APS concurrent for grades 3-5

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The vast majority of 3-5 teachers will be in the building. The purpose of this change is because there wasn’t enough assistants to be the 2nd person for grades 3-5 under the split model.

Since CARES act considerations are over APS is going by ADA accommodations for in person and most teachers who were approved for virtual in the fall are not approved to remain so going forward. It will be the minute exception, not the rule, for an assistant to man a classroom while the teacher is at home.

But again, the teacher will be at a desk teaching to all kids via a device. They don’t have cameras and mics. They might as well be at home, or on Mars.

Correct. APS has not installed cameras or provided microphone systems to teachers (nor are they preinstalled in classrooms). And teachers will be masked while teaching. We will be using the cameras on our APS provided laptops most likely.

At home I use 2 webcams which I purchased, a second monitor which I purchase, and a ring light which I purchased to enhance the student instructional experience. Won't have any of that at school.

As I suspected. So basically, you’re a warm body in the room for emergencies, but will now have to teach just as your would if virtually, but with a mask on from the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a big old middle bird to the virtual students.

And the in-person ones, too. The teachers will be teaching to them from computers at their desks, if they are even in the classroom. But there really isn’t another way. They don’t have the staff to accomplish both hybrid and distance at the same time.

I have friends who kids schools have been using this set up since September. What I have heard from them is that the teacher essentially just ignores the kids who are remote and only teaches to the kids in the classroom. So it is particularly brutal for these kids on days when they are remote. APS could end up being different but this is what I have heard from friends in other parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a big old middle bird to the virtual students.

And the in-person ones, too. The teachers will be teaching to them from computers at their desks, if they are even in the classroom. But there really isn’t another way. They don’t have the staff to accomplish both hybrid and distance at the same time.

I have friends who kids schools have been using this set up since September. What I have heard from them is that the teacher essentially just ignores the kids who are remote and only teaches to the kids in the classroom. So it is particularly brutal for these kids on days when they are remote. APS could end up being different but this is what I have heard from friends in other parts of the country.

This DL parent will be ALL OVER the teachers and principals if our kids get the short end of the stick. Hello equity.

[Anonymous]

I wish there was a way to create a protective barrier for the teacher so they could teach without a mask. Not only separate them from class, but literally build a see-through plastic barrier so they can teach. This could solve a lot of problems. l don't think this would be that costly or difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a big old middle bird to the virtual students.

And the in-person ones, too. The teachers will be teaching to them from computers at their desks, if they are even in the classroom. But there really isn’t another way. They don’t have the staff to accomplish both hybrid and distance at the same time.

I have friends who kids schools have been using this set up since September. What I have heard from them is that the teacher essentially just ignores the kids who are remote and only teaches to the kids in the classroom. So it is particularly brutal for these kids on days when they are remote. APS could end up being different but this is what I have heard from friends in other parts of the country.

This DL parent will be ALL OVER the teachers and principals if our kids get the short end of the stick. Hello equity.

This is the PP you are referring to -- my kids will be in hybrid so they are still DL twice a week. I really hope I am wrong. But I also think trying to facilitate a class that is half remote and half in person sounds impossible. I really want my kids to go back, but honestly this sounds worse for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's going to suck for everyone- DL students, hybrid students, and teachers. Even hybrid kids are going to be DL two days per week. Unless they install cameras in the classrooms the teachers will have to stay in front of their laptops to be visible. Unless they install microphones, the hybrid kids will all need to wear headphones so that discussions can include virtual kids. Breakout sessions will end up being a mix of in-class and at-home kids for things like math and language arts.

It's going to be a huge step back for everyone in terms of educational delivery. Not the fault of the teachers like of trying, but trying to equally engage in-person and at-home kids is going to be a nightmare.

Yes. It sucks. It sucked when they announced this for MS and HS. But there didn’t seem to be as much buzz about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a big old middle bird to the virtual students.

And the in-person ones, too. The teachers will be teaching to them from computers at their desks, if they are even in the classroom. But there really isn’t another way. They don’t have the staff to accomplish both hybrid and distance at the same time.

I have friends who kids schools have been using this set up since September. What I have heard from them is that the teacher essentially just ignores the kids who are remote and only teaches to the kids in the classroom. So it is particularly brutal for these kids on days when they are remote. APS could end up being different but this is what I have heard from friends in other parts of the country.

I'm curious how hybrid parents will respond to this. Some really just need their kids in the classroom. I wonder if this will still be worth it, or if they made that choice based on a presumption that it would be a bit more like "real" school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a big old middle bird to the virtual students.

And the in-person ones, too. The teachers will be teaching to them from computers at their desks, if they are even in the classroom. But there really isn’t another way. They don’t have the staff to accomplish both hybrid and distance at the same time.

I have friends who kids schools have been using this set up since September. What I have heard from them is that the teacher essentially just ignores the kids who are remote and only teaches to the kids in the classroom. So it is particularly brutal for these kids on days when they are remote. APS could end up being different but this is what I have heard from friends in other parts of the country.

Sounds like they have the set-up with a camera and mic that allows them to teach from the classroom. That’s not what this is. This is virtual instruction delivered to everyone via a device from a teacher sitting in a classroom, with students also in the classroom on a device.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:someone on AEM posted Bridget Loft's statement earlier this year at a SB meeting that concurrent was uniquely possible for older high school kids and not appropriate for young kids.

Oh yes. I remember her saying it was only appropriate for high school. Not middle. Then they added middle months afterward. Now 3-5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish there was a way to create a protective barrier for the teacher so they could teach without a mask. Not only separate them from class, but literally build a see-through plastic barrier so they can teach. This could solve a lot of problems. l don't think this would be that costly or difficult.

Yes. It’s called home. But you all didn’t want that. We have to Open Schools Now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the email today. All Montessori and Immersion students will also be concurrent. I was under the impression that concurrent involved teachers teaching IN school to students at home or in school. However, it apparently means teachers teaching at home or school to students at home or in school. I picked hybrid but have zero desire to send me kid to school to do virtual school while watched by a baby sitter. Especially my kinder kid who I assumed would be taught by his teacher or assistant in person at least some of the day.

So hybrid is basically childcare almost a year into this. When most everyone has child care established or will not be helped by sending the kids some place 2 days a week (and for me my kids would go on different days!).

Only 3-5 are switching to concurrent, K is staying with the virtual/hybrid model.

Sorry, as I mentioned above the Montessori and Immersion are doing this for preK-5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a big old middle bird to the virtual students.

And the in-person ones, too. The teachers will be teaching to them from computers at their desks, if they are even in the classroom. But there really isn’t another way. They don’t have the staff to accomplish both hybrid and distance at the same time.

I have friends who kids schools have been using this set up since September. What I have heard from them is that the teacher essentially just ignores the kids who are remote and only teaches to the kids in the classroom. So it is particularly brutal for these kids on days when they are remote. APS could end up being different but this is what I have heard from friends in other parts of the country.

I'm curious how hybrid parents will respond to this. Some really just need their kids in the classroom. I wonder if this will still be worth it, or if they made that choice based on a presumption that it would be a bit more like "real" school.

Those parents have been engaged in magical thinking. Even before concurrent was announced, this isn’t going to be like the before times. Not for a long while, not until kids are vaccinated, too.

[Anonymous]

It appears that Montessori gets to keep their K-5 hybrid model. That’s how I read the email. Why isn’t that Montessori always seem to get the special deal. So tired of that program getting special treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm curious how hybrid parents will respond to this. Some really just need their kids in the classroom. I wonder if this will still be worth it, or if they made that choice based on a presumption that it would be a bit more like "real" school.

Those parents have been engaged in magical thinking. Even before concurrent was announced, this isn’t going to be like the before times. Not for a long while, not until kids are vaccinated, too.

We chose virtual, but friends who chose hybrid figured at least the teacher would be standing at the front of the class, kids may be masked and distanced but able to look at each other and have an in-class discussion. That's what I mean. Different but closer to normal than virtual. I'm pretty certain no hybrid-selecting parent envisioned this.

[Anonymous]

Here what was posted on AEM: I'd like to point out to parents that the real point of this email is not the early release day on 2/5, but the application of the concurrent model to 3rd to 5th graders. Some here might be interested what Bridget Loft had to say on this topic back in August when she was asked by Dr. Barbara Kanninen whether middle schoolers would be learning in the concurrent model. Loft said: "But I want to reiterate, we were very explicit, this could only be a high school model, because our high school students have developed in their skills sets and their executive functioning. While our middle school students are exactly where they need to be, and need that additional support of having a teacher in front of them." And now Loft is applying the concurrent model to 3rd graders?

Full exchange below. Here's the link to the video - https://www.apsva.us/post/school-board-meeting-august-20-2020/, discussion on this topic starts at 2:05.

*********

Barbara Kanninen: Dr. Duran, we did talk, and I noticed in your presentation, you did clarify, about the difference in approaches between high school; and middle school. And I would like for you to elaborate a bit about what middle school will look like for those students. Middle school., traditionally, not just in this environment, is often the level we forget about sometimes. … Those are of course three very important years in our students' lives. If you could please elaborate a bit on what that model will look like.

Bridget Loft: … To speak to your question, Dr. Kanninen, our middle school and our high school principals, and our T&L staff, were really explicit in designing two different models to speak exactly to what you pointed out that our middle school students – ages 11 to 14 – are developing in their abstract thinking, and their executive functioning, and need a great deal of time and attention and work with their teachers to help build those skills. And so, our middle school principals and our T&L staff have landed on a model in which, to the best of our ability, we’ve matched our preferred model that our middle school families have identified to the preferred model of our staff members. That would mean that while we are all starting distance learning, when we do transition to the hybrid model, students whose families have identified that they will transition into the in person hybrid model will be working with teachers who will be in person in the hybrid model. And also students whose families have identified that their children will continue in the distance learning model will likely be working with teachers who are in the distance learning model as well. When we talk about large scale planning, it’s not always going to match up, but that’s the philosophy and practice that our middle school docs, who have been working tirelessly to build the master schedule. This contrasts with the high school model. And that’s a recognition of several factors: (1) a recognition that our high schoolers have more sophisticated executive functioning skills, and (2) have had a lot of practice in being able to practice impulse control, and work with less direction. And, in addition to that, the understanding that, each of our high schools offers up to 40 to 50, what we call, singleton classes, which means that is the lone class offered in that school. So that might be something like, symphonic band. There’s only one in each of our high schools. And so it becomes incredibly challenging to try to match family’s preferences for a model and our singleton teachers’ preferences for a model. So, for high school only, and let’s remember everyone is starting distance learning, students have been assigned to their teacher, with whom they will stay for the entire year, and so that may mean when we go back that that teacher may have students who are reporting in person in the hybrid model, and students who will remain in distance learning. And, it could be that that teacher has also chosen to teach via distance learning. And, if that is the case, then students will be learning, synchronously with their teacher, they will continue to have an engaging experience, using their MacBook Airs, and there will be an adult who is present in those classrooms. But I want to reiterate, we were very explicit, this could only be a high school model, because our high school students have developed in their skills sets and their executive functioning. While our middle school students are exactly where they need to be, and need that additional support of having a teacher in front of them.

—-

If the school board doesn’t step in I am leaving Arlington. It has totally gone down the toilet. Forget recalling the school board, Bridget loft needs to go. She’s the same person that brought us no new instruction last spring.