Parents, step it up already!

[Anonymous]

We're in MD, but not in Montgomery County. My experience is that the work is largely busywork -- particularly for my 4th grader. I would rather she goes own way in terms of homeschooling (reading, writing in her journal, doing art) than engage with the useless assignments that are coming from her school.

7th grader's experience is slightly more meaningful, but still has an aura of "busywork" to it. 7th grader is handing in work, but if she weren't, I wouldn't force it. Again, as long as my kids are reading and writing on their own, and are keeping up in math (not hard considering very little new material is being presented), I'm not going to stress over the rest of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish teachers would simply email me what they are assigning my kids so I would be informed about what they should be doing. The whole parent portal thing is stupid. Just email me.

Why should they do that, when there is parent portal? Inform yourself. If that's too much trouble then I don't think it really matters to you.

Well bingo. This thread was wagging a finger at parents who aren't involved. I was suggesting a way to make it easier for parents the OP seems to be addressing. Otherwise, what do you care?

Personally, I don't even consider my kids to be in school right now at all. The amount of work they're doing is a joke. I think we'll just move to real homeschooling soon so they can do things like read books and write book reports.

Have at it!

[Anonymous]

We’ve done the work and have struggled to submit using the technology.

No, I’m not going to print (no ink) and scan.

I’m sorry the technology doesn’t work on our chrome book.

My kids attend the zoom classes, do the assignments, etc. None of this is being graded BTW (ask a teacher friend).

My kids are supplementing with other resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you, a parent, know which kids have turned in their work?

My kids have done theirs, but the idea of a random parent playing hall monitor and checking off which kids submitted their assignments baffles me.

Try listening in on the Zoom classes. It is so pathetic. I feel so bad for the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP how about you worry about your 3 and stop lecturing the rest of us. My kid turns in everything on time, but I have NO idea what happens in the other households. The last thing I want to do is assume that everyone has the same resources and capabilities that I do. Even with 3 and your husband being essential you clearly have what you need. Be thankful and shut up.

Yup, this.

Completely. The smugness and judgment demonstrated by SO many right now is one of the most depressing things to come out of this epidemic. Frankly, OP, you're not functioning as well as you think if you shame people to make yourself feel better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish teachers would simply email me what they are assigning my kids so I would be informed about what they should be doing. The whole parent portal thing is stupid. Just email me.

My 5th grader’s two teachers emails everything. To kids and parents. “Due by x time on y date.” Then numbers them.

Today, 3 kids did what was asked. 3 out of 27.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you, a parent, know which kids have turned in their work?

My kids have done theirs, but the idea of a random parent playing hall monitor and checking off which kids submitted their assignments baffles me.

Try listening in on the Zoom classes. It is so pathetic. I feel so bad for the teachers.

Agree. And people think their kids are handing them in right, but they aren’t. At least correctly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish teachers would simply email me what they are assigning my kids so I would be informed about what they should be doing. The whole parent portal thing is stupid. Just email me.

Seriously? How lazy can you get?

-From a parent

So teachers are supposed to email every parent which assignments their kids are missing when parents can see this info for themselves. That is a waste of their time.

No, not emailing individual parents (although that seems like it falls under the teacher's job description). Send out a group email every week so all parents know what their kids have been assigned. Then parents make sure the work gets done. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve done the work and have struggled to submit using the technology.

No, I’m not going to print (no ink) and scan.

I’m sorry the technology doesn’t work on our chrome book.

My kids attend the zoom classes, do the assignments, etc. None of this is being graded BTW (ask a teacher friend).

My kids are supplementing with other resources.

Plus, the math is too easy and the reading is just plain dumb.

Read an article about telephones and another about a buffalo and write a paragraph about which article you enjoyed better. The articles are super short and dull. There’s no easy way to follow the rubric to explain why you enjoyed one better than the other.

It would have been better to have the kid read something and write a paragraph summarizing it. Or better yet: research something by reading multiple articles/sources and write 3 paragraphs about it.

And don’t get me started on the bad attitudes of the teachers! I can’t believe how some teachers conduct themselves when they know parents are listening. Rolled eyes, snarky tones when answering questions, etc. I wish the principal could watch anonymously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're in MD, but not in Montgomery County. My experience is that the work is largely busywork -- particularly for my 4th grader. I would rather she goes own way in terms of homeschooling (reading, writing in her journal, doing art) than engage with the useless assignments that are coming from her school.

7th grader's experience is slightly more meaningful, but still has an aura of "busywork" to it. 7th grader is handing in work, but if she weren't, I wouldn't force it. Again, as long as my kids are reading and writing on their own, and are keeping up in math (not hard considering very little new material is being presented), I'm not going to stress over the rest of it.

So you wouldn’t care that your 7th grader hands in anything at all, because you deemed it busy work? Even though the teacher spent hours preparing the stuff and expects her to hand it in. You just shrug to your kids and say as long as you are still reading something? Good Lord.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP how about you worry about your 3 and stop lecturing the rest of us. My kid turns in everything on time, but I have NO idea what happens in the other households. The last thing I want to do is assume that everyone has the same resources and capabilities that I do. Even with 3 and your husband being essential you clearly have what you need. Be thankful and shut up.

You realize that all the other kids not doing things or show up to the class clueless takes away more than half the actual discussion the teacher wanted to have? It affects the whole class. I listen in from the other room and so many kids have no idea. They need minimal direction and it shouldn’t be the teacher during the actual class. Not when 5 emails went out with specific guidelines to the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish teachers would simply email me what they are assigning my kids so I would be informed about what they should be doing. The whole parent portal thing is stupid. Just email me.

Why should they do that, when there is parent portal? Inform yourself. If that's too much trouble then I don't think it really matters to you.

Well bingo. This thread was wagging a finger at parents who aren't involved. I was suggesting a way to make it easier for parents the OP seems to be addressing. Otherwise, what do you care?

Personally, I don't even consider my kids to be in school right now at all. The amount of work they're doing is a joke. I think we'll just move to real homeschooling soon so they can do things like read books and write book reports.

And your shitty attitude demeans the teachers trying their best. Nice way to teach your kiddos

[Anonymous]

As a parent of an ADHD kid who is constantly trying to figure out whether the kid turned something in I can attest that is often very difficult to know.

I love teachers who use Google Classroom, it is a godsend. I can see what was assigned, when the due date is and whether it was turned in. My kid does not need help doing the work but for some reason he can write an amazing essay yet the act of clicking on the turn in button eludes him every single time. With Google classroom I can easily check at the end of day if something has not been turned in and make him click the button.

For teachers that use eight zillion other ways and do not post that something is missing for weeks it ranges from next to impossible to an exhausting scavenger hunt to figure out what was assigned, when it was due, where it is and whether it was submitted.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you stopped to consider that people are doing the best they can right now? Maybe choose to be kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish teachers would simply email me what they are assigning my kids so I would be informed about what they should be doing. The whole parent portal thing is stupid. Just email me.

Why should they do that, when there is parent portal? Inform yourself. If that's too much trouble then I don't think it really matters to you.

Well bingo. This thread was wagging a finger at parents who aren't involved. I was suggesting a way to make it easier for parents the OP seems to be addressing. Otherwise, what do you care?

Personally, I don't even consider my kids to be in school right now at all. The amount of work they're doing is a joke. I think we'll just move to real homeschooling soon so they can do things like read books and write book reports.

And your shitty attitude demeans the teachers trying their best. Nice way to teach your kiddos

What shit attitude? Should I pretend they're actually getting an education right now instead?