the virus is not a threat to young kidsI posted this in another thread but it should go here
My rough plan for opening schools (beyond the societal precautions of masks, closures, etc):
1. Grades 1-6 should be the focus. Get them back in school first. These are the kids that require babysitters/daycare and working parents can't leave at home (or if the parents work from home, they are most likely to be very needy and distract a working parent). They are also the kids who most need in-person instruction and socialization.
2. Use all the district buildings for the 1-6 graders. If you use the middle school and high school buildings, you can actually create a lot more space. Where I work, our 3 high schools are designed for about 2,000 kids where as our elementary schools are more like 300. Using the middle and high schools allows for more space, more social distancing and smaller classes. To get the extra teachers needed for smaller classes, use the middle school teachers to teach grades 5 and 6.
3. Middle school and high school will be mostly online with some kind of slow incorporation of in-person learning. Students should have to come in x number of weeks to test and then in-person learning can tailored towards kids who are not scoring well on the tests.
The 14 year old and 16 year old I know disagreesthe virus is not a threat to young kids
they also do not carry a high enough viral load to be a risk to teachers
on with life
the virus is not a threat to young kids
they also do not carry a high enough viral load to be a risk to teachers
on with life
the virus is not a threat to young kids
they also do not carry a high enough viral load to be a risk to teachers
on with life
This. There is nothing simple about these decisionsthe virus is not a threat to young kids
they also do not carry a high enough viral load to be a risk to teachers
on with life
It is much more complex than that. Here is a good article to learn more.
Wonder if the people that say this will also be angry when kids are required to wear masks.the virus is not a threat to young kids
they also do not carry a high enough viral load to be a risk to teachers
on with life
I posted in both main thread in PSF/FFA but will repeat here. Ours hasHas anyone's districts made a call yet for fall?
On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that Cherokee County School Board Chair Kyla Cromer has called for a School Board meeting to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2020 to consider approval of the Superintendent’s recommended CCSD Reopening of School Plan.
The Superintendent’s plan calls for the school year to begin on Aug. 3, 2020 with all campuses open for Traditional In-Person learning for all grades; parents also will have the option to instead enroll their child in CCSD’s Digital Learning program. Parents who choose to keep their child home to participate in Digital Learning will be required by noon on Friday, July 17, to complete a Digital Learning Commitment Form to commit to the program from Aug. 3-Oct. 9 for elementary students; and from Aug. 3-Dec. 18 for middle and high school students.
are you willing to bet your life on that?the virus is not a threat to young kids
they also do not carry a high enough viral load to be a risk to teachers
on with life
I'm surprised there is no hybrid option, combining virtual with smaller in-person classes.Here in a county just north of Tampa, FL, parents have to choose between 3 options: 1. Back to in-person school where SD and masks will be required. 2. A virtual program with live, video conference teaching, and 3. homeschooling with weekly check-ins with teachers.
Why do you consider those ideas only half thought through?Plan is for K-8 to go back to school for a 1 week on and 2 week off rotation breaking the classes into 1/3s. The 2 weeks not in school will be virtual learning.
Busses will contain a maximum of 11 students to social distance.
High schools will go to 100% virtual learning.
Best part is that high school sports for fall have not been cancelled yet. Schools are still trying to make that happen.
So basically a bunch of half thought through ideas.
What district are you in?I posted this in another thread but it should go here
My rough plan for opening schools (beyond the societal precautions of masks, closures, etc):
1. Grades 1-6 should be the focus. Get them back in school first. These are the kids that require babysitters/daycare and working parents can't leave at home (or if the parents work from home, they are most likely to be very needy and distract a working parent). They are also the kids who most need in-person instruction and socialization.
2. Use all the district buildings for the 1-6 graders. If you use the middle school and high school buildings, you can actually create a lot more space. Where I work, our 3 high schools are designed for about 2,000 kids where as our elementary schools are more like 300. Using the middle and high schools allows for more space, more social distancing and smaller classes. To get the extra teachers needed for smaller classes, use the middle school teachers to teach grades 5 and 6.
3. Middle school and high school will be mostly online with some kind of slow incorporation of in-person learning. Students should have to come in x number of weeks to test and then in-person learning can tailored towards kids who are not scoring well on the tests.
They dont have answers for teacher workload. How can a teacher support 2/3 of the class load virtually while teaching a class full time?Why do you consider those ideas only half thought through?
It's amazing to me how there's more questions than answers from these folks.Plan is for K-8 to go back to school for a 1 week on and 2 week off rotation breaking the classes into 1/3s. The 2 weeks not in school will be virtual learning.
Busses will contain a maximum of 11 students to social distance.
High schools will go to 100% virtual learning.
Best part is that high school sports for fall have not been cancelled yet. Schools are still trying to make that happen.
So basically a bunch of half thought through ideas.
Once there is a case of covid in the school, they need to shut the whole thing down for 2 weeks right?It's amazing to me how there's more questions than answers from these folks.
Simple questions like - what happens is we have an outbreak? What do I do with my student if another family member tests positive? What is the threshold for closing schools down again and if we reach it, what will happen?
That plan was just my idea for starting the year and does not reflect anything that is actually happening. The online HS last spring was crappy last spring but I think there’s a few reasons:What district are you in?
From all accounts I have heard from teachers my daughter knows is that the online has been a disaster for the HS kids. Really think they need at least half time in person.
I assume, right? That’s likely a State decision.Once there is a case of covid in the school, they need to shut the whole thing down for 2 weeks right?
It will be and no matter what the state does it will be the wrong answer for a lot of people.I assume, right? That’s likely a State decision.
Yep - they haven't addressed that either. Also, what happens when a teacher is out - sub comes in for 2 weeks? This seems to stick with people - 4-6 week recoveries seem to be common. Do they have enough subs if there's an outbreak with teachers?Once there is a case of covid in the school, they need to shut the whole thing down for 2 weeks right?
We've had parents post to the County facebook page that if the school requires masks that they will choose to homeschool their kids. There's no way to make everyone happy when you have folks with mindsets like that.It will be and no matter what the state does it will be the wrong answer for a lot of people.
It's a tough spot to be in. I dont think the schools trying to make everyone happy is going to work.
Yep, it’s a lose-lose situation.It will be and no matter what the state does it will be the wrong answer for a lot of people.
It's a tough spot to be in. I dont think the schools trying to make everyone happy is going to work.
I hope a lot of people go the homeschool route.We've had parents post to the County facebook page that if the school requires masks that they will choose to homeschool their kids. There's no way to make everyone happy when you have folks with mindsets like that.
There's tremendous pressure for private schools to go in-person. On the other hand, they need to avoid lawsuits by following guidelines.I hope a lot of people go the homeschool route.
I know our private academies nearby are overflowing with applications. They are planning to be full time in the fall.
We did also. One of the questions was in regards to bussingJust got a survey from our district. Was kind of hard to answer as I really don't know how I feel about any option right now. Whatever their plan is we'll go a long with. I'm not going the homeschool route unless I have to. Sort of just preparing to be flexible and go with whatever is decided.
Ben Pershing@benpershing
Public opinion is mixed on this: A North Carolina poll found 34% of all voters (and 46% of Republicans) want students returning to school full time, 38% preferring a mix of at-home and classroom instruction and 29% wanting students to stay home.
And they will catch a lot of grief when they have to react to changes in the spread. Those that go fully open will get hammered if they have to close down.Just one more piece of evidence that schools are in a no-win situation here:
No matter what schools do - someone will blame them for making the wrong decision.
Not necessarily. You contact trace to anyone that they have been in contact with, within 6 feet for an extended time. Tough to do with children, I get it, but if they are following all the rules it shouldn't be very many people if any.Once there is a case of covid in the school, they need to shut the whole thing down for 2 weeks right?
Yep. I haven't heard this thought out in any of this. Splitting up time like this automatically doubles the amount of teaching time. Any of the math teachers chimed in?They dont have answers for teacher workload. How can a teacher support 2/3 of the class load virtually while teaching a class full time?
That is fair...id like to see more in detail about the 2/3 class load. Im going to bet they break up the teachers into groups. Those that are handling virtual and those that are handling in person. They will be teaching the entire group of virtual in coordination with the in person. teachers. Here that would seem to work well for K-4 (our middle school starts at 5th grade). 5-8 would be a bit different as they do move classes. But may make a subject be purely virtual...things that can be done easier virtually than in person.They dont have answers for teacher workload. How can a teacher support 2/3 of the class load virtually while teaching a class full time?
The teachers/schools struggled with the test run to end the school year. Now they want to grade virtual learning this year as well.
My county already had a bus shortage and now we're going to limit buses to 11 students. I'm sure it's a simple numbers game to get it right, but the schools get numbers games wrong on a good year, I'm worried about this.
How do students virtual learn (for grades) if they dont have the means to? Can day care support virtual learning for students that need to go that route?
And how the heck are they considering sports that require touching and no social distancing? Either it's an issue or it isn't. Dont apply one standard in the classroom and another for after school.
Math is the easiest imo. You just record your lessons and post them which many teachers do similar anyway. Then you post the assignment which is normal protocol before COVID. All kids will be turning in virtually I imagine as we don’t want kids turning in physical paper. Teachers can also available to answer virtual student questions via email or zoom as needed.Yep. I haven't heard this thought out in any of this. Splitting up time like this automatically doubles the amount of teaching time. Any of the math teachers chimed in?
Which is what is happening here. Few weeks ago they had a plan...then things have been blowing up in TN and the spread in Nashville has been pretty big.And they will catch a lot of grief when they have to react to changes in the spread. Those that go fully open will get hammered if they have to close down.
True, I'll do that for trainings at work, the required check the box boring stuff. But, that's not how teaching should happen. I assumed even the virtual sessions were going to be interactive. If we are going to give up on that we don't even need teachers. Just have Disney animate K-12 and push play.Math is the easiest imo. You just record your lessons and post them which many teachers do similar anyway. Then you post the assignment which is normal protocol before COVID. All kids will be turning in virtually I imagine as we don’t want kids turning in physical paper. Teachers can also available to answer virtual student questions via email or zoom as needed.
Right, public education certainly has room for improvement but all things considered, it would be an epic disaster if it fell apart and people had to rely on private companies to provide education for our children.Why?
It’s definitely not ideal but the hope is that it’s temporary- for a couple months maybe. I absolutely believe a teacher working with a student in person is the best way to learn. Nothing can replicate that. The real importance of a math teacher isn’t in “delivering the lesson”. They tend not to be that long really and mostly involve a walk through of example problems. The real benefit of a good teacher is being able to recognize student mistakes, understand why the mistakes are happening and provide feedback to correct it. Students need less time actually watching a teacher teach in math and more time practicing with feedback. I don’t see why the kids at home couldn’t still receive that feedback on their work. If they are their virtually live while class is going on, they could buzz in to ask questions or get 1 on 1 help from a teacher. It will just take some getting used to.True, I'll do that for trainings at work, the required check the box boring stuff. But, that's not how teaching should happen. I assumed even the virtual sessions were going to be interactive. If we are going to give up on that we don't even need teachers. Just have Disney animate K-12 and push play.
sureare you willing to bet your life on that?
I didn't say your kids life, I said your life. Would you bet your life that your kid can't transmit COVID to you?sure
there is a just above a 0% chance a student under 20 will die
https://covid19tracker.health.ny.gov/views/NYS-COVID19-Tracker/NYSDOHCOVID-19Tracker-Fatalities?%3Aembed=yes&%3Atoolbar=no&%3Atabs=n
based on NYS, the worst offender, only 15 kids died out out 4.5 tested
the odds are higher that kids will get hit by lightning
I miss understood what you said about math being the easiest. Edited my post.It’s definitely not ideal but the hope is that it’s temporary- for a couple months maybe. I absolutely believe a teacher working with a student in person is the best way to learn. Nothing can replicate that. The real importance of a math teacher isn’t in “delivering the lesson”. They tend not to be that long really and mostly involve a walk through of example problems. The real benefit of a good teacher is being able to recognize student mistakes, understand why the mistakes are happening and provide feedback to correct it. Students need less time actually watching a teacher teach in math and more time practicing with feedback. I don’t see why the kids at home couldn’t still receive that feedback on their work. If they are their virtually live while class is going on, they could buzz in to ask questions or get 1 on 1 help from a teacher. It will just take some getting used to.
I think science is the toughest of the core classes to do without everyone being there in class. Also the lack of relationships. The key to managing their behavior is developing a good relationship. That’s going to be tough without them being there in person.
also, only 15 kids in NYC died from it...interesting. Well then, by all means proceed. That's practically nothing, right?sure
there is a just above a 0% chance a student under 20 will die
https://covid19tracker.health.ny.gov/views/NYS-COVID19-Tracker/NYSDOHCOVID-19Tracker-Fatalities?%3Aembed=yes&%3Atoolbar=no&%3Atabs=n
based on NYS, the worst offender, only 15 kids died out out 4.5 tested
the odds are higher that kids will get hit by lightning