milano
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Post by milano on Jul 28, 2020 14:44:54 GMT -6
I ordered these for J's "kindergarten in the foyer" classroom😆. And a couple little wall charts with numbers and stuff. And some random art decorating supplies and some wide ruled blank notebooks and pencils. Hopefully we won't need much else.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 28, 2020 18:11:25 GMT -6
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Jul 28, 2020 20:20:10 GMT -6
Yes! I watched that this morning and it's so on-point
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Jul 29, 2020 7:42:45 GMT -6
I'm frustrated by a fb post from one of my good friends about all this - and it concludes that its the social responsibility of people to keep kids home when possible to protect teachers, other staff, etc. And she is a parent of kids with special needs, so she gets that kids learn very differently. But she also is very well off, employs at least one nanny, and doesn't have to work. Its someone I've been in touch with this whole time and her post rubbed me the wrong way or induced working mom guilt or something. Just venting.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 29, 2020 8:06:32 GMT -6
Not going to quote you, but I see a lot of variations of that thinking.
Several moms chimed in that they were doing online learning because of safety concerns.
I had to weigh a lot of pros and cons for my kids. I cant balance my day between school and work.
My choice would be leaving my job to keep the kids home or sending them to school. I cant justfy half-assing both things and hoping I dont get fired.
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nikkipal
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Post by nikkipal on Jul 29, 2020 8:16:33 GMT -6
As I probably said before, M’s school will be all virtual for at least nine weeks. My department director sent out an email asking how they could support working parents. She gave examples like working different hours or more on weekends. After a lot of consideration, I emailed my boss and said that the best situation for me would be to only work remotely while school is out, so I can contribute to helping M.
I am so distraught about having asked this, bc it seems unfair to the rest of my team. I assume if they take me off the rotation for working onsite, it will mean the rest of the team will have to work onsite more. I really don’t want things to be unfair, and I really don’t want my coworkers to resent me.
The rest of the team either doesn’t have children, has grown children, and one person has an 11 year old. Another person has a senior in high school. There have been a few comments that lead me to believe that most people would prefer WFH as much as possible.
Other options we’ve considered are having my MIL or mother staying with us for two weeks at a time, which would honestly be a big burden on everyone. We have discussed trying to hire someone to help in our house during the day, but I’m not sure the availability of that. Also, a couple of places are offering “school hour care,” where they would supposedly help kids with their distance learning and do other activities throughout the day. In theory that sounds good, but I really don’t think they could provide the level of support she needs. She can’t even log into a computer independently at this point.
The email from our director said that the nature of this situation means that everyone won’t be equal, since we all have different challenges, but that they would try to be consistent. I honestly think most working parents are going to ask for the same thing, but I’m still nervous and wracked with guilt over even asking.
Sorry for the brain dump. TLDR, M has virtual school and we are trying to figure out how to make it work.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 29, 2020 8:19:58 GMT -6
I think that this is a brand new layer to mommy-wars (it's novel! Just like the virus! haha weep). I think that because it's new, we don't have social norms on it yet (like well intentioned moms know not to judge the way another mom feeds their baby). And tensions are running SO high. I feel like all of us have had at least one social misstep during this pandemic. We all want our choice to be the RIGHT choice, so we seek confirmation that other people are making the same right choice we are. We also each come to our choice through so much thought and deliberation, so obvs it's right and everything else in wrong. But there are zero right choices right now. There are only "best option for our situation" choices. So we flounder and doubt and offend and get offended. It's all a hot mess.
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Jul 29, 2020 9:09:49 GMT -6
mapleme you are so right. I was talking to my mom the other day, and she compared this new school decision to the "breast milk vs. formula" situation. And it's so accurate. I say "learning is best!" LOL. You do you, whatever it is that's best for your child/family.
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Jul 29, 2020 9:36:12 GMT -6
yea, and my friend wasn't being judgemental - just providing some perspective. But she is extremely privileged and maybe i'm just jealous of some of the things that affords her. Of course I am also privileged in many ways. But I'm also not posting on fb telling people to "just stagger their work hours and get it done" bc I know its not common to be able to do that.
My place of employment is going to be on the news as a hot spot in two months, and they want everyone back at work. I refuse (did I tell ya'll this?). So maybe they'll let me go, but I doubt it (my role is in the shadows).
maybe I should just stay off FB.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 29, 2020 9:56:00 GMT -6
Staggering my hours works for normal weeks.
Then there is forecast, month end, and plan is the beast of all time sucks. For plan I'm usually working 7 days a week for 3 weeks. I cant spread that out. I have time restrictions that arent flexible.
Plus teaching and watching children while the other parent works, then working 4 to 6 hours a night is a good way the burn out quick for both parents.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 29, 2020 10:51:31 GMT -6
Staggering my hours works for normal weeks. Then there is forecast, month end, and plan is the beast of all time sucks. For plan I'm usually working 7 days a week for 3 weeks. I cant spread that out. I have time restrictions that arent flexible. Plus teaching and watching children while the other parent works, then working 4 to 6 hours a night is a good way the burn out quick for both parents.This is what DH and I did in the spring and it sucked but it was fine. There are so many things that I never thought possible before the pandemic that afterward I realized were just fine. And sending the kids to camp was amazing. So amazing. Like sitting at the chefs table at the fanciest restaurant that you could never afford kind of amazing. I really really don't want to go back to what we did in the spring. Really really really don't want to go back. So if I can use my planning skills to avoid that, I'm SO MUCH going to avoid that. But that's the choice for my family and everyone's situation is just so different. I am grateful that our case rate is so low here that likely in-person school will be a very safe option.
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Post by ovenrack on Jul 29, 2020 12:39:04 GMT -6
Yeah. I just feel like I’m living on a different planet than so many people. Like, your options aren’t even the same as my options, so don’t judge me for not making the same one as you!
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 29, 2020 17:43:54 GMT -6
And now we are e-learning as of 2 hours ago. I have a feeling my night will very much look like this....
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 30, 2020 7:39:41 GMT -6
Okay, so E will get a chrome book. C will get an iPad or chrome book. We have a nice sized dinning area.
I'm think I should empty my 3 draw filing cabinet, bring that upstairs to use for dedicated supplies for them (one small drawer for each). And possibly lock the electronics in the bottom draw at night with headphones and chargers.
I need to figure out 2 work spaces for their class calls. It looks like they may have 2 to 3 hours they need to on each day. I may need to work on it being comfortable for them to sit and pay attention.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 30, 2020 9:00:08 GMT -6
okay, I'm over thinking this.
Should I set up a desk for E (small one with a padded chair. Shes in 3rd grade. I feel she would benefit from a space her own.
Then get a stool (thanks milano) for C and use the kids craft table?
And see if I can squeeze a bean bag area somewhere for reading?
The more I think on this, it might be better to have them farther apart.
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Jul 30, 2020 11:29:04 GMT -6
okay, I'm over thinking this. Should I set up a desk for E (small one with a padded chair. Shes in 3rd grade. I feel she would benefit from a space her own. Then get a stool (thanks milano) for C and use the kids craft table? And see if I can squeeze a bean bag area somewhere for reading? The more I think on this, it might be better to have them farther apart. I think those ideas sound great!
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Jul 30, 2020 11:32:01 GMT -6
I went back to school shopping today. The girls were bummed they couldn't go, but I did a video call with them while I was there, so they still got to pick out their choice of colors for notebooks. Both supply list are complete and their rucks are packed. Done!
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snowmoon
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Post by snowmoon on Jul 30, 2020 11:54:25 GMT -6
Ontario announced today full-time in person schooling for K-8 with no reduction in class sizes. Masks mandatory for grade 4-12 only.
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Post by charlotte on Jul 30, 2020 12:07:58 GMT -6
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snowmoon
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Post by snowmoon on Jul 30, 2020 12:19:46 GMT -6
Ontario announced today full-time in person schooling for K-8 with no reduction in class sizes. Masks mandatory for grade 4-12 only. I really wish that they would have done things to reduce class sizes and utilize outdoor spaces. The cases is the province are dropping quickly and we have only had a handful in our region, but I still don’t think it’s safe to have 35 4 and 5 year olds in a room together.
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milano
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Post by milano on Jul 30, 2020 20:32:42 GMT -6
okay, I'm over thinking this. Should I set up a desk for E (small one with a padded chair. Shes in 3rd grade. I feel she would benefit from a space her own. Then get a stool (thanks milano) for C and use the kids craft table? And see if I can squeeze a bean bag area somewhere for reading? The more I think on this, it might be better to have them farther apart. I only will have one in actual schooling but I know if I don't give J a separate space from M it will be pure chaos. So yes I vote separate spaces!
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Jul 31, 2020 6:05:28 GMT -6
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Jul 31, 2020 7:37:14 GMT -6
Our school is in county with a risk zone of 1/500. I think that's a big reason why they decided on a hybrid model
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Jul 31, 2020 7:47:26 GMT -6
Our school is in county with a risk zone of 1/500. I think that's a big reason why they decided on a hybrid model Ours is the same, but we are full e-learning now. Same with most of our districts around us. There are a few that are hybrid.
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Post by Dramaphile on Jul 31, 2020 8:18:30 GMT -6
This is actually really helpful in visualizing the risk. We're in a 1 in 500 county, and our school district is doing a hybrid schedule with masks required any time students cannot maintain 6 feet distance, although i don't know the details. It does make me feel better about the odds with Nugget's ~50 student preschool.
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Post by Dramaphile on Jul 31, 2020 9:42:47 GMT -6
update: our school district just revised plans and will be virtual until Oct 6.
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jnu76
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Post by jnu76 on Aug 1, 2020 5:09:23 GMT -6
My stress level as a parent is a 7. My stress level as a teacher is a 10.
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Post by violajack on Aug 1, 2020 6:21:01 GMT -6
jnu76 You have all my sympathies and I send strength. I was just about to start taking private students in my new town when the pandemic hit, so I just......don't teach right now. I don't even have to blow into my instrument. I'm just finishing up an amazing zoom seminar today and it has been amazing watching the teaching going on over zoom. I'm also in a lot of the teaching Facebook groups. I'm here to bounce ideas off of and make suggestions if it would be helpful. Or just to listen and commiserate too.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Aug 3, 2020 20:23:29 GMT -6
Ugh. The family in my proposed homeschooling pod that will be hosting the school has said very clearly that the school will have to follow a traditional school schedule for vacations. She’s a teacher and she wants her home to be a home when she’s on vacation.
I totally get it. But ugh. We will have no access to the after school programs and we will still be paying for full time school (we’ve already discussed paying flat monthly and not adjusting for snow days and such). So if we find a babysitter (we don’t even have a babysitter contact), we would have to pay in addition to school. The other “set” family would rather have more days of school, but she’s also a teacher, so following a regular school schedule is doable. I don’t know if this will be a hinderance to finding more families.
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milano
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Post by milano on Aug 8, 2020 7:44:04 GMT -6
I officially signed J up for full remote K.
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