Teacher Question: Concurrent Teaching and Supervising Other Students

[Anonymous]

I am a high school teacher and have been excited to get back in the building. The idea of concurrent teaching has been difficult to swallow, but I got to a place that I have to do, what I have to do, and I’ll figure it out.

Our school was not able to hire enough monitors to cover for all teachers not returning for ADA reasons or lack of childcare. I believe that even if they had enough monitors, they never thought we would be in person, so created a virtual schedule where we had more classes than classrooms. For these reasons teachers returning will now be supervising students of teachers not returning, while they attend the virtual teachers class.

So I will learn to teach concurrently while having the distraction of other students in the room who I am supervising.

Is this what schools are doing? It just doesn’t feel right. I’m trying to stay positive, but this has thrown me for a loop and I’m really upset by it.

[Anonymous]

That is so ridiculous! Teachers need to push back. You are going to be busy teaching your students. You shouldn’t have to babysit other students.

[Anonymous]

That is insane. You should contact WaPo to see if they are willing to cover it because that cannot be normal. Or at least elevate within FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is so ridiculous! Teachers need to push back. You are going to be busy teaching your students. You shouldn’t have to babysit other students.

Teachers have pushed back a gains these inane plans and been told that they just want to stay home in their pjs. The only proper responnse from teachers has become “How high, Sir?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is so ridiculous! Teachers need to push back. You are going to be busy teaching your students. You shouldn’t have to babysit other students.

It sounds insane but what else can happen?

OP I don't know how that'll work. But we're all figuring it out as we it out as we go along.

[Anonymous]

This is exactly why I support asynchronous hybrid as a parent.

I want kids back in school but we also need to make it doable for teachers, so it’s not a total shit show. Even at best, there are going to be behavior or technology problems with concurrent so it’ll wind up being mediocre to the teacher just focusing on the ten in person students.

[Anonymous]

Teachers cannot push back on this kind of nonsense, unfortunately.

Hybrid/Concurrent has some logistical challenges involved and schools are going to need to place staff where coverage is needed.

The bigger concern OP is what happens when YOU are sick and cannot come to school?

Will they find a sub for you, a sub who is able to teach classes virtually while at school, also providing coverage for other teachers' students?

Or will your team members need to now teach your classes PLUS cover the students who are taking their own classes online in the classroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly why I support asynchronous hybrid as a parent.

I want kids back in school but we also need to make it doable for teachers, so it’s not a total shit show. Even at best, there are going to be behavior or technology problems with concurrent so it’ll wind up being mediocre to the teacher just focusing on the ten in person students.

No, the technology problems that used to be associated with using tech in schools have completely disappeared. Not going to be an issue any longer. /snark

[Anonymous]

Good gracious OP! As someone who is going to be a classroom monitor, I can't even imagine. I hope you're getting every raise Virginia put in the budget (if you're in VA). I am a pro-open parent, but one who puts these kinds of failures on administration and the loudest scared voices (unions & DL-forever parents).

This is 100% a failure of the administration and I wish you'd reach out to Washington Post or another outlet and see if they will cover this story - but I imagine that would be scary as an employee.

[Anonymous]

We only cover for a teacher during our planning period. Never when we are teaching our own classes.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure OP. I just found out that I will be teaching 10’4 year olds in person and 10 virtually. I’m pouring a glass of wine now and will try to wrap my head around it this weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure OP. I just found out that I will be teaching 10’4 year olds in person and 10 virtually. I’m pouring a glass of wine now and will try to wrap my head around it this weekend.

Ha ha ha ha ha SOB. Sorry, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a high school teacher and have been excited to get back in the building. The idea of concurrent teaching has been difficult to swallow, but I got to a place that I have to do, what I have to do, and I’ll figure it out.

Our school was not able to hire enough monitors to cover for all teachers not returning for ADA reasons or lack of childcare. I believe that even if they had enough monitors, they never thought we would be in person, so created a virtual schedule where we had more classes than classrooms. For these reasons teachers returning will now be supervising students of teachers not returning, while they attend the virtual teachers class.

So I will learn to teach concurrently while having the distraction of other students in the room who I am supervising.

Is this what schools are doing? It just doesn’t feel right. I’m trying to stay positive, but this has thrown me for a loop and I’m really upset by it.

Hi, OP. No, this absolutely isn’t what other schools are doing. It seems like most schools will be housing kids with a virtual teacher in a larger central area (like the auditorium or library). They will have monitors in that central area and other teachers absolutely aren’t expected to supervise other teacher’s students on a daily basis.

Frankly, I would email your students’ parents and families and explain the situation (it could go in a general back to school message). Let the parents take it from there. You have enough on your plate with getting ready to teach concurrently. I’d be horrified to hear that my kids’ teachers were being asked to do that and I’d absolutely complain if my kids’ teachers were being tasked with supervising students of a virtual teacher while also teaching concurrently .

Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We only cover for a teacher during our planning period. Never when we are teaching our own classes.

Lucky you! Not what all principals are saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly why I support asynchronous hybrid as a parent.

I want kids back in school but we also need to make it doable for teachers, so it’s not a total shit show. Even at best, there are going to be behavior or technology problems with concurrent so it’ll wind up being mediocre to the teacher just focusing on the ten in person students.

How does asynchronous hybrid support the kids who are all virtual?

If all of my students were hybrid, then I agree. I'd just focus on the kids in the classroom and assign really good asynchronous work for the days they're out. We'd do a few brief periods online to set up a task, or provide some structure, but not much. I think the small group benefits and the lack of tech interruptions would make up for less live time.

But that doesn't address the third group, which in my case is larger than the two hybrid groups combined, and includes all of my students with the highest needs. They obviously need some live instruction.