Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:47
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!
Are you serious? Do you not even know what Anne Arundel's numbers have been like, for many months, despite the influx of tourists?
My kid has been hybrid in private school in AA Co all year and it's gone brilliantly. And the school has, obviously, not had an outbreak.
How nice for you. School of the Incarnation around the corner from me did have an outbreak.
Really? They had an "outbreak" or a few cases?
Enough cases to shut down a whole grade and pull siblings out of other grades, so whatever you like.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:47
Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:I hear what you are saying, and agree that the model is not ideal, but there are benefits to having some in-person interaction with teachers. This is the easiest way of doing it, and allows classes to stay together and with their current teachers. There really isn't any other choice.
This is the model that private schools have been using, although private schools have cameras rather than having the teachers use the laptops. Cameras allow teachers to be more active in the classroom. My kids use this model at their private school, and although it has some drawbacks, including the fact that the teachers are on camera wearing masks, my kids feel that the in person interaction is worth it. There's a connection that comes from learning in person that just isn't possible in DL. In addition, this model avoids penalizing any student for staying home, making it more likely that families will keep any child experiencing any COVID-like symptoms home.
Your private school probably has half the number of kids in the class, combined in person and at home, compared to public schools.
It's a lot easier to engage 15 students - some at home and some in class, than it is to engage 25+ kids, some in class, some at home.
I'm not against re-opening, but from an academic perspective, IMO, it's only marginally better. I think the social aspects of being in class is good, though.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:45
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!
Are you serious? Do you not even know what Anne Arundel's numbers have been like, for many months, despite the influx of tourists?
My kid has been hybrid in private school in AA Co all year and it's gone brilliantly. And the school has, obviously, not had an outbreak.
How nice for you. School of the Incarnation around the corner from me did have an outbreak.
Really? They had an "outbreak" or a few cases?
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:44
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!
Are you serious? Do you not even know what Anne Arundel's numbers have been like, for many months, despite the influx of tourists?
My kid has been hybrid in private school in AA Co all year and it's gone brilliantly. And the school has, obviously, not had an outbreak.
How nice for you. School of the Incarnation around the corner from me did have an outbreak.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:29
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:AACPS voted last night to go back in a hybrid mode for K-2 on November 16 and 3-5 on November 30, with middle and high school later (maybe as early as the second week of December)
On one hand, I'm thrilled there is forward motion... on the other hand it's a TERRIBLE plan!
There will be two cohorts - Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday. Everyone is home on Wednesdays. So far, so good.
However, the teachers will be expected to be actively teaching both cohorts at the same time. So the teacher is still sitting in front of her computer, still using the same virtual tools to teach, and now has to manage in class and online behaviors. And the in school kids are just sitting at their desks instead of sitting at their houses.
Sounds like all the risk of in person without any of the benefit.
Other private schools are following this model (Spaulding, for one) and it's working well. I think the new normal will have a transition which is difficult but if the county had done this plan in September like the private schools instead of choosing all virtual, many of these mid semester changes wouldn't be happening.
Any in person time with a live teacher and live friends to banter with over the chromebooks is a good thing. It's the exact same as some of the virutal learning pods and daycares that are set up for school aged children. There is a benefit to this type of instruction.
The sad part is that it is going to implemented mid semester and the kids who are staying fully virutal will need to change teachers. Once again, if it was done in September like the Archdiocese or other private schools, this transition wouldn't have been necessary.
PP, are you sure about the bolded part? Why can't students who are staying virtual just remain virtual under the new model?
Not that posted, but yes - that's what both Arlotto and the board members said. Virtual kids will be in a separate class - probably with a new teacher and maybe even with a teacher and kids from a different school.
Given the teacher will always be teaching kids at home anyway, I have no idea why they are doing it that way.
They even said that even hybrid kids may have to change their teacher depending on which teachers come back and how many kids chose each option. They will "balance" the classes to make sure each elem homeroom cohort only has 10-12 kids, so if a lot of kids from one homeroom chose virtual they may shift kids around.
Thanks PP. That's a shame and unfortunately, terribly disruptive for the kids already dealing with this less than ideal learning environment. I guess the benefit of doing it that way is that it will allow teachers who don't want to or have medical issues that would prevent them from teaching in person to have their own virtual classes. The workforce will be divided to make things as safe as possible for those teaching in person, with smaller classes for the in-person teachers.
I'm one of the posters above whose kids attend a private in AA County using a hybrid model. I was completely against sending my kids in person at first, but now, I'm so grateful that they have had the opportunity for some in-person learning. Fall was the time to do it, and we are grateful for each day they get to go in person. Chances are the school will resume all virtual for some, if not all, weeks of school during the winter.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:23
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!
That was my thought too. The 3 - 5 kids will get SIX whole days in person before winter break. Hardly seems worth the risk of travel/holidays/etc, not to mention the extra work for the teachers around the holidays.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:22
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:AACPS voted last night to go back in a hybrid mode for K-2 on November 16 and 3-5 on November 30, with middle and high school later (maybe as early as the second week of December)
On one hand, I'm thrilled there is forward motion... on the other hand it's a TERRIBLE plan!
There will be two cohorts - Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday. Everyone is home on Wednesdays. So far, so good.
However, the teachers will be expected to be actively teaching both cohorts at the same time. So the teacher is still sitting in front of her computer, still using the same virtual tools to teach, and now has to manage in class and online behaviors. And the in school kids are just sitting at their desks instead of sitting at their houses.
Sounds like all the risk of in person without any of the benefit.
Other private schools are following this model (Spaulding, for one) and it's working well. I think the new normal will have a transition which is difficult but if the county had done this plan in September like the private schools instead of choosing all virtual, many of these mid semester changes wouldn't be happening.
Any in person time with a live teacher and live friends to banter with over the chromebooks is a good thing. It's the exact same as some of the virutal learning pods and daycares that are set up for school aged children. There is a benefit to this type of instruction.
The sad part is that it is going to implemented mid semester and the kids who are staying fully virutal will need to change teachers. Once again, if it was done in September like the Archdiocese or other private schools, this transition wouldn't have been necessary.
PP, are you sure about the bolded part? Why can't students who are staying virtual just remain virtual under the new model?
Not that posted, but yes - that's what both Arlotto and the board members said. Virtual kids will be in a separate class - probably with a new teacher and maybe even with a teacher and kids from a different school.
Given the teacher will always be teaching kids at home anyway, I have no idea why they are doing it that way.
They even said that even hybrid kids may have to change their teacher depending on which teachers come back and how many kids chose each option. They will "balance" the classes to make sure each elem homeroom cohort only has 10-12 kids, so if a lot of kids from one homeroom chose virtual they may shift kids around.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:20
Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:I hear what you are saying, and agree that the model is not ideal, but there are benefits to having some in-person interaction with teachers. This is the easiest way of doing it, and allows classes to stay together and with their current teachers. There really isn't any other choice.
This is the model that private schools have been using, although private schools have cameras rather than having the teachers use the laptops. Cameras allow teachers to be more active in the classroom. My kids use this model at their private school, and although it has some drawbacks, including the fact that the teachers are on camera wearing masks, my kids feel that the in person interaction is worth it. There's a connection that comes from learning in person that just isn't possible in DL. In addition, this model avoids penalizing any student for staying home, making it more likely that families will keep any child experiencing any COVID-like symptoms home.
This is reassuring, thanks.
Evidently we have to make a decision by 10/15, and I'm just not sure we'll have all the info needed.
The two most pressing questions to me are 1. What do the in person kids do for the two hour mid day break? and 2. What do kids who still haven't received chromebooks do (there's no way I'm sending my 8 year old in to school with my personal laptop)
Then there's just the general questions about enforcing mask compliance, actions if there's a positive case, etc., etc. But mostly I'm concerned about that two hour break.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:18
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!
Are you serious? Do you not even know what Anne Arundel's numbers have been like, for many months, despite the influx of tourists?
My kid has been hybrid in private school in AA Co all year and it's gone brilliantly. And the school has, obviously, not had an outbreak.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:17
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!
Well, that is a benefit of allowing students to come to school, if the families choose, or to stay home as appropriate. Personally, I hope that people re-think their holiday plans, but if you plan to be together with high risk family members, then you don't go to school the two weeks before Thanksgiving. On the other hand, many people would be willing to give up or alter holiday plans in order to have their kids in school in person.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:15
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:12
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:AACPS voted last night to go back in a hybrid mode for K-2 on November 16 and 3-5 on November 30, with middle and high school later (maybe as early as the second week of December)
On one hand, I'm thrilled there is forward motion... on the other hand it's a TERRIBLE plan!
There will be two cohorts - Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday. Everyone is home on Wednesdays. So far, so good.
However, the teachers will be expected to be actively teaching both cohorts at the same time. So the teacher is still sitting in front of her computer, still using the same virtual tools to teach, and now has to manage in class and online behaviors. And the in school kids are just sitting at their desks instead of sitting at their houses.
Sounds like all the risk of in person without any of the benefit.
Other private schools are following this model (Spaulding, for one) and it's working well. I think the new normal will have a transition which is difficult but if the county had done this plan in September like the private schools instead of choosing all virtual, many of these mid semester changes wouldn't be happening.
Any in person time with a live teacher and live friends to banter with over the chromebooks is a good thing. It's the exact same as some of the virutal learning pods and daycares that are set up for school aged children. There is a benefit to this type of instruction.
The sad part is that it is going to implemented mid semester and the kids who are staying fully virutal will need to change teachers. Once again, if it was done in September like the Archdiocese or other private schools, this transition wouldn't have been necessary.
PP, are you sure about the bolded part? Why can't students who are staying virtual just remain virtual under the new model?
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:03
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:AACPS voted last night to go back in a hybrid mode for K-2 on November 16 and 3-5 on November 30, with middle and high school later (maybe as early as the second week of December)
On one hand, I'm thrilled there is forward motion... on the other hand it's a TERRIBLE plan!
There will be two cohorts - Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday. Everyone is home on Wednesdays. So far, so good.
However, the teachers will be expected to be actively teaching both cohorts at the same time. So the teacher is still sitting in front of her computer, still using the same virtual tools to teach, and now has to manage in class and online behaviors. And the in school kids are just sitting at their desks instead of sitting at their houses.
Sounds like all the risk of in person without any of the benefit.
Other private schools are following this model (Spaulding, for one) and it's working well. I think the new normal will have a transition which is difficult but if the county had done this plan in September like the private schools instead of choosing all virtual, many of these mid semester changes wouldn't be happening.
Any in person time with a live teacher and live friends to banter with over the chromebooks is a good thing. It's the exact same as some of the virutal learning pods and daycares that are set up for school aged children. There is a benefit to this type of instruction.
The sad part is that it is going to implemented mid semester and the kids who are staying fully virutal will need to change teachers. Once again, if it was done in September like the Archdiocese or other private schools, this transition wouldn't have been necessary.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 10:03
Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
I hear what you are saying, and agree that the model is not ideal, but there are benefits to having some in-person interaction with teachers. This is the easiest way of doing it, and allows classes to stay together and with their current teachers. There really isn't any other choice.
This is the model that private schools have been using, although private schools have cameras rather than having the teachers use the laptops. Cameras allow teachers to be more active in the classroom. My kids use this model at their private school, and although it has some drawbacks, including the fact that the teachers are on camera wearing masks, my kids feel that the in person interaction is worth it. There's a connection that comes from learning in person that just isn't possible in DL. In addition, this model avoids penalizing any student for staying home, making it more likely that families will keep any child experiencing any COVID-like symptoms home.
This is the model that private schools have been using, although private schools have cameras rather than having the teachers use the laptops. Cameras allow teachers to be more active in the classroom. My kids use this model at their private school, and although it has some drawbacks, including the fact that the teachers are on camera wearing masks, my kids feel that the in person interaction is worth it. There's a connection that comes from learning in person that just isn't possible in DL. In addition, this model avoids penalizing any student for staying home, making it more likely that families will keep any child experiencing any COVID-like symptoms home.
Anonymous
10/08/2020 09:56
Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
AACPS voted last night to go back in a hybrid mode for K-2 on November 16 and 3-5 on November 30, with middle and high school later (maybe as early as the second week of December)
On one hand, I'm thrilled there is forward motion... on the other hand it's a TERRIBLE plan!
There will be two cohorts - Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday. Everyone is home on Wednesdays. So far, so good.
However, the teachers will be expected to be actively teaching both cohorts at the same time. So the teacher is still sitting in front of her computer, still using the same virtual tools to teach, and now has to manage in class and online behaviors. And the in school kids are just sitting at their desks instead of sitting at their houses.
Sounds like all the risk of in person without any of the benefit.
On one hand, I'm thrilled there is forward motion... on the other hand it's a TERRIBLE plan!
There will be two cohorts - Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday. Everyone is home on Wednesdays. So far, so good.
However, the teachers will be expected to be actively teaching both cohorts at the same time. So the teacher is still sitting in front of her computer, still using the same virtual tools to teach, and now has to manage in class and online behaviors. And the in school kids are just sitting at their desks instead of sitting at their houses.
Sounds like all the risk of in person without any of the benefit.