Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 13:55     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Anonymous wrote:I would like to be provided funding to pay for what works for my family. We need (1) internet connection reimbursement (it's ridiculous that we are paying for required school supplies); (2) workbooks that we like on Amazon; (3) lessons that work for us on Outschool.

I have spent hundreds of dollars since this started and would like some reimbursement.

If the teacher will be doing it, please do SMALL groups of 3-5 kids per class (break it up) so you meet with the same kids every week one day at the same time for one hour. Large classes of over 8 kids does NOT work well. The teacher should then provide workbooks (copies with stples every week is a disorganized mess and does NOT work) at th kids level (like my kid is using a workbook for 5th graders and is in 2nd grade because that is his level). And have some funding for other interests (like art supply, science lab supply, etc). It is expensive!


Then teachers should be reimbursed for our personal computers, printers paper and ink, postage for sending out packets, and internet connection. If we are expected to have manipulatives for demonstrations, white boards and markers, etc then they should be expensed. If they are now requirements of the job then they should be funded by the district. Teachers can’t even itemize supplies for our classrooms on our taxes anymore (thanks Trump!)
I’m not going to set up a school in my house at my own expense.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 10:45     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Anonymous wrote:Schools will reopen mostly normal (no assemblies? maybe)

I think it’s overly optimistic teachers on this board suggesting otherwise.


I don’t quite follow who you think is being optimistic here.

The people being optimistic are the ones thinking school will open.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 10:35     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
If they have to have online learning, I would like to see more small group zoom meetings, especially in elementary school. 6 kids with the teacher once a week instead of 26. It's really difficult for kids to participate and hold their interest with over 20 kids on one zoom. So some days would be the entire class, and then each child gets at least one small group at least once a week.

I like alternating students for in person school, but unfortunately that will never happen in MCPS because of busses and concerns of equality. I think that can happen in private schools or smaller school systems.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 10:29     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Schools will reopen mostly normal (no assemblies? maybe)

I think it’s overly optimistic teachers on this board suggesting otherwise.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 10:22     Subject: Re:How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would like them to open up as normal. There is no alternative


Agree. All normal activities, with teachers posting materials online or having a time of day for kids to Zoom into the classroom to joing their classmates, if they aren't attending school. People can assess the risk themselves.


NOPE. This won’t happen. The school day WILL be adjusted in some fashion.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 10:20     Subject: Re:How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Anonymous wrote:I would like them to open up as normal. There is no alternative


School won’t resume in it’s “normal” fashion in the fall. At a bare minimum there has to be social distancing and no large group assemblies, etc. if you need some time to digest that idea that’s fine but you’ll get there eventually. You have no choice.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 09:52     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
We have a incoming 1st grader and 8th grader. I'd like to see half days for both, but zero online instructions for 1st grader. He gets nothing out of Zoom meetings.
Half days - 9 to 12 pm or 12-3 pm. Quality over quantity.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 09:39     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
How exactly will half day or alternating days work with adults’ working schedules? Maybe those who can still telework can make it work, but what about teachers with kids? What do they do with their kids if they are in the building all day every day, but their kids aren’t? Are teachers going to get free childcare? Doubtful. That’s why distance learning will need to continue.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 08:06     Subject: Re:How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
I like the idea of of alternating students. Some working at home, some in school. However, that may look: Half the kids on one day, the other half on the other day. I also like the idea that some students could continue to learn at home, through the digital platforms and not come to school at all. Those students who aren't being successful come into school, and make it a opt in type of thing. Those students who want to do classroom instruction can come in, even if they are being successful at home. Or have one day set aside for the online learners to come in to participate in an activity that is hard to do online. I think that the way that we were doing school is so out-of-date. This might be the catalyst for change in the education system.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2020 07:57     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
If we’re assuming all kids can’t be in the building at one time, I’d love to see a full day at school, rather than half days. A half day seems like too short of a time for much benefit of being in school, and trying to get my kid to do the other half at home sounds miserable.
So have small groups each go in for one day per week, and use that day for labs, projects, presentations, etc.
Maybe split the kids into thirds, so the teacher is teaching three days and has the other two days to prepare materials and videos for the kids to work on while not at school.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2020 23:09     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would like to be provided funding to pay for what works for my family. We need (1) internet connection reimbursement (it's ridiculous that we are paying for required school supplies); (2) workbooks that we like on Amazon; (3) lessons that work for us on Outschool.

I have spent hundreds of dollars since this started and would like some reimbursement.

If the teacher will be doing it, please do SMALL groups of 3-5 kids per class (break it up) so you meet with the same kids every week one day at the same time for one hour. Large classes of over 8 kids does NOT work well. The teacher should then provide workbooks (copies with stples every week is a disorganized mess and does NOT work) at th kids level (like my kid is using a workbook for 5th graders and is in 2nd grade because that is his level). And have some funding for other interests (like art supply, science lab supply, etc). It is expensive!


LOL!

-all parents of kids with SNs


Not the PP, but I don't understand this reply. Was it sarcasm? Don't SN kids already get what the PP is asking for -- an individualized learning plan for every child? If it can be done for SN kids, why can't it be done for everyone? Everyone is different and has unique needs of one sort or another.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2020 22:21     Subject: Re:How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Anonymous wrote:I would like them to open up as normal. There is no alternative


Agree. All normal activities, with teachers posting materials online or having a time of day for kids to Zoom into the classroom to joing their classmates, if they aren't attending school. People can assess the risk themselves.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2020 22:20     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1st grader next year. Remote learning isn’t working, and it looks like schools are the first to reopen, so half days are probably the best scenario. Maybe having less students in the classrooms will make the time more doll focused and less chaotic anyway.


It is working for my kid.

That’s great, maybe the kids who like it can stay home and log in remotely so the class size will be smaller.


I would LOVE this. My sons anxiety manifests as fight or flight. That got him placement in a non public private. Because of the current situation, we were offered the opportunity to log into his old mainstream class. He is rocking it. I have never seen him this calm and content when it comes to school. He is finally in a place where he is actually learning.



FCPS has an IPAD on a robot that lets kids attend classes virtually--they never offered this option to you?
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2020 22:19     Subject: How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
Anonymous wrote:I would like to be provided funding to pay for what works for my family. We need (1) internet connection reimbursement (it's ridiculous that we are paying for required school supplies); (2) workbooks that we like on Amazon; (3) lessons that work for us on Outschool.

I have spent hundreds of dollars since this started and would like some reimbursement.

If the teacher will be doing it, please do SMALL groups of 3-5 kids per class (break it up) so you meet with the same kids every week one day at the same time for one hour. Large classes of over 8 kids does NOT work well. The teacher should then provide workbooks (copies with stples every week is a disorganized mess and does NOT work) at th kids level (like my kid is using a workbook for 5th graders and is in 2nd grade because that is his level). And have some funding for other interests (like art supply, science lab supply, etc). It is expensive!


LOL!

-all parents of kids with SNs
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2020 22:18     Subject: Re:How would you like school and classes to run in Fall?
I would like them to open up as normal. There is no alternative