DC just announced all virtual

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a middle school teacher who did live lessons in the spring. Overall, it was decent. I didn’t have to worry about the everyday behavior issues, which meant we could actually focus on the content itself. Some of my students who struggled to stay on task in person were able to blossom due to the lack of distraction. One on one tutoring session also worked really well. Overall, I’m excited about finding ways to have student collaboration this fall.

Thank you—that’s great to hear. My middle schooler just completed a summer math class run by his school, and it was very well-done. Three hours each day, 20+ kids in the class, one teacher. It’s possible to do this well.

Are you talking about the Deal SMAC program? I agree - that was super well-done and everyone talking about lazy teachers on here can shut up, because DC’s teacher was teaching three-plus hours, and then doing office hours and study sessions for another hour or two AND grading the daily assignments, tests, and retakes. She was doing at least 8 hours and day and the kids loved her.

[Anonymous]

Why was this announcement today and not tomorrow as scheduled? DC can't even stick to the press conference schedule.

If this was a public health decision, why are private schools allowed to operate in person?

[Anonymous]

2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

Can your child sit on the computer activity participating for more than 2 hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Excellent!

The Hybrid was going to be a mess. Teachers would get sick, no subs, half-assessed or no learning on the home days, etc.

Are you a teacher? If so, did you teach live lessons? I don't know any teachers that were teaching live in the spring that want to go back to that - it was a horrible experience. Not until today did I consider applying for leave, this changes my outlook about going back to school completely.

Wait, so there's a whole host of teachers who want to quit based on DL? On what grounds could you apply for leave?

In my teaching community I do not know one person who taught live lessons in the spring that wasn't holding onto their sanity by the time May 29th rolled around and couldn't wait for it to be over. It is thankless, frustrating and emotionally draining. I would guess the majority of teachers were not doing live lessons.

Any other teachers around that can speak favorably about live learning? I need some hope.

It seemed draining to the teachers but also to the students. How do I opt out of virtual learning? DC is way ahead and we'd rather do reading, math, Spanish, PE, writing at home and then turn it in. We do not want to leave DCPS. Sitting on Zoom taught DC nothing (was in K). Might be different this time around but I doubt.
Our teacher did let us do the bare minimum and I'm thankful for that. DC did not understand or care that Zoom is school.

Can’t opt out unless you move to somewhere doing in person or your child is in PS/PK.
Legally this is still school, your child will be held accountable (as will the teacher).

Enroll in homeschool, unenroll at your regular school.

https://osse.dc.gov/service/dc-homeschooling-program

noooooooooo please don't do this! Your school is counting on funding from enrolled students. People unenrolling are going to permamently harm their kids' schools. Talk to the principal/teacher. Find a way to make it work.

No offense, but caring about your child's education should be #1. If unenrolling them is what's needed, so be it.

No offense taken, if there were actually a conflict I might agree with you. But putting your kid before neighborhood schools is unnecessary. Stay enrolled. Work with the school. If you have to unenroll, cross that bridge when you have to, but don't kill public education for no reason. And don't forget, this is for the benefit of your own kid. Having a well funded, diverse school for your kid to return to in 6 or 9 or 12 months is in your own interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

Can your child sit on the computer activity participating for more than 2 hours?

Spread out during the 7-hour school day -- yes. Gosh I hope they aren't planning on doing the 2 hours in a row! That would be an epic fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

Why are you equating two hours of live elementary school learning with an adult’s full time job? They are children and two hours live is plenty. If you were instead talking about the teachers only working two hours you are very misguided. Teachers plan, grade and communicate about 3 times as many hours as they spend providing direct instruction. I don’t pretend to be an expert on anyone else’s job and what it entails so why do some people think they understand what teachers do? It is a VERY demanding and complex job. To do it well takes much training, preparation, experience, skill and talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

our kids will be on for 2 hours but not as a whole 26 student class. Teachers are going to have to break the class into groups of three - so 6 hours Of live instruction for them. Be kind to teachers, they will be teaching more than they ever have in their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

You do realize that the 2 hours of live instruction is for YOUR child. After their 2 hours are up the teacher will then move on to work with another group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why was this announcement today and not tomorrow as scheduled? DC can't even stick to the press conference schedule.

If this was a public health decision, why are private schools allowed to operate in person?

So far I don't know of any DC private school that has been able to say they have actual approved plans to open. I do know several parents have said the they have been told their DC private school will be starting virtual for sure, even really small schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

our kids will be on for 2 hours but not as a whole 26 student class. Teachers are going to have to break the class into groups of three - so 6 hours Of live instruction for them. Be kind to teachers, they will be teaching more than they ever have in their lives.

You had me til that snarky bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

our kids will be on for 2 hours but not as a whole 26 student class. Teachers are going to have to break the class into groups of three - so 6 hours Of live instruction for them. Be kind to teachers, they will be teaching more than they ever have in their lives.

You had me til that snarky bit.

I don't think that was snarky. Instead of being able to teach one thing for an hour, they now will have to teach that one thing three times, but will still need to grade work, prep etc. So yes, they are going to be doing significantly more work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why was this announcement today and not tomorrow as scheduled? DC can't even stick to the press conference schedule.

If this was a public health decision, why are private schools allowed to operate in person?

She framed it as not a public health decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Excellent!

The Hybrid was going to be a mess. Teachers would get sick, no subs, half-assessed or no learning on the home days, etc.

Are you a teacher? If so, did you teach live lessons? I don't know any teachers that were teaching live in the spring that want to go back to that - it was a horrible experience. Not until today did I consider applying for leave, this changes my outlook about going back to school completely.

Wait, so there's a whole host of teachers who want to quit based on DL? On what grounds could you apply for leave?

In my teaching community I do not know one person who taught live lessons in the spring that wasn't holding onto their sanity by the time May 29th rolled around and couldn't wait for it to be over. It is thankless, frustrating and emotionally draining. I would guess the majority of teachers were not doing live lessons.

Any other teachers around that can speak favorably about live learning? I need some hope.

It seemed draining to the teachers but also to the students. How do I opt out of virtual learning? DC is way ahead and we'd rather do reading, math, Spanish, PE, writing at home and then turn it in. We do not want to leave DCPS. Sitting on Zoom taught DC nothing (was in K). Might be different this time around but I doubt.
Our teacher did let us do the bare minimum and I'm thankful for that. DC did not understand or care that Zoom is school.

Can’t opt out unless you move to somewhere doing in person or your child is in PS/PK.
Legally this is still school, your child will be held accountable (as will the teacher).

Enroll in homeschool, unenroll at your regular school.

https://osse.dc.gov/service/dc-homeschooling-program

noooooooooo please don't do this! Your school is counting on funding from enrolled students. People unenrolling are going to permamently harm their kids' schools. Talk to the principal/teacher. Find a way to make it work.

No offense, but caring about your child's education should be #1. If unenrolling them is what's needed, so be it.

No offense taken, if there were actually a conflict I might agree with you. But putting your kid before neighborhood schools is unnecessary. Stay enrolled. Work with the school. If you have to unenroll, cross that bridge when you have to, but don't kill public education for no reason. And don't forget, this is for the benefit of your own kid. Having a well funded, diverse school for your kid to return to in 6 or 9 or 12 months is in your own interest.

If I have to manage the children all day, it might as well be on a home school program that lets them move at a pace of learning that works well for them. Helps also that I can set the deadlines, order of topics, etc. After we all do DL and "work from home" for the next year, there won't be school or work like it was pre-covid. We are all on a new path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 hours of live instruction is BS. I would love to tell my boss that I can only work for 2 hours a day and see how that goes.

You do realize that the 2 hours of live instruction is for YOUR child. After their 2 hours are up the teacher will then move on to work with another group.

I know right? Silly people, your child isn’t the only one.

Teachers will have about 4-6.5 hours of instruction to do altogether in front of a tiny computer.
Believe me when I say that’d I’d rather just teach in person. My eyes and mental health are going to go down. I just pray my students/families and I can get through this together.