Virtual K or 1st in APS what do you think?

[Anonymous]

Is it working ok for your child? Do you think they are learning much?

[Anonymous]

It's going ok. Better than I thought it would. My kid is in 1st grade.

She's certainly learning and progressing. But I have nothing to compare it to, because I have no idea how much she would have progressed in normal in-person school.

The good part is that she has no expectations for what 1st grade was supposed to be like. Unlike some older kids who really know what they are missing. So she sort of rolls with it. I do worry the teachers don't have a grasp on exactly what she's actually doing or not though. But this is not a slight on them, it's just an impossible set up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's going ok. Better than I thought it would. My kid is in 1st grade.

She's certainly learning and progressing. But I have nothing to compare it to, because I have no idea how much she would have progressed in normal in-person school.

The good part is that she has no expectations for what 1st grade was supposed to be like. Unlike some older kids who really know what they are missing. So she sort of rolls with it. I do worry the teachers don't have a grasp on exactly what she's actually doing or not though. But this is not a slight on them, it's just an impossible set up.

This is our experience as well— it’s definitely going better than I thought it would.
My first grader is the youngest of three so I can tell you they are covering maybe 75% of the material they usually do. Writing instruction in particular seems lacking, but I’m not sure it matters that much. It’s first grade so no one expects novels.
There isn’t much differentiation other than small groups, but again this is first grade— no biggie.
I think my first grader is definitely having a better experience than my third grader

[Anonymous]

My daughter is doing well in K. Her teacher is great and she is learning and engaged. It is going a lot better than I thought it would. But so much of K is learning how to just be at school. Eating lunch in the cafeteria, sitting in a desk, checking out library books, getting in a line etc. She went to morning preschool and did some of these things, as I imagine a lot of kids did in various daycare settings, but it isn’t the whole K experience. Not to mention all the fun stuff she is missing - extra recesses and playing fun games, field trips and dress up days, that I know from experience get less and less frequent as the years go on (I have an older child). She doesn’t know what she is missing though, so she isn’t that upset. And she is a home body, so she loves wearing sweats and hanging in her room. But my heart aches for all she is losing out on.

[Anonymous]

No my 6 yo K (so on older side) is miserable and hates school Their teacher is trying hard but my kid just hates DL/being muted/fighting for attention. I got a reading tutor that is virtual but is 1-1 and thankfully she’s really progressing with that. She likes some math apps and seems to do well with them. I’ve also signed her up for dance and swim which is helping tremendously. We are applying to private school because we can’t do another year of this and I have little faith that there will be 5 days a week next fall. I’m scared we wont get in to private so we are also considering renting further out in VA to find an open school district. This kills me though because it will mean breaking up our family and seeing each only on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

We are lucky, my 1st grader is doing really well and seems to enjoy virtual school. There has been talk about never wanting to go back to school in the building. Hopefully, that idea won't stick. The teacher is fantastic and I do see my child making progress and learning new material. I don't know how it compares to typical 1st grade progress, but I think it's plenty given the situation.

[Anonymous]

My kindergartener in APS is doing well. We gets bored but we don’t stress about her taking a longer break or playing with toys while she does she lessons. She enjoys seeing the other children and she is actually learning! I’m pleasantly surprised. I’m excited for schools to reopen when it’s safe, but for now - it’s fine!

[Anonymous]

I think it depends a lot on your individual child at this age.

Our first grader is having a hard time. He struggles with not being routinely called on, and yet trying to still feel engaged and pay attention. We have to sort of co-teach with the teachers--listening to what they are saying and repeating it back to him, ensuring he is reading/writing/doing whatever they are prompting instead of zoning out or opening other things and programs on his iPad or entertaining himself with random coloring, etc. He is a very social kid, and a lot of what motivated him with regards to school was the ability to see and interact with other kids and his teachers, and the ways in which virtual learning restricts that has been very hard on him.

For us, it is a full time job to support him in this way. We are considering applying for private next year, because we are scared of being on a round of repeat, and this whole situation has immensely stressed our own jobs, marriage, and family dynamics as we push our child to try and stay engaged and focused on virtual learning.

[Anonymous]

K boy parent here. Son hates virtual format. It’s like pulling teeth to get him to compete Seesaw assignments. However, he’s as far along in learning as his older sibling was, so something must be sticking. The stress of the virtual day is very much weighing on our family. Those teachers are really trying, but I’m concerned my son will hate school from this experience. He loved Pre-k and thrived there. Praying for the case counts to come down and hybrid to start. This work from home and monitor K is crushing my soul. Am counting my blessings that he is somehow learning and that we have jobs and what we need.

[Anonymous]

As far as learning math/reading. I think my kid is doing fine. AS far as the social skills/independence/maturity they are supposed to gain it is not happening.

I think my K kid does struggle with engagement and getting bored, but I do think he is really learning a lot. He tells me he likes it.

[Anonymous]

Our 1st grade girl enjoys virtual school, much more than just being bored at home during the early days of the APS pandemic closures.

Her teacher is doing a great job under the trying circumstances.

That said I concern that the curriculum is watered down and I try to make up for this at home when I am off work.

I hope 5 days a week of normal school comes back soon.

[Anonymous]

Get the kids back: https://twitter.com/vprasadmdmph/status/1349427733969788929?s=10

I will lose it if they are not back 5 days next year.

[Anonymous]

1st grade boy. He is miserable and his teacher doesn’t seem to have a firm handle on where he is with reading/writing. He’s my oldest but I am fairly certain he is not where he would be we’re here in the classroom.

I actually think my 4 year old daughter could handle DL better. He just doesn’t have the attention span or ability to sit still and focus in a screen. He also desperately misses the social interaction of school.