Struggling with PK-3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find these posts interesting. My child is in self contained PK and she’s not even 3 yet (late sept) but her teacher is so great.

My child is able to do 1 hour live a day so far because her lessons are really fun and engaging, sometimes it seems like my child is literally playing a customized game.

The teacher is also great at reading when kids are getting antsy and plays some funny kids song that helps the kids.

Is it always perfect, of course not but it’s more than I could have ever hoped for. And I still pray we have in person soon because if she’s this good online I know she’s even better in the classroom.

I’ve learned so much already just by watching her and getting coached by her. She also sent home these cool home materials she calls ‘task boxes’ my kids all want to do them not just my littlest one.


Just ask the teacher for what you need if your kids absolutely won’t sit, do not stress yourself out.

As a self contained mom & send contained teacher I can tell you the reason it’s working is that you have realistic expectations. You likely also have a great teacher. Expectations are what is killing DL.

Please. Sends home customized boxes? Custom game-like class? This is not what the rest of us are getting outside “self contained”. Special ed probably far fewer students and much more leeway. Also sped teacher probably used to having to go way over and above to engage kids. This isn’t a matter of realistic expectation.

[Anonymous]

It’s your expectations. Trust me.
And now, try again. Most gen edu preschool teachers are averaging about 50% enrollment/attendance. That’s a self contained class.
As SN parents we are use to being responsible for our Students. We don’t ever get to expect someone else to do that job for us.
You can make a task box with about $5 a trip to the dollar tree. You’d still complain.
I’ve said since the start that SN parents of kids with severe disabilities are doing the best in this situation. We aren’t use to someone else covering our child from 8am-6pm.
Oh-& everyone is going better than the white mom. You all usually buy/bully your way out of hardship. And this time- you kind of can’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s your expectations. Trust me.
And now, try again. Most gen edu preschool teachers are averaging about 50% enrollment/attendance. That’s a self contained class.
As SN parents we are use to being responsible for our Students. We don’t ever get to expect someone else to do that job for us.
You can make a task box with about $5 a trip to the dollar tree. You’d still complain.
I’ve said since the start that SN parents of kids with severe disabilities are doing the best in this situation. We aren’t use to someone else covering our child from 8am-6pm.
Oh-& everyone is going better than the white mom. You all usually buy/bully your way out of hardship. And this time- you kind of can’t. [/quote

Harsh, but true. Except for the notion that parents of neurotypical kids are somehow not responsible for their kids.

[Anonymous]

My kid screams, throws things, cries and exits Zoom. I can't keep doing this every day. I'm seriously considering unenrolling and sending her to daycare.

[Anonymous]

Do you *need* to do zoom? Probably not. Ask your school about what's needed for attendance. It might be just snapping a picture or watching a video

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid screams, throws things, cries and exits Zoom. I can't keep doing this every day. I'm seriously considering unenrolling and sending her to daycare.

Do it, I wouldn’t have to think twice about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you *need* to do zoom? Probably not. Ask your school about what's needed for attendance. It might be just snapping a picture or watching a video

PK (Charter and DCPS) is not required to do anything. Not required to attend virtual classes, not required to log into Canvas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you *need* to do zoom? Probably not. Ask your school about what's needed for attendance. It might be just snapping a picture or watching a video

PK (Charter and DCPS) is not required to do anything. Not required to attend virtual classes, not required to log into Canvas.

No idea if this is true for charters (each of whom make their own rules) but that is also my read of the DCPS published guidance. This would be a great year to have lotteried into SWS or some other school where people are turning down spots, blow off PK3 or PK4 while keeping your spot warm for when we return in person.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, my kid also hates this and I am really worried he is going to hate school. I talked to his teacher and we are only doing what he will tolerate. We show up, we try and skip what isn't working. It may come down to us just doing morning meeting, if that. I think my son will love school when they are back in the classroom. But this is awful (despite our teacher's best efforts).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you *need* to do zoom? Probably not. Ask your school about what's needed for attendance. It might be just snapping a picture or watching a video

PK (Charter and DCPS) is not required to do anything. Not required to attend virtual classes, not required to log into Canvas.

No idea if this is true for charters (each of whom make their own rules) but that is also my read of the DCPS published guidance. This would be a great year to have lotteried into SWS or some other school where people are turning down spots, blow off PK3 or PK4 while keeping your spot warm for when we return in person.

It is all of OSSE.

[Anonymous]

I hear you- virtual prek is really difficult. I would manage your expectations- maybe if you just do one session a day your child will be more engaged? For my kids, our goal is to do the small group session daily. And if they want to do more, great. But we aren’t forcing anything- otherwise they will hate school.

FWIW my 3 year old has happily attended 3 sessions a day for the past week but she has not been super engaged/focused. The teachers are amazingly patient and I’m happy with that for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you *need* to do zoom? Probably not. Ask your school about what's needed for attendance. It might be just snapping a picture or watching a video

PK (Charter and DCPS) is not required to do anything. Not required to attend virtual classes, not required to log into Canvas.

No idea if this is true for charters (each of whom make their own rules) but that is also my read of the DCPS published guidance. This would be a great year to have lotteried into SWS or some other school where people are turning down spots, blow off PK3 or PK4 while keeping your spot warm for when we return in person.

It is all of OSSE.

Disinformation here- OSSE set the minimum required but charters can make stricter rules on top of that. Participation in virtual learning (or in person learning in a typical year) is not mandated by law- but if you don’t participate at all your space can be taken away. Now whether or not schools will do that, I’m not sure, but mandatory legally (like K+ is legally mandated) and what will save you a spot in the school are not the same thing.

[Anonymous]

We are concerned that distance learning is teaching our three-year old to hate school. Three year olds should be in school, in person. It makes no sense to keep them out. They are not the problem when it comes to coronavirus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s your expectations. Trust me.
And now, try again. Most gen edu preschool teachers are averaging about 50% enrollment/attendance. That’s a self contained class.
As SN parents we are use to being responsible for our Students. We don’t ever get to expect someone else to do that job for us.
You can make a task box with about $5 a trip to the dollar tree. You’d still complain.
I’ve said since the start that SN parents of kids with severe disabilities are doing the best in this situation. We aren’t use to someone else covering our child from 8am-6pm.
Oh-& everyone is going better than the white mom. You all usually buy/bully your way out of hardship. And this time- you kind of can’t. [/quote

Harsh, but true. Except for the notion that parents of neurotypical kids are somehow not responsible for their kids.

What I meant to say is that for SN there is no ‘village’. No swapping play dates, no aftercare, no random college kid to babysit.
I associate NT with a village & SN as an island.
I’d also say- our Kids are always socially excluded and not involved in things (see sad moms posting about kids not in pods).this is not new to us.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else think it’s truly absurd that tax money is being spent on something that not only parents find to be completely useless but even the school has admitted isn’t worth logging into? Truly mind boggling.