DC just announced all virtual

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:K-2, 2 hours of live instruction daily.
3-5, 2-3 hours of live instruction, starts earlier.

what about higher grades?

2 hours a day of live class for k-2 is too much. Most kids that age are learning very little in front of the computer for group lessons. And in addition to the "live class room" which is like experiencing ADD, a horrible phone conference, and flipping channels on the tv while trying to listen to the radio and read a book at the same time.
Then the kids have to sit on the computer even longer for the websites that hold the math, reading and other lessons. I am all for technology learning but at times work books are actually better.
What would be even better are kits with hands on learning activities. Maybe that complement the work books and lesson for the week.
I would much rather email in pictures of our work and hands on learning than have my kid sit in front of a computer for 2-4 hours a day.
It is just not going to happen for my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey angry posters! Here is the link to apply to teach in DC. It’s such a Cush job, so here ya go!
https://joindcps.dc.gov/teachers

+1

But in all seriousness, I wouldn’t wish most of the “adults” on this forum on any child!!!! Terrifying to think they have kids at home.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

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.

Teachers seem to want to be paid not to work at all.

Not this teacher (who you are responding to), I would volunteer to be back in the school working with my special needs kiddos tomorrow , full - time if someone would let me. But don't worry, if I think my mental health will go off the cliff in the fall I will quit, rather than take leave.

Hey fellow sped teacher, that person is just salty. Don’t take it to heart! I’m with you, I want to be in person with my kiddos too! Online it was really tough to get parent on board, not the kids.
If their child would have one tantrum they’d apologize and be like we are done! I’m like ‘no wait they will work, deep breaths’

This is hard for parents too, I’m sure they feel heartbroken their kiddos won’t be doing class in person.

This is where parent coaching and have clear expectations of the the "class room" rules will be during DL. How are kids expected to behave? What are the warnings or rewards for behavior and completing tasks? What terminology should parent be using? That are the options and plans for getting behavior back on track?

I am really worried about being expected to sit for 2 hours of general education plus at least another 30-90 minutes of SPED services via the computer. It just too much Computer time for a group of kids that generally don't do well in this format.
And the ever changing schedule added to our stress in a major way!! One week morning meets were this day, the next they changed, along with other sessions/ lesson and sped services. Changing schedules for kids that need routine and already hate the computer.. brilliant!
Now don't get me wrong our teachers were wonderful the sped services were okay. But we can't do all of it in one day at least not on the computer.
We definitely need a team plan and all the teacher and other staff need to use the same terms and have the same expectations.

[Anonymous]

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.

Teachers seem to want to be paid not to work at all.

Not this teacher (who you are responding to), I would volunteer to be back in the school working with my special needs kiddos tomorrow , full - time if someone would let me. But don't worry, if I think my mental health will go off the cliff in the fall I will quit, rather than take leave.

Hey fellow sped teacher, that person is just salty. Don’t take it to heart! I’m with you, I want to be in person with my kiddos too! Online it was really tough to get parent on board, not the kids.
If their child would have one tantrum they’d apologize and be like we are done! I’m like ‘no wait they will work, deep breaths’

This is hard for parents too, I’m sure they feel heartbroken their kiddos won’t be doing class in person.

This is where parent coaching and have clear expectations of the the "class room" rules will be during DL. How are kids expected to behave? What are the warnings or rewards for behavior and completing tasks? What terminology should parent be using? That are the options and plans for getting behavior back on track?

I am really worried about being expected to sit for 2 hours of general education plus at least another 30-90 minutes of SPED services via the computer. It just too much Computer time for a group of kids that generally don't do well in this format.
And the ever changing schedule added to our stress in a major way!! One week morning meets were this day, the next they changed, along with other sessions/ lesson and sped services. Changing schedules for kids that need routine and already hate the computer.. brilliant!
Now don't get me wrong our teachers were wonderful the sped services were okay. But we can't do all of it in one day at least not on the computer.
We definitely need a team plan and all the teacher and other staff need to use the same terms and have the same expectations.

I’m a sped teacher and none of your services should be on the same day, in fact work with the sped team at your school to spit the service time if needed.
For example one of my students has a whole hour of speech each week, not feasible to have him sit for an hour straight. Speech sessions were split into 3 days.

2 hours 20 min is still a lot of time but better than 3. Just make sure your working as a team to make it the best it can possible be through DL. Maybe you could even make sure your kiddo has nice breaks in between? And I got my students some sensory cushions and discrete fidgets (lots of ADHD kiddos) to help them stay and look at the screen for a little longer than usual.
And yes, all children need consistency. Teachers and service providers will do better, we have more time this time to actually plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please oh please have this time be chunked tightly together and not spread throughout the morning!!!! That was untenable!

I second that! I couldn't keep up with the scattered meetings that changed day to day and week to week. Even if they need to be spread out some, say 9am and 1pm, I hope my child has the same times every single day.

[Anonymous]

So just so I get it some parents in DCPS had live instruction in the spring. Basically the spring for us consisted of using various online apps and one zoom share a week. Please tell me it has to get better than this. I have a rising 1st grader. What I really need to understand is what does he have to know by end of year and I can probably cobble together a plan to get there.

[Anonymous]

And the teachers who were so afraid of “ dying from covid “ are up to 5 pages of adds offering to tutor in your home

( no questions asked on your covid status or your cleaning routine )

It seems all about cash ( double dip on the job, much ) :

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/895894.page

[Anonymous]

I want part of the "live hours" to be parent coaching. Parents and caregivers need to be taught how to help there kids with the work. Family stress management skills, and such would be really helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want part of the "live hours" to be parent coaching. Parents and caregivers need to be taught how to help there kids with the work. Family stress management skills, and such would be really helpful.

You want me to take more time out of my schedule to listen to parent coaching?

Have you ever heard a DCPS administrator speak at a meeting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not this teacher (who you are responding to), I would volunteer to be back in the school working with my special needs kiddos tomorrow , full - time if someone would let me. But don't worry, if I think my mental health will go off the cliff in the fall I will quit, rather than take leave.

Hey fellow sped teacher, that person is just salty. Don’t take it to heart! I’m with you, I want to be in person with my kiddos too! Online it was really tough to get parent on board, not the kids.
If their child would have one tantrum they’d apologize and be like we are done! I’m like ‘no wait they will work, deep breaths’

This is hard for parents too, I’m sure they feel heartbroken their kiddos won’t be doing class in person.

This is where parent coaching and have clear expectations of the the "class room" rules will be during DL. How are kids expected to behave? What are the warnings or rewards for behavior and completing tasks? What terminology should parent be using? That are the options and plans for getting behavior back on track?

I am really worried about being expected to sit for 2 hours of general education plus at least another 30-90 minutes of SPED services via the computer. It just too much Computer time for a group of kids that generally don't do well in this format.
And the ever changing schedule added to our stress in a major way!! One week morning meets were this day, the next they changed, along with other sessions/ lesson and sped services. Changing schedules for kids that need routine and already hate the computer.. brilliant!
Now don't get me wrong our teachers were wonderful the sped services were okay. But we can't do all of it in one day at least not on the computer.
We definitely need a team plan and all the teacher and other staff need to use the same terms and have the same expectations.

I’m a sped teacher and none of your services should be on the same day, in fact work with the sped team at your school to spit the service time if needed.
For example one of my students has a whole hour of speech each week, not feasible to have him sit for an hour straight. Speech sessions were split into 3 days.

2 hours 20 min is still a lot of time but better than 3. Just make sure your working as a team to make it the best it can possible be through DL. Maybe you could even make sure your kiddo has nice breaks in between? And I got my students some sensory cushions and discrete fidgets (lots of ADHD kiddos) to help them stay and look at the screen for a little longer than usual.
And yes, all children need consistency. Teachers and service providers will do better, we have more time this time to actually plan.



We can't make it two hours in a day on the live lessons. We can make about 30-- 45- on amazing day maybe 75 minutes. If we have a shorter day we can get the websites and workbooks done. So, we can't do 2 hrs of core classes and then also get the 5-6 hours IEP services in successfully.
Part of the problem is the contracted service providers. They don't use the same format as the school. Change there hours all the time and some just really stink at doing DL and have obviously done no research or training on best practices for their services in a DL setting.

And yes we do breaks. We offer rewards for good participation and loss of privileges for refusing to even try to participate. About a 30-45 minutes between sessions worked well this summer. But you can't make a teacher and 4-5 provider stager their days just for one kid.

I am seriously thinking about just dropping some of our services if they won't let us switch our general education instruction time for IEP services time. We are also looking at private services in hopes they will be a better quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys!!! Teachers are required to do 2 hours of live a day. TOTAL for k-2. Not small groups. You all make up foolishness & then get all huffy when it’s not true.

You asked for DL, now you have to deliver. You are required to teach kids and if kids can't learn over zoom in groups of 26, and they can't, then you are going to have to figure out some way to teach them, likely A LOT more time live with small groups. Your job is to teach (so students can learn) and your job just got a lot harder. So did everyone's - it's a pandemic. Suck it up.

They asked to stay safe.

And as a parent I support that.

[Anonymous]

I was heartened to hear the Chancellor say that my 5th grader will receive 2-3 hours of live instruction a day and my 9th grader will receive 4-5 hours of live instructional time each school day. A vast improvement over the spring. For the first month, I’m going to monitor the live instruction closely. I hope they won’t watch a bunch of you tube videos and consider that “live”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want part of the "live hours" to be parent coaching. Parents and caregivers need to be taught how to help there kids with the work. Family stress management skills, and such would be really helpful.

Your school’s wellness team likely already does this (guidance counselors and social workers). I referred several families in the spring who were communicating with me in ways that seemed to indicate they were stressed beyond normal. They had at least weekly calls to check in and offers of resources to support. Each week the team checked in with me to see who needed help so they were very much actively seeking to reach out to parents. Either ask your child’s teacher to connect you or reach out to them directly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the teachers who were so afraid of “ dying from covid “ are up to 5 pages of adds offering to tutor in your home

( no questions asked on your covid status or your cleaning routine )

It seems all about cash ( double dip on the job, much ) :

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/895894.page

It’s amazing that DCPS manages to run an entire district with just 5 pages worth of staff! It’s incredible, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the teachers who were so afraid of “ dying from covid “ are up to 5 pages of adds offering to tutor in your home

( no questions asked on your covid status or your cleaning routine )

It seems all about cash ( double dip on the job, much ) :

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/895894.page

It’s amazing that DCPS manages to run an entire district with just 5 pages worth of staff! It’s incredible, really.

I know wow, amazing. This is the majority of the teachers, how do teachers do that?