

It is actually shocking that if you're a teacher you believe that issuing homework without context and concepts explained, which is left to the parents constitutes teaching.

wirelessdude01

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

Ha, discovery learning for 6 and 8 year olds....jesus I've heard it all.

Are you honestly telling me that the daily workload assigned which replicates the homework they would get after a normal day at school constitutes teaching? Is this really the stance been taken.

As for capitals, it's an easy way to illustrate a point without tone or the need to bold,been used for decades on forums.

As for sweeping contradictions, I'd like you to highlight these. I've said teachers are issuing and correcting work. I've always said the teaching side and understanding the concepts is not forthcoming and left to the parents.

Teachers have the ability and the means to sit in Zoom and present to the class via PPT but that would actually involve doing some work.

But yes, keep harping on about safety and not getting back when the statistics released by the CSO clearly illustrate the risk is non existent within the classroom.

Last time I'll ask. If you don't reply then it's clear to all that you are just spoiling for an argument.

Outline in an ideal remote T&L world what structure you would like to see from your children's teachers.

And your point about not making sweeping statements is negated by some of what you said above.

Cluedo Monopoly

History Queen wrote: »

If your child is not getting what they should be, complain to the school. Teachers won't defend lazy colleagues. There is a document outlining what should be happening. I think it is called Guide to Remote learning.

Being completely honest I would be afraid of the repercussions for my child if I complained. A few of us complained about the primary school teacher last year alright.

Cluedo Monopoly

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I'm gonna assume that you have had a quiet word with the relevant teachers to ascertain why this is occurring? That is your first step.

I know a few of my parents have had a quiet word with me to either reduce work on a particular day for their child(just a case of unticking them from the schedule) or to say that their child is getting slack and that a word regarding same on zoom will give them the kick that they need.

Teachers generally like to be made aware of things. If they choose to ignore your concerns then contact the principal to raise your concerns in a constructive manner.

See my response above. Some teachers and indeed principals do not take constructive criticism well at all. Especially the older ones. For the secondary school I did contemplate creating an anonymous email account and letting the principal know. If it goes on much longer, I probably will.

Bananaleaf

Cluedo Monopoly wrote: »

Being completely honest I would be afraid of the repercussions for my child if I complained. A few of us complained about the primary school teacher last year alright.

While that shouldn't be an issue I understand that it could be, depending on the teacher. It might sound extreme, but you may be able to go anonymously through BOM, PA or even a written letter to the principal.

Totally understand what some will think about going to the teacher and giving them the opportunity to address the issue themselves, but if the letter is worded appropriately it shouldn't matter that it is going to the principal and if the teacher is genuinely doing their best under the circumstances then there should be no issue.

Edited to say that I see you addressed this in the reply above. Anything I can do at second level re: English and MFL, gimme a PM

sReq | uTeK

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Last time I'll ask. If you don't reply then it's clear to all that you are just spoiling for an argument.

Outline in an ideal remote T&L world what structure you would like to see from your children's teachers.

And your point about not making sweeping statements is negated by some of what you said above.

I would like to see the teachers teach the class its that simple. Is it really that hard to present over zoom,english math and Irish? Core subjects, and then issue the work/homework allowing the children to have knowledge of the concepts rather than letting that part fall on the parents?

wirelessdude01

Cluedo Monopoly wrote: »

Being completely honest I would be afraid of the repercussions for my child if I complained. A few of us complained about the primary school teacher last year alright.

And what dear god were the repercussions for all of those children?

Cluedo Monopoly

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

And what dear god were the repercussions for all of those children?

I have no idea if things improved. That daughter moved to secondary. I believe the teacher in question is now back teaching 3rd class. I hope they get more than 3 emails in 3 months. You're quite an aggressive littler poster yourself. I bet you welcome constructive criticism.

Cluedo Monopoly

Bananaleaf wrote: »

While that shouldn't be an issue I understand that it could be, depending on the teacher. It might sound extreme, but you may be able to go anonymously through BOM, PA or even a written letter to the principal.

Totally understand what some will think about going to the teacher and giving them the opportunity to address the issue themselves, but if the letter is worded appropriately it shouldn't matter that it is going to the principal and if the teacher is genuinely doing their best under the circumstances then there should be no issue.

Edited to say that I see you addressed this in the reply above. Anything I can do at second level re: English and MFL, gimme a PM

Thank you, appreciated.

wirelessdude01

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

I would like to see the teachers teach the class its that simple. Is it really that hard to present over zoom,english math and Irish? Core subjects, and then issue the work/homework allowing the children to have knowledge of the concepts rather than letting that part fall on the parents?

So how long would you like the zoom sessions to be? How do you facilitate those that cannot for whatever reason cannot make it onto the zoom calls?

I'm asking this as a teacher who does a mix of live and recorded but the live only works because 27 out of 28 kids are on pretty much every single time. The one kid who cannot ever make it on, I've spoke to the mam and she has no issue with me banging on with the work but her child is missing out. Even if we get back after midterm that child has missed out of a serious amount of progress.

wirelessdude01

Cluedo Monopoly wrote: »

I have no idea if things improved. That daughter moved to secondary. I believe the teacher in question is now back teaching 3rd class. I hope they get more than 3 emails in 3 months. You're quite an aggressive littler poster yourself. I bet you welcome constructive criticism.

So essentially you are making assumptions about teachers and principals.

Nothing aggressive about anything I've said. I just hate sweeping generalisations which is what you are typing.

You've been advised due to what you have described to contact the teacher and/or principal. Your response is absolute rubbish about 'repercussions' but no evidence of any. Just contact the school and raise your concerns.

With regards to constructive criticism, I like most teachers, welcome it, hence why I have weekly surveys with my parents. Stuff changes week to week based on what is and isn't working, same as 'real' school.

helpful

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

I would like to see the teachers teach the class its that simple. Is it really that hard to present over zoom,english math and Irish? Core subjects, and then issue the work/homework allowing the children to have knowledge of the concepts rather than letting that part fall on the parents?

This would work well in your house obviously but for many it won’t. I zoom my class but more for the social aspect of it and when they’re not the ones talking they’re wandering around the house or getting distracted by the things in their room. On top of that many have siblings who will also be using the laptops and tablets at the same time and many parents working from home means they can’t monitor their children on the call.

Basically what I’m saying is that just because something would work for you doesn’t mean it would work in everyone else’s house. In our school we’re doing our best by the children and their families and I’m sure every teacher is doing their best considering their circumstances.

As has been suggested maybe you should contact the school in question maybe the teacher is teaching their child and feeding their new baby or caring for an elderly relative

sReq | uTeK

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

So how long would you like the zoom sessions to be? How do you facilitate those that cannot for whatever reason cannot make it onto the zoom calls?

I'm asking this as a teacher who does a mix of live and recorded but the live only works because 27 out of 28 kids are on pretty much every single time. The one kid who cannot ever make it on, I've spoke to the mam and she has no issue with me banging on with the work but her child is missing out. Even if we get back after midterm that child has missed out of a serious amount of progress.

I would expect the zoom calle to last in accordance with how the concepts for the work being distributed require. If its verbs and that takes 10 minutes so be it, if its multiplication and tha takes 15 mins so he it. So the majority should suffer because of the minority. If the children dont show up that's on the parents just like it is when parents dont send their kids to school.

History Queen

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

It is actually shocking that if you're a teacher you believe that issuing homework without context and concepts explained, which is left to the parents constitutes teaching.

That's not what I said. It's shocking that you misconstrue so much.

wirelessdude01

History Queen wrote: »

That's not what I said. It's shocking that you misconstrue so much.

Suits the narrative of teachers doing nothing.

Stateofyou

Cluedo Monopoly wrote: »

Being completely honest I would be afraid of the repercussions for my child if I complained. A few of us complained about the primary school teacher last year alright.

What repercussions would those be?