This is not a good sign for schools reopening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ALL of it has a downside. And I don’t know that holding students back em masse is any worse than trying to pull off hybrid or whatever.

Academics are not the biggest problem here. Child care and socialization for young kids is critical. Why can’t we run something that looks like the summer DCPS enrichment for kids. Outside play, reading stories, pretend play, some reading and math to retain what they learned last year.

Trying to make this year resemble a normal one has failed massively. Let’s get creative. There is time before 3rd quarter.

Creativity would be fantastic

I saw an article where they were doing “night school” for kinder. 6 to 8 pm so parents could be there w the kid.

Before the whine - then you would move dinner up, kid would go to bed later and sleep later, etc

Omg you have other kids - yes just like juggling soccer practice and other things you make changes and adjust

Creativity is clearly not a prominent feature of school districts.

[Anonymous]

I hear the PPs on being creative and acknowledging that this year is a wash. I 100% agree it's a wash. But the WTU/DCPS isn't doing that. They're acting like virtual learning is an adequate substitute for real learning and placing these unrealistic expectations on kids and parents (many of whom work). That's why parents are panicking.

And I saw the night school article. That is NOT a good idea. Do you have a kindergartner? 6-8 p.m. is not a time in the day when they can sit on front of an online lesson or absorb any information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear the PPs on being creative and acknowledging that this year is a wash. I 100% agree it's a wash. But the WTU/DCPS isn't doing that. They're acting like virtual learning is an adequate substitute for real learning and placing these unrealistic expectations on kids and parents (many of whom work). That's why parents are panicking.

And I saw the night school article. That is NOT a good idea. Do you have a kindergartner? 6-8 p.m. is not a time in the day when they can sit on front of an online lesson or absorb any information.

I agree it wouldn't be good for all kids. For my kid it would be great. but he would need to go to bed later and wake up later. It would give me some good alone time in the morning to work. I work with people overseas so timing wise for me its great - the people I work with are asleep from 6 to 8 so I won't be bugged (I know I should turn off my phone but I don't) and could focus and enjoy being with him in school. But what to do with him during the day besides watching TV? He is learning to read through alphablocks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ALL of it has a downside. And I don’t know that holding students back em masse is any worse than trying to pull off hybrid or whatever.

Academics are not the biggest problem here. Child care and socialization for young kids is critical. Why can’t we run something that looks like the summer DCPS enrichment for kids. Outside play, reading stories, pretend play, some reading and math to retain what they learned last year.

Trying to make this year resemble a normal one has failed massively. Let’s get creative. There is time before 3rd quarter.

Creativity would be fantastic

I saw an article where they were doing “night school” for kinder. 6 to 8 pm so parents could be there w the kid.

Before the whine - then you would move dinner up, kid would go to bed later and sleep later, etc

Omg you have other kids - yes just like juggling soccer practice and other things you make changes and adjust

+1. Also they could repurpose some of the specials teachers. Virtual PE isn't nearly as important as reading and math, and many elementary students skip it anyway. PE teachers could get the lesson plans from teachers and do 1:1 reading and math sessions with kids who need it. Link to some kids exercise videos for the students who want that. It's not rocket science.

And as much as I love summer, just cancel school for now and use the however many days in the teachers' contracts to have them teach in person over the summer since we expect to have the vaccine distributed by then. Personally, I would hate the fact that we lost summer, but I know it would be better for my kids than struggling through DL and ending up behind anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ALL of it has a downside. And I don’t know that holding students back em masse is any worse than trying to pull off hybrid or whatever.

Academics are not the biggest problem here. Child care and socialization for young kids is critical. Why can’t we run something that looks like the summer DCPS enrichment for kids. Outside play, reading stories, pretend play, some reading and math to retain what they learned last year.

Trying to make this year resemble a normal one has failed massively. Let’s get creative. There is time before 3rd quarter.

Creativity would be fantastic

I saw an article where they were doing “night school” for kinder. 6 to 8 pm so parents could be there w the kid.

Before the whine - then you would move dinner up, kid would go to bed later and sleep later, etc

Omg you have other kids - yes just like juggling soccer practice and other things you make changes and adjust

+1. Also they could repurpose some of the specials teachers. Virtual PE isn't nearly as important as reading and math, and many elementary students skip it anyway. PE teachers could get the lesson plans from teachers and do 1:1 reading and math sessions with kids who need it. Link to some kids exercise videos for the students who want that. It's not rocket science.

And as much as I love summer, just cancel school for now and use the however many days in the teachers' contracts to have them teach in person over the summer since we expect to have the vaccine distributed by then. Personally, I would hate the fact that we lost summer, but I know it would be better for my kids than struggling through DL and ending up behind anyway.

PP here, and I already know there are laws re PE hours, but my point is that these would need to be suspended because we just can't meet all goals during the pandemic.