Has Duran gone mad? (APS)

[Anonymous]

That may be true. The question is whether that marginal benefit is worth the risk to teachers. I guess the answer for you is yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

It break the ice and helps set the stage for next year. It's not practical to think we'll flip the switch and just return to the classroom next school year. But feel free to wander around your house shaking your fists in anger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That may be true. The question is whether that marginal benefit is worth the risk to teachers. I guess the answer for you is yes.

Yes, it is. Full stop.

[Anonymous]

Has Northam declared teachers as essential yet so they can be a priority for the vaccine? Sorry if I'm late to the party here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has Northam declared teachers as essential yet so they can be a priority for the vaccine? Sorry if I'm late to the party here.

Yes, most should be vaccinated before end of February.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has Northam declared teachers as essential yet so they can be a priority for the vaccine? Sorry if I'm late to the party here.

Yes, most should be vaccinated before end of February.

YAY!! I'm a parent/not a teacher. But I think if only K-2 returns for hybrid with masks and social distancing in January, and the rest of the grades trickle in while teachers get the vaccine, this seems like great news!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

What do you mean it amounts to DL in school? Privates in the area are certainly providing a much better in-person education that the DL garbage we get. (And yes teachers are working very hard, but it doesn't matter how hard you work if it isn't translating to learning. Sure, parents with fancy jobs that can work from home or SAHPs can make DL work. Congrats for you! The vast majority are flailing.) The keep APS closed crowd has not been able to point to any science or research to support their position. They are the anti-science crowd.

Chill. Maybe you are an elementary parent, in that case then DL and hybrid will be different. But for middle and high, the concurrent plan is DL in school. That is very clear. It’s not a debate. Our APS principal made that clear. Privates may do it differently but our principal said in APS the only way they can do concurrent is everyone on devices with headphones. I am a MS parent who was talking to a HS teacher. For 6-12, it will be DL at school.

DP. Even if that’s what it looks like, many secondary students would benefit from being in a classroom with an aide who will make sure students stay on task.

Aide?? In high school?? Lololol.

If kids come in, I expect them to work. I will tell them to stay on task. If they don’t, i’m too busy teaching the online kids to bother. It’s their choice if they come in and do nothing.

If you are physically in the classroom, then it will not be the same as distance learning.

Your kid won’t magically pay attention. It’s just you won’t be the witness any longer.

I’ve laid out for my middle schooler the parade of horribles on what hybrid might be like, and he still really wants to go back. When asked why, he said that even with everyone being in separate rooms with doors closed, he still sometimes hears his sister’s lesson in the next room (especially when she has music or PE) and finds it really distracting in a way that kids on separate tasks in a classroom never was. He said he also finds his mind wanders and he gets off task far more easily sitting at a desk in our guest room (which has nothing but his school stuff in it) than he ever did in a classroom. Even seeing all of the worst case scenarios, he firmly believes he would learn more effectively in the school building than at home.

He also thinks he would manage his time better if his independent/asynchronous work times were in the building where the expectation is that he’d sit at his desk and work during those times than he does at home when there’s accountability during those periods so it’s easy to just take a break and push off the work until after the school day. If I see him downstairs during an asynchronous time, I’ll tell him to go back upstairs and do his schoolwork, but if I’m on a work call and can’t check on him, that doesn’t happen.

He wants to be in the building, even with everything you describe, because he believes he will still learn more effectively there, and he can point to concrete and specific reasons why. It’s hard to argue with that he’s wrong.

I have similar issues to your middle schooler. I thought about going in to work from the building, but I am in one of the zip codes with a high rate of cases, and received about 5 emails last month alerting me to positive cases and quarantines at the school. It sounds like you have taken the right steps setting up a designated workspace for him. Perhaps you need to make it a bit cozier and more comfortable so that it isn’t too spartan? Could you get him fish or a pet lizard or hamster for the room? Colorful cushions? Or maybe you need to make it more office like with a nice office chair and a whiteboard and calendar? Definitely try noise canceling headphones, ear plugs, or classical music if he is noise sensitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has Northam declared teachers as essential yet so they can be a priority for the vaccine? Sorry if I'm late to the party here.

Yes, most should be vaccinated before end of February.

YAY!! I'm a parent/not a teacher. But I think if only K-2 returns for hybrid with masks and social distancing in January, and the rest of the grades trickle in while teachers get the vaccine, this seems like great news!

I would like to be optimistic. I have really lost faith in public health officials, though. . 😔

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

It break the ice and helps set the stage for next year. It's not practical to think we'll flip the switch and just return to the classroom next school year. But feel free to wander around your house shaking your fists in anger.

Putting teachers at risk at the height of the pandemic to “break the ice.” Arlington parents at their very best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

What do you mean it amounts to DL in school? Privates in the area are certainly providing a much better in-person education that the DL garbage we get. (And yes teachers are working very hard, but it doesn't matter how hard you work if it isn't translating to learning. Sure, parents with fancy jobs that can work from home or SAHPs can make DL work. Congrats for you! The vast majority are flailing.) The keep APS closed crowd has not been able to point to any science or research to support their position. They are the anti-science crowd.

Chill. Maybe you are an elementary parent, in that case then DL and hybrid will be different. But for middle and high, the concurrent plan is DL in school. That is very clear. It’s not a debate. Our APS principal made that clear. Privates may do it differently but our principal said in APS the only way they can do concurrent is everyone on devices with headphones. I am a MS parent who was talking to a HS teacher. For 6-12, it will be DL at school.

DP. Even if that’s what it looks like, many secondary students would benefit from being in a classroom with an aide who will make sure students stay on task.

Aide?? In high school?? Lololol.

If kids come in, I expect them to work. I will tell them to stay on task. If they don’t, i’m too busy teaching the online kids to bother. It’s their choice if they come in and do nothing.

If you are physically in the classroom, then it will not be the same as distance learning.

Your kid won’t magically pay attention. It’s just you won’t be the witness any longer.

I’ve laid out for my middle schooler the parade of horribles on what hybrid might be like, and he still really wants to go back. When asked why, he said that even with everyone being in separate rooms with doors closed, he still sometimes hears his sister’s lesson in the next room (especially when she has music or PE) and finds it really distracting in a way that kids on separate tasks in a classroom never was. He said he also finds his mind wanders and he gets off task far more easily sitting at a desk in our guest room (which has nothing but his school stuff in it) than he ever did in a classroom. Even seeing all of the worst case scenarios, he firmly believes he would learn more effectively in the school building than at home.

He also thinks he would manage his time better if his independent/asynchronous work times were in the building where the expectation is that he’d sit at his desk and work during those times than he does at home when there’s accountability during those periods so it’s easy to just take a break and push off the work until after the school day. If I see him downstairs during an asynchronous time, I’ll tell him to go back upstairs and do his schoolwork, but if I’m on a work call and can’t check on him, that doesn’t happen.

He wants to be in the building, even with everything you describe, because he believes he will still learn more effectively there, and he can point to concrete and specific reasons why. It’s hard to argue with that he’s wrong.

I have similar issues to your middle schooler. I thought about going in to work from the building, but I am in one of the zip codes with a high rate of cases, and received about 5 emails last month alerting me to positive cases and quarantines at the school. It sounds like you have taken the right steps setting up a designated workspace for him. Perhaps you need to make it a bit cozier and more comfortable so that it isn’t too spartan? Could you get him fish or a pet lizard or hamster for the room? Colorful cushions? Or maybe you need to make it more office like with a nice office chair and a whiteboard and calendar? Definitely try noise canceling headphones, ear plugs, or classical music if he is noise sensitive.

DP. He clearly wants the structure that a school building provides. The same way that many people prefer going into the office building to delineate home and work. A pet lizard isn't going to help with that. Or maybe it will. Maybe schools should start handing out lizards with the laptops...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

It break the ice and helps set the stage for next year. It's not practical to think we'll flip the switch and just return to the classroom next school year. But feel free to wander around your house shaking your fists in anger.

Putting teachers at risk at the height of the pandemic to “break the ice.” Arlington parents at their very best.

It needs to happen. Call it whatever you want. The DL model is not sustainable and is causing catastrophic damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

What do you mean it amounts to DL in school? Privates in the area are certainly providing a much better in-person education that the DL garbage we get. (And yes teachers are working very hard, but it doesn't matter how hard you work if it isn't translating to learning. Sure, parents with fancy jobs that can work from home or SAHPs can make DL work. Congrats for you! The vast majority are flailing.) The keep APS closed crowd has not been able to point to any science or research to support their position. They are the anti-science crowd.

Chill. Maybe you are an elementary parent, in that case then DL and hybrid will be different. But for middle and high, the concurrent plan is DL in school. That is very clear. It’s not a debate. Our APS principal made that clear. Privates may do it differently but our principal said in APS the only way they can do concurrent is everyone on devices with headphones. I am a MS parent who was talking to a HS teacher. For 6-12, it will be DL at school.

DP. Even if that’s what it looks like, many secondary students would benefit from being in a classroom with an aide who will make sure students stay on task.

Aide?? In high school?? Lololol.

If kids come in, I expect them to work. I will tell them to stay on task. If they don’t, i’m too busy teaching the online kids to bother. It’s their choice if they come in and do nothing.

If you are physically in the classroom, then it will not be the same as distance learning.

Your kid won’t magically pay attention. It’s just you won’t be the witness any longer.

I’ve laid out for my middle schooler the parade of horribles on what hybrid might be like, and he still really wants to go back. When asked why, he said that even with everyone being in separate rooms with doors closed, he still sometimes hears his sister’s lesson in the next room (especially when she has music or PE) and finds it really distracting in a way that kids on separate tasks in a classroom never was. He said he also finds his mind wanders and he gets off task far more easily sitting at a desk in our guest room (which has nothing but his school stuff in it) than he ever did in a classroom. Even seeing all of the worst case scenarios, he firmly believes he would learn more effectively in the school building than at home.

He also thinks he would manage his time better if his independent/asynchronous work times were in the building where the expectation is that he’d sit at his desk and work during those times than he does at home when there’s accountability during those periods so it’s easy to just take a break and push off the work until after the school day. If I see him downstairs during an asynchronous time, I’ll tell him to go back upstairs and do his schoolwork, but if I’m on a work call and can’t check on him, that doesn’t happen.

He wants to be in the building, even with everything you describe, because he believes he will still learn more effectively there, and he can point to concrete and specific reasons why. It’s hard to argue with that he’s wrong.

I have similar issues to your middle schooler. I thought about going in to work from the building, but I am in one of the zip codes with a high rate of cases, and received about 5 emails last month alerting me to positive cases and quarantines at the school. It sounds like you have taken the right steps setting up a designated workspace for him. Perhaps you need to make it a bit cozier and more comfortable so that it isn’t too spartan? Could you get him fish or a pet lizard or hamster for the room? Colorful cushions? Or maybe you need to make it more office like with a nice office chair and a whiteboard and calendar? Definitely try noise canceling headphones, ear plugs, or classical music if he is noise sensitive.

DP. He clearly wants the structure that a school building provides. The same way that many people prefer going into the office building to delineate home and work. A pet lizard isn't going to help with that. Or maybe it will. Maybe schools should start handing out lizards with the laptops...

Jesus. Never mind, then. I was just trying to be helpful in the event that he doesn’t get to go back in the building in January!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

What do you mean it amounts to DL in school? Privates in the area are certainly providing a much better in-person education that the DL garbage we get. (And yes teachers are working very hard, but it doesn't matter how hard you work if it isn't translating to learning. Sure, parents with fancy jobs that can work from home or SAHPs can make DL work. Congrats for you! The vast majority are flailing.) The keep APS closed crowd has not been able to point to any science or research to support their position. They are the anti-science crowd.

Chill. Maybe you are an elementary parent, in that case then DL and hybrid will be different. But for middle and high, the concurrent plan is DL in school. That is very clear. It’s not a debate. Our APS principal made that clear. Privates may do it differently but our principal said in APS the only way they can do concurrent is everyone on devices with headphones. I am a MS parent who was talking to a HS teacher. For 6-12, it will be DL at school.

DP. Even if that’s what it looks like, many secondary students would benefit from being in a classroom with an aide who will make sure students stay on task.

Aide?? In high school?? Lololol.

If kids come in, I expect them to work. I will tell them to stay on task. If they don’t, i’m too busy teaching the online kids to bother. It’s their choice if they come in and do nothing.

If you are physically in the classroom, then it will not be the same as distance learning.

Your kid won’t magically pay attention. It’s just you won’t be the witness any longer.

I’ve laid out for my middle schooler the parade of horribles on what hybrid might be like, and he still really wants to go back. When asked why, he said that even with everyone being in separate rooms with doors closed, he still sometimes hears his sister’s lesson in the next room (especially when she has music or PE) and finds it really distracting in a way that kids on separate tasks in a classroom never was. He said he also finds his mind wanders and he gets off task far more easily sitting at a desk in our guest room (which has nothing but his school stuff in it) than he ever did in a classroom. Even seeing all of the worst case scenarios, he firmly believes he would learn more effectively in the school building than at home.

He also thinks he would manage his time better if his independent/asynchronous work times were in the building where the expectation is that he’d sit at his desk and work during those times than he does at home when there’s accountability during those periods so it’s easy to just take a break and push off the work until after the school day. If I see him downstairs during an asynchronous time, I’ll tell him to go back upstairs and do his schoolwork, but if I’m on a work call and can’t check on him, that doesn’t happen.

He wants to be in the building, even with everything you describe, because he believes he will still learn more effectively there, and he can point to concrete and specific reasons why. It’s hard to argue with that he’s wrong.

I have similar issues to your middle schooler. I thought about going in to work from the building, but I am in one of the zip codes with a high rate of cases, and received about 5 emails last month alerting me to positive cases and quarantines at the school. It sounds like you have taken the right steps setting up a designated workspace for him. Perhaps you need to make it a bit cozier and more comfortable so that it isn’t too spartan? Could you get him fish or a pet lizard or hamster for the room? Colorful cushions? Or maybe you need to make it more office like with a nice office chair and a whiteboard and calendar? Definitely try noise canceling headphones, ear plugs, or classical music if he is noise sensitive.

You really think we haven’t tried those things? He has a desk with a chair he picked out (a jellyfish chair, because that’s the kind he’s liked the most in the classroom). He also has a regular desk chair he can swap out if needed, and a comfy couch to move to as well. He has headphones, a few different types so he can choose what feels most comfortable depending on tasks. He also has access to music if he wants it during asynchronous one time. A pet in the room would just be more distraction (and would be one more set of chores to take care of when we’re already stretched too thin).

What he needs at this stage of life is another person in the room, because just knowing there’s someone else who can see if he’s goofing off is the most effective thing we’ve found for helping him stay on task, even if that person is doing their own thing. But I can’t check out of work until 2:30 four days a week and keep the job that puts a roof over our heads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

It break the ice and helps set the stage for next year. It's not practical to think we'll flip the switch and just return to the classroom next school year. But feel free to wander around your house shaking your fists in anger.

Putting teachers at risk at the height of the pandemic to “break the ice.” Arlington parents at their very best.

It needs to happen. Call it whatever you want. The DL model is not sustainable and is causing catastrophic damage.

The virus and the USA’s incredibly inept and corrupt handling of it has caused catastrophic damage. Distance learning, hybrid learning, concurrent learning, a vaccine which “Operation Warp Speed” can’t produce and distribute fast enough, angry and resentful parents and teachers... it’s all part of the same bag of bad side effects. Have your kids learn a European or Asian language. They may need the option to emigrate in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very sorry PP. so angry that APS is doing this to teachers for what amounts to DL in school. It is not a magically better instructional option. All it brings is risk. I am keeping my kids home to protect them and teachers. But I know that doesn’t help you. We’re at one of the crazy high hybrid middle schools.

What do you mean it amounts to DL in school? Privates in the area are certainly providing a much better in-person education that the DL garbage we get. (And yes teachers are working very hard, but it doesn't matter how hard you work if it isn't translating to learning. Sure, parents with fancy jobs that can work from home or SAHPs can make DL work. Congrats for you! The vast majority are flailing.) The keep APS closed crowd has not been able to point to any science or research to support their position. They are the anti-science crowd.

Chill. Maybe you are an elementary parent, in that case then DL and hybrid will be different. But for middle and high, the concurrent plan is DL in school. That is very clear. It’s not a debate. Our APS principal made that clear. Privates may do it differently but our principal said in APS the only way they can do concurrent is everyone on devices with headphones. I am a MS parent who was talking to a HS teacher. For 6-12, it will be DL at school.

DP. Even if that’s what it looks like, many secondary students would benefit from being in a classroom with an aide who will make sure students stay on task.

Aide?? In high school?? Lololol.

If kids come in, I expect them to work. I will tell them to stay on task. If they don’t, i’m too busy teaching the online kids to bother. It’s their choice if they come in and do nothing.

If you are physically in the classroom, then it will not be the same as distance learning.

Your kid won’t magically pay attention. It’s just you won’t be the witness any longer.

I’ve laid out for my middle schooler the parade of horribles on what hybrid might be like, and he still really wants to go back. When asked why, he said that even with everyone being in separate rooms with doors closed, he still sometimes hears his sister’s lesson in the next room (especially when she has music or PE) and finds it really distracting in a way that kids on separate tasks in a classroom never was. He said he also finds his mind wanders and he gets off task far more easily sitting at a desk in our guest room (which has nothing but his school stuff in it) than he ever did in a classroom. Even seeing all of the worst case scenarios, he firmly believes he would learn more effectively in the school building than at home.

He also thinks he would manage his time better if his independent/asynchronous work times were in the building where the expectation is that he’d sit at his desk and work during those times than he does at home when there’s accountability during those periods so it’s easy to just take a break and push off the work until after the school day. If I see him downstairs during an asynchronous time, I’ll tell him to go back upstairs and do his schoolwork, but if I’m on a work call and can’t check on him, that doesn’t happen.

He wants to be in the building, even with everything you describe, because he believes he will still learn more effectively there, and he can point to concrete and specific reasons why. It’s hard to argue with that he’s wrong.

I have similar issues to your middle schooler. I thought about going in to work from the building, but I am in one of the zip codes with a high rate of cases, and received about 5 emails last month alerting me to positive cases and quarantines at the school. It sounds like you have taken the right steps setting up a designated workspace for him. Perhaps you need to make it a bit cozier and more comfortable so that it isn’t too spartan? Could you get him fish or a pet lizard or hamster for the room? Colorful cushions? Or maybe you need to make it more office like with a nice office chair and a whiteboard and calendar? Definitely try noise canceling headphones, ear plugs, or classical music if he is noise sensitive.

You really think we haven’t tried those things? He has a desk with a chair he picked out (a jellyfish chair, because that’s the kind he’s liked the most in the classroom). He also has a regular desk chair he can swap out if needed, and a comfy couch to move to as well. He has headphones, a few different types so he can choose what feels most comfortable depending on tasks. He also has access to music if he wants it during asynchronous one time. A pet in the room would just be more distraction (and would be one more set of chores to take care of when we’re already stretched too thin).

What he needs at this stage of life is another person in the room, because just knowing there’s someone else who can see if he’s goofing off is the most effective thing we’ve found for helping him stay on task, even if that person is doing their own thing. But I can’t check out of work until 2:30 four days a week and keep the job that puts a roof over our heads.

Look, I was just trying to offer suggestions in case he DOESN’T get to go back to the building. Myself, I need to prepare myself for possible outcomes, and right now I have no idea whether I will be teaching in a classroom next month. Sorry I bothered.