Why can't teachers teach from their classrooms to the online learners and a few in class students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm honestly at a loss as to why teachers are at any more risk than everyone else who's been working this entire pandemic? I just saw a news report that Fairfax High School the teachers are teaching a few students from their classroom and their is a camera pointing at them to teach everyone else at home and they'll slowly add other students if this model goes well. Why can't we do this? We have to learn to live with this pandemic. It's not going away. What is it that makes teachers at a higher risk than the rest of us that have worked the entire time and are taking as much precautions as one can given what we know. Can't they at least try? If it's a disaster then reassess but at least try something. Kids need to get back to school. We can close other things if need be but children's education should be a huge priority to the Mayor and everyone else right now.

I think the first obstacle would be a willingness for teachers to go in for any in-person instruction. Right now we aren't there yet, so why bother addressing the other hurdles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's doable and it's being done by teachers all over the country and by many privates in the DC area.

My daughter went back to her private yesterday and the teacher is teaching to two cohorts: the in-person and via a simple mic (not even a camera) to the kids at home.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

It is much easier in private schools where teachers have far fewer students per class. Also, far fewer special Ed kids. One of my kids is in private and is back to a hybrid model but it is not working all that well. A couple of teachers are fully virtual. The others look exhausted and either ignore the in-person kids or the virtual kids. It is tough to do both in a effective way

DCPS generally does not have huge class sizes. My child’s class has never been bigger than 21.

The challenge is there is not one size fits all. My kids elementary school class is in high 20s - and doing this with 28 as opposed to 20 is more complex.
Some middle school classes at Deal have 30 kids in them.

I've had 3 kids at Deal (9 years total) and never had classes in the 30's.
Current classes are not in the 30s.
Stop making stuff up.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher currently teaching concurrently (clearly not in DCPS), it is HARD. I took a mental health day today (something i have never done in 10 years of teaching) because I'm so wiped. I feel like I'm failing all kids because i only have half my attention toward anyone at any time.

Is it possible? Yes, clearly. Is it good? I don't think so. My kids had a more focused, relaxed teacher when we were all in person or all virtual. We got through more content, we had less classroom management to wade through, and we were focused just on school. I have high schoolers, so i get that it wasn't this way for the little guys but man...This split is really challenging.

I don't know what the right answer is, but I'm pretty sure it's not concurrent teaching. I am crossing my fingers we move sharply in either direction so all my kids are in one place again soon.

[Anonymous]

Everyone who thinks this is “not that hard” has never done it and knows they won’t be asked to do it. I would love to see one of you model an effective concurrent lesson. So much complaining about how teachers are dumb and poorly trained on this board, and no leg to stand on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher currently teaching concurrently (clearly not in DCPS), it is HARD. I took a mental health day today (something i have never done in 10 years of teaching) because I'm so wiped. I feel like I'm failing all kids because i only have half my attention toward anyone at any time.

Is it possible? Yes, clearly. Is it good? I don't think so. My kids had a more focused, relaxed teacher when we were all in person or all virtual. We got through more content, we had less classroom management to wade through, and we were focused just on school. I have high schoolers, so i get that it wasn't this way for the little guys but man...This split is really challenging.

I don't know what the right answer is, but I'm pretty sure it's not concurrent teaching. I am crossing my fingers we move sharply in either direction so all my kids are in one place again soon.

Thank you for writing this. I am a teacher and think concurrent sounds stressful and ineffective. I just imagine all of the moving around the classroom I do, activities, etc. that are so different in person vs online. I would probably just lecture and give worksheets because that’s all I can think of that would work okay for both groups. I’d be fine going back in person but wouldn’t want to teach concurrently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school in DC is doing that right now.

Ours too. It is MISERABLE to watch all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher currently teaching concurrently (clearly not in DCPS), it is HARD. I took a mental health day today (something i have never done in 10 years of teaching) because I'm so wiped. I feel like I'm failing all kids because i only have half my attention toward anyone at any time.

Is it possible? Yes, clearly. Is it good? I don't think so. My kids had a more focused, relaxed teacher when we were all in person or all virtual. We got through more content, we had less classroom management to wade through, and we were focused just on school. I have high schoolers, so i get that it wasn't this way for the little guys but man...This split is really challenging.

I don't know what the right answer is, but I'm pretty sure it's not concurrent teaching. I am crossing my fingers we move sharply in either direction so all my kids are in one place again soon.

Thank you for writing this. I am a teacher and think concurrent sounds stressful and ineffective. I just imagine all of the moving around the classroom I do, activities, etc. that are so different in person vs online. I would probably just lecture and give worksheets because that’s all I can think of that would work okay for both groups. I’d be fine going back in person but wouldn’t want to teach concurrently.

right. so teachers want no solution.

[Anonymous]

Just because something CAN be done doesn't mean it should be done. Obviously the same people who perpetuate an antiquated education system/babysitting service that lead to this in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's doable and it's being done by teachers all over the country and by many privates in the DC area.

My daughter went back to her private yesterday and the teacher is teaching to two cohorts: the in-person and via a simple mic (not even a camera) to the kids at home.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

It is much easier in private schools where teachers have far fewer students per class. Also, far fewer special Ed kids. One of my kids is in private and is back to a hybrid model but it is not working all that well. A couple of teachers are fully virtual. The others look exhausted and either ignore the in-person kids or the virtual kids. It is tough to do both in a effective way

DCPS generally does not have huge class sizes. My child’s class has never been bigger than 21.

Wilson classes are often much bigger.

[Anonymous]

We're in DC and our school (private) is doing this. Half of the kids in person on Mon/Tue with the other half virtual, then they flip-flop on Thur/Fri. Everyone is virtual on Wed. It's going well, but our teacher has a TA in the classroom at least half of the time to assist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who is a teacher in a public school in CO who is doing exactly this. Half of her students are at home, half in class. The ones at home get video and audio and she has learned to integrate questions from both. It's not that hard.

It sounds incredibly hard. Have you run tech & interaction for meetings like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher currently teaching concurrently (clearly not in DCPS), it is HARD. I took a mental health day today (something i have never done in 10 years of teaching) because I'm so wiped. I feel like I'm failing all kids because i only have half my attention toward anyone at any time.

Is it possible? Yes, clearly. Is it good? I don't think so. My kids had a more focused, relaxed teacher when we were all in person or all virtual. We got through more content, we had less classroom management to wade through, and we were focused just on school. I have high schoolers, so i get that it wasn't this way for the little guys but man...This split is really challenging.

I don't know what the right answer is, but I'm pretty sure it's not concurrent teaching. I am crossing my fingers we move sharply in either direction so all my kids are in one place again soon.

Thank you for writing this. I am a teacher and think concurrent sounds stressful and ineffective. I just imagine all of the moving around the classroom I do, activities, etc. that are so different in person vs online. I would probably just lecture and give worksheets because that’s all I can think of that would work okay for both groups. I’d be fine going back in person but wouldn’t want to teach concurrently.

right. so teachers want no solution.

+1. Why do teachers feel entitled to an easy job? I'm so sick of this teacher entitlement. They want zero risk for COVID even though DCPS agreed that teachers with medical conditions (and even those who lived with someone with a medical condition!) could remain virtual, they've failed to offer enough extra supports to reach SPED and ELL students, and now they don't want to do a job that isn't easy. Parents who aren't wealthy enough to afford pods or tutors have been struggling to keep our jobs and also do a large part of the teacher's job for her.

Now this lazy teacher needs a mental health day - abandoning her students to deny them access to education that day - because she can't work harder and she also can't come in during a pandemic??? So teachers give nothing but keep taking their full salary and benefits??????

[Anonymous]

I’m a college professor. Hybrid is incredibly difficult, clumsy, and inequitable. If you are wondering about this, I encourage you too ask every person if your house to get in the same room and sign on with masks on, and invite 10 more people to sign on from else where. Wear a mask yourself and teach a lesson and let me know how it goes.

I’ve done it and it’s ok but all online or all in person (IMO unconscionable right know) is a thousand times more feasible and serviceable for all. I have colleagues who can’t figure it out.

[Anonymous]

The WTU only knows how to say no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a college professor. Hybrid is incredibly difficult, clumsy, and inequitable. If you are wondering about this, I encourage you too ask every person if your house to get in the same room and sign on with masks on, and invite 10 more people to sign on from else where. Wear a mask yourself and teach a lesson and let me know how it goes.

I’ve done it and it’s ok but all online or all in person (IMO unconscionable right know) is a thousand times more feasible and serviceable for all. I have colleagues who can’t figure it out.

Even if you have an assistant to help you in the classroom? Because that was part of the DCPS plan.

But yeah, at some point teachers are going to have to return. WTU rejected doing shifts with smaller classes in hybrid, so concurrent is the next option.