What would you like to see in Distance Learning FY21?

[Anonymous]

For the questions:

I have 23 students, I realize I'm on the lower end. I do actually have 25 but I had 2 families opt out of distance learning and they only wanted to pick up the packets I made and DCPS packets.

I have 6 groups which totals 4.5 hours per day. and then the 30 min whole group. So I teach 5 hours per day, however I do have a para who is very helpful and awesome!
And I find the time by working overtime (in terms of planning/creating new materials). This has not changed, as I did this even when we were in person, like many teachers.

*Also to the parents saying it's a lot, it definitely is. I just ask my parents to at least make 2 of the small group lessons per week, it's going to be hard to judge whether your child has retained and continues to grow new skills if I never see him/her to get data.

Most parents make 3-5 per week. and I'd say 40-90% of my class makes the whole group lesson on any given day.

The other materials are do at your own pace, they are things that help retain your child's skills during this time. I don't force parents to turn them in ASAP.



Also I modeled this after my friend who is a self-contained teacher, it is a bit more difficult with 23 kids vs. 10 however it's possible.
I also want to mention, I'm still young and although I'm newly married I have no kids yet. This expectation may not be realistic for all teachers. They might have to do 20 minutes small group a day and not 45 minutes.
I'm also a perfectionist and a little too obsessed with teaching lol.




-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think distance learning is garbage.

But if you're going to do it, do it all day, like the private schools do. None of this "well we met for an hour or two in the morning -- let's call it a day."

If you're going to do distance learning, do it for at least six hours per day. Make it come as close to a real day of school as humanly possible.

The private schools are doing distance learning basically all day long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think distance learning is garbage.

But if you're going to do it, do it all day, like the private schools do. None of this "well we met for an hour or two in the morning -- let's call it a day."

If you're going to do distance learning, do it for at least six hours per day. Make it come as close to a real day of school as humanly possible.

The private schools are doing distance learning basically all day long.

How are they managing gaming K-2 on zoom or whatever 6-7 hours a day?

[Anonymous]

I would really appreciate getting a week's work of work (at least for some subjects like math) at the beginning of the week. Our 1st grade teacher doesn't post the printables until 10 pm sometimes, and I really need to go to sleep so that I can wake up at 5 to do my teleworking before I have to start homeschooling.

Personally I'd be fine with more packets and less apps. The apps just lead to sibling jealousy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think distance learning is garbage.

But if you're going to do it, do it all day, like the private schools do. None of this "well we met for an hour or two in the morning -- let's call it a day."

If you're going to do distance learning, do it for at least six hours per day. Make it come as close to a real day of school as humanly possible.

The private schools are doing distance learning basically all day long.

How are they managing gaming K-2 on zoom or whatever 6-7 hours a day?

That should say having. I can barely get my k kid to do 1 or 2 thirty minute sessions a week. But because I have to work because it’s too long for him to sit on the computer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would really appreciate getting a week's work of work (at least for some subjects like math) at the beginning of the week. Our 1st grade teacher doesn't post the printables until 10 pm sometimes, and I really need to go to sleep so that I can wake up at 5 to do my teleworking before I have to start homeschooling.

Personally I'd be fine with more packets and less apps. The apps just lead to sibling jealousy.

More packets? The issue with packets is you need all families to have a printer and enough toner, and then what to do with all the completed pages of the packets? Would you like to mail them to the teacher or scan and upload them to an email? Unfortunately, packets are not going to be a realistic option. I think if parents feel their kids do better with paper and pencil, by all means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think distance learning is garbage.

But if you're going to do it, do it all day, like the private schools do. None of this "well we met for an hour or two in the morning -- let's call it a day."

If you're going to do distance learning, do it for at least six hours per day. Make it come as close to a real day of school as humanly possible.

The private schools are doing distance learning basically all day long.

How are they managing gaming K-2 on zoom or whatever 6-7 hours a day?

That should say having. I can barely get my k kid to do 1 or 2 thirty minute sessions a week. But because I have to work because it’s too long for him to sit on the computer.

I find it hard to believe that some students are online for 6-7 hours. That is ridiculous. It is not age appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would really appreciate getting a week's work of work (at least for some subjects like math) at the beginning of the week. Our 1st grade teacher doesn't post the printables until 10 pm sometimes, and I really need to go to sleep so that I can wake up at 5 to do my teleworking before I have to start homeschooling.

Personally I'd be fine with more packets and less apps. The apps just lead to sibling jealousy.

More packets? The issue with packets is you need all families to have a printer and enough toner, and then what to do with all the completed pages of the packets? Would you like to mail them to the teacher or scan and upload them to an email? Unfortunately, packets are not going to be a realistic option. I think if parents feel their kids do better with paper and pencil, by all means.

Some schools are printing them out and you can pick them up, have them mailed, or get them by pdf. The school is also a free meals site so it's pretty quick to get your meals and packet. Then you drop, mail, or email them back. I understand that apps like iReady allow them to gather data, and that's fine, but my K student just isn't great with a tablet and requires a ton of facilitation from me. If paper were an option, I would find it a lot more age-appropriate and convenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think distance learning is garbage.

But if you're going to do it, do it all day, like the private schools do. None of this "well we met for an hour or two in the morning -- let's call it a day."

If you're going to do distance learning, do it for at least six hours per day. Make it come as close to a real day of school as humanly possible.

You do realize that your child is only in the classroom 4 hours a day, right?
9-3, minus an hour for lunch/recess & 1 hour for specials. Then they lose easily half an hour to bathroom breaks.

I think you all are really over estimating how much actual learning happens during the day.

[Anonymous]

That seems like a lot of video time. I have an upcoming kindergartener and I would appreciate clarity on what they need to learn, milestones that should be hit, so I can tell if we are on track. Also some flexibility on what we attend as long as milestones are being hit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think distance learning is garbage.

But if you're going to do it, do it all day, like the private schools do. None of this "well we met for an hour or two in the morning -- let's call it a day."

If you're going to do distance learning, do it for at least six hours per day. Make it come as close to a real day of school as humanly possible.

You do realize that your child is only in the classroom 4 hours a day, right?
9-3, minus an hour for lunch/recess & 1 hour for specials. Then they lose easily half an hour to bathroom breaks.

I think you all are really over estimating how much actual learning happens during the day.

+1. An hour or two of instruction is what I want with optional activities. I don’t want to be wrangling by kid to sit and watch videos all day.

[Anonymous]

I wish parents would demand low of their specials teachers. I see the teachers at my school falling all over themselves because the music teacher sings a song 2 days a week. While demanding the 2nd grade teacher sit on zoom all damned day.

I’d give anything to teach PE right now. BEST JOB EVER

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lunch once a week with different kids so they can socialize

New teacher responding. No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think distance learning is garbage.

But if you're going to do it, do it all day, like the private schools do. None of this "well we met for an hour or two in the morning -- let's call it a day."

If you're going to do distance learning, do it for at least six hours per day. Make it come as close to a real day of school as humanly possible.

At least 6 hours a day for K/1? ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think distance learning is garbage.

But if you're going to do it, do it all day, like the private schools do. None of this "well we met for an hour or two in the morning -- let's call it a day."

If you're going to do distance learning, do it for at least six hours per day. Make it come as close to a real day of school as humanly possible.

The private schools are doing distance learning basically all day long.

For upper grades maybe but not for Kindergarten.