Anonymous wrote:My kids school (Catholic) is doing an excellent job with elearning. I have been impressed with the communication, organization, content, and the detail in the lessons. The videos are helpful and personal as well, which adds a human aspect. It is obvious the teachers worked very hard, very quickly, to get this up and running so students could continue to learn.

+1. Could not be happier! DD has a full day of schooling from her teacher and it is awesome!

Anonymous wrote:We are at a small religious private school, with kids in PK4 and K. It's been great. Last day of school was last Friday. The kids got paper packets to last them through Tuesday.

Virtual school, running from 9am to 3pm, began yesterday. They are using Google Classroom on Chromebook as the homebase, with both live-action Zoom meetings and prerecorded videos. There are songs, stories, dances, and cute games, so it's not all "academic."

For the kindergarteners and a few younger readers, they are using Reading A-Z, an online platform. Among other things, it allows readers to record themselves reading a book for teacher review. For kindergarteners, they are using Moby Max, an online program, for math. And finally, kindergarteners get individual Zoom timeslots to read to teachers 1 on 1.

Oh, wow, that's great! Sounds like your kids are in very competent hands! Mine are older and doing well but I was wondering what was happening for the little kids at school.

Two different schools and so far going well. Middle school DC has recorded lessons. All assignments are completed then uploaded. The teachers are having some live sessions with the entire class and office hours.

Elementary DC meets with class first thing in the AM via video. They do their regular routine then independent work using packets. They have an afternoon session with the class to review ask questions. Also have one on one video meeting with teacher 3 days per week.

Anonymous wrote:My DC is an 8th grader at a K-8 in Maryland. I think the school is doing a great job with virtual learning. Very organized, no problems with connection. We even had a virtual parent/teacher/student conference yesterday that went really well. Just as good as would have been in person.

Mine is a 7th grader at Green Acres. They did an amazing job getting everyone online for middle school. Conferences went great today. Friends of younger kids at the school are also reporting great experiences.

The school really thought about this and had a plan ready to roll out. So pleased with how it is going.

We are at a small religious private school, with kids in PK4 and K. It's been great. Last day of school was last Friday. The kids got paper packets to last them through Tuesday.

Virtual school, running from 9am to 3pm, began yesterday. They are using Google Classroom on Chromebook as the homebase, with both live-action Zoom meetings and prerecorded videos. There are songs, stories, dances, and cute games, so it's not all "academic."

For the kindergarteners and a few younger readers, they are using Reading A-Z, an online platform. Among other things, it allows readers to record themselves reading a book for teacher review. For kindergarteners, they are using Moby Max, an online program, for math. And finally, kindergarteners get individual Zoom timeslots to read to teachers 1 on 1.

We are at Lowell. I've been blown away by the teacher's creativity and innovation. They've turned on a dime! Lots of great lessons and virtual calls/zoom meetings happening.

We have noticed that the teachers who are terrific are even better with engagement in distance learning. The teachers that were not great before are worse now with little to zero content. We are hoping with time that the eye in the sky at school figures this out. I am sure they will see who is emailing parents and who has created content. I had to put together a video for my own students for another job and it did not take me long because you can even send from your phone. Anything just to show you are trying is helpful.

Say what now?

Anonymous wrote:In our house, it's the long-awaited mashup of Lord of the Flies and the Shining.

Thanks for the laugh and the amazing visual!

It is going well for our kids in elementary. I’m proud of the teachers for working hard to keep the kids engaged with brief assignments they can submit with videos or photos to show their work. So they are not on the screen all the time, it just keeps their schedule. And we can adapt the day, take breaks for our own learning or outdoor activity whenever we choose.

Im appreciative they found a balance between structure and flexibility.

Anonymous wrote:In our house, it's the long-awaited mashup of Lord of the Flies and the Shining.

Love this

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC private has not done a great job with 'distance learning.' Very disappointing. The Middle School in particular is lacking; a scattershot approach. Some teachers not doing anything, others using email and google tools. And most of it is asynchronous. And the administration has adopted what feels like a gaslighting approach in parent updates and really not embracing much responsibility. I acknowledge that this is a challenge for all but I do see plenty of other schools that are handling it much better.

As a teacher and parent, please try to contain your criticism/negativity in these next weeks. Offer courteous and productive feedback to your schools, but remember that this is a very sudden change for the schools. Some of the older teachers don't even use tech much. So be patient.

That's helpful. You are correct. Thanks for the reminder. The principal of our Middle School generates agita with poor communications -- gaslighting and glossing over concerns. But fundamentally, what you're saying helps.

My 9th grader started yesterday and it seemed to go well. Mostly some posted lectures and assignments to turn in online. I’m most worried about math since he is in honors and the teacher won’t be posting online lectures from what she wrote. Gulp! He has struggled all year and we’ve already agreed that he will drop down to regular math next year. Thankfully he started with a tutor after midterms and he has started online tutoring. My son does like being able to sleep in since most of the work is just due by the end of the day. He did just finish a bio test which he had to take from 11-1 today. His math teacher will be online tomorrow at 10:30 to answer questions. I’m a public school teacher and haven’t gotten any directions about what will happen after next week (they moved our spring break to next week). We don’t have the capability to do online schooling since our district has such a high poverty rate. Maybe I’ll just have to make more learning packets.

Our school's system keeps crashing.

I have a younger kid in private and an older in public hs. It’s not true that all public schools are covering no new subject matter; DS’s school is finishing up Q3 this week with final assignments and lectures. Monday is when teachers are supposed to more fully transition to online learning.

They are not supposed to be tested on new material until they return to school, but teachers can give preliminary assessments that they essentially lock in after school starts back up. When and if. I’d imagine that they will be tweaking things as we go along.