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Post by charlotte on Aug 29, 2020 16:01:43 GMT -6
Thank you all. I’ve been an emotional wreck 😅. It feels better now that the decision is made. I let DS pick out school supplies of his choice and help make his schedule. He seems somewhat excited for now!
Also picked up some wine for myself.
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 29, 2020 16:44:17 GMT -6
I got an email that there’s a zoom meeting for remote learning parents on Tuesday evening. So that oughta be fun. Good thing we’ll have 5 whole days to prepare for whatever this school year is going to be.
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tj
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Post by tj on Aug 29, 2020 17:23:04 GMT -6
I got an email that there’s a zoom meeting for remote learning parents on Tuesday evening. So that oughta be fun. Good thing we’ll have 5 whole daysq pi to prepare for whatever this school year is going to be.
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milano
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Post by milano on Aug 29, 2020 17:29:22 GMT -6
Thank you all. I’ve been an emotional wreck 😅. It feels better now that the decision is made. I let DS pick out school supplies of his choice and help make his schedule. He seems somewhat excited for now! Also picked up some wine for myself. Yeah you should probably go ahead and subscribe & save for that last item.
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milano
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Post by milano on Aug 29, 2020 17:35:57 GMT -6
J starts Monday. I still can't login to 2 of the 3 portal things because they/someone forgot to upload the info for his account. They're "hopeful" that it will be ready Monday morning. I just realized I never got a supply list of any kind? Like what does this kid need besides a chromebook? I bought a bunch of random stuff so I would think we will be fine.
I know it's not imperative that everything be perfect for the first day but I know my kid does better with a routine of sorts and I don't want to have to be adding stuff as the week goes on.
I just feel like I still know nothing, just over 36 hrs from the first scheduled Google class.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Aug 29, 2020 17:49:09 GMT -6
J starts Monday. I still can't login to 2 of the 3 portal things because they/someone forgot to upload the info for his account. They're "hopeful" that it will be ready Monday morning. I just realized I never got a supply list of any kind? Like what does this kid need besides a chromebook? I bought a bunch of random stuff so I would think we will be fine. I know it's not imperative that everything be perfect for the first day but I know my kid does better with a routine of sorts and I don't want to have to be adding stuff as the week goes on. I just feel like I still know nothing, just over 36 hrs from the first scheduled Google class. Crayons, glue sticks, markers, a few folders, pencils, dry erase markers, blank paper. You can make do with what you have in the house most likely. He may need a dry erase board. Our school provided one for the kids.
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milano
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Post by milano on Aug 29, 2020 18:02:20 GMT -6
J starts Monday. I still can't login to 2 of the 3 portal things because they/someone forgot to upload the info for his account. They're "hopeful" that it will be ready Monday morning. I just realized I never got a supply list of any kind? Like what does this kid need besides a chromebook? I bought a bunch of random stuff so I would think we will be fine. I know it's not imperative that everything be perfect for the first day but I know my kid does better with a routine of sorts and I don't want to have to be adding stuff as the week goes on. I just feel like I still know nothing, just over 36 hrs from the first scheduled Google class. Crayons, glue sticks, markers, a few folders, pencils, dry erase markers, blank paper. You can make do with what you have in the house most likely. He may need a dry erase board. Our school provided one for the kids. I do have all these things so that's good to know.
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Post by charlotte on Aug 30, 2020 11:13:59 GMT -6
One thing I’m happy about regarding homeschooling this year is that I can work in a lot more material related to diversity, and educate him on historic events via material created by the non-majority. In our area, he would get a terribly whitewashed education.
I’m open to all recommendations and links for these types of resources throughout the year!
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Aug 30, 2020 17:58:21 GMT -6
One thing I’m happy about regarding homeschooling this year is that I can work in a lot more material related to diversity, and educate him on historic events via material created by the non-majority. In our area, he would get a terribly whitewashed education. I’m open to all recommendations and links for these types of resources throughout the year! He’s in K? So maybe too young but the blossom and root curriculum has a history series for K-3 that is super conscious of telling true history. I haven’t bought it (though it’s cheap) but I’ve looked at the book lists and stuff and that may be a good place to start. I may buy it anyway but since we aren’t officially remote learning I have no idea what our home hybrid days look like.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Sept 1, 2020 8:38:05 GMT -6
I'm trying to be patient with C's Spanish teacher, but we are in day 4 and she still hasnt figured out how to play a video on zoom and have the volume work.
Sigh....
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milano
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Post by milano on Sept 2, 2020 9:32:56 GMT -6
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rugger
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Post by rugger on Sept 2, 2020 11:10:32 GMT -6
milano is today any better? Did you ever hear from J's teacher??
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nikkipal
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Post by nikkipal on Sept 2, 2020 11:16:53 GMT -6
I set alarms for both of M’s daily meetings on Alexa. Apparently M just shut off the alarm and kept watching tv while I was working, so I totally forgot and she was late.
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Sept 2, 2020 12:02:20 GMT -6
My district announced teachers and cohorts today and its so confusing because now there are so many groups and the text chains and fb posts are blowing up. And we've counted at least 5 kids in my PreK kids' school who are redshirting their entering K kids and doing preschool again. So I feel like next year's K class is going to be crowded. (I don't get why either cuz the K option wasn't bad at 4 half days...if you are sending them to a center anyway).
Thankfully my kid is w/her bff and in the same cohort. Phew. It was expected cuz they said they'd focus on social relationships this year, but still.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Sept 2, 2020 13:10:17 GMT -6
I feel like I need to hide from C. He keeps asking me questions.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Sept 2, 2020 13:16:52 GMT -6
So apparently M was automatically registered for the afterschool program because she was enrolled last year. Dh and I decided a while ago not to do the afterschool program because of the risk. And then we heard that it was full. But now she's registered. Obviously I could withdraw her. But it's so tempting. They said that they're going to try to maintain similar pods (what does that even mean?). Right now ALL of the excess childcare is falling on DH and that's going to break him. But risk vs safety. Ugh.
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milano
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Post by milano on Sept 2, 2020 13:59:42 GMT -6
milano is today any better? Did you ever hear from J's teacher?? Today went pretty well. I realized last night that the missing teacher had been sending the meet links to J's email... that i didn't know how to access until MH showed me. So now he's all set up and I think it's going to be just fine! Their expectations are super reasonable.
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Sept 2, 2020 21:53:50 GMT -6
As stressed as I am about the school year, I really, really appreciate our district, our school and our state. I'm reading in the Northeast COVID thread on GD about folks districts having to lay off teachers and staff because their states are cutting funding. That's bonkers. Vermont is increasing school funding to deal with COVID.
And our school plans are being managed really well. M's teacher put out a video about what to expect from the classroom and I noticed that not only are all of the desks spaced out (obvs), but each desk has a plastic bin next to it for kid's backpacks and coats. That's such a smart solution for the backpack issue. They also have assigned all of the classrooms a designated outdoor space for outdoor class times and outdoor projects. I saw a map of the regions and they not only make a lot of sense, but are well spaced from each other (but with ample room), so that it's clear that this outdoor sessions can happen whenever.
Maybe, maybe, maybe this can all work?
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mapleme
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Post by mapleme on Sept 2, 2020 22:02:12 GMT -6
Oh and the schools supply all of a kid's school supplies in our district. Like all of their pencils, notebooks, paper, art supplies, etc. We just supply the kid and lunch. Or just the kid, depending on the financial situation. I grew up in a cash strapped school district so it never occurred to me that there are public schools that do this. I mean, Vermont spends 50% more per pupil than California, so there's that. But it sure is money well spent in my eyes. And this year, in COVID, the school supplying all of these things is so much of an equalizer. Each kid has their own pencil box of supplies that has everything that they need and they don't have to share. There are so many little things that I'm grateful for.
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snowmoon
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Post by snowmoon on Sept 3, 2020 5:43:58 GMT -6
There’s lots of reports coming out now that classrooms are being collapsed because of low enrolment. The result is larger class sizes and teachers being laid off. The province is denying it’s happening! School is supposed to start on Tuesday!
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Post by ovenrack on Sept 3, 2020 5:50:43 GMT -6
Our district (town) cuts the school budget almost every year. So. Yeah. Our town is very little and is in rough shape.
I didn't mind buying our own art kit for H, and the neighbor, and I donated to the group making extra kits for other kids.
But the inequities of education in this state, country, world... suck.
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mc13
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Post by mc13 on Sept 3, 2020 6:20:10 GMT -6
Our district (town) cuts the school budget almost every year. So. Yeah. Our town is very little and is in rough shape. I didn't mind buying our own art kit for H, and the neighbor, and I donated to the group making extra kits for other kids. But the inequities of education in this state, country, world... suck. Agreed! We’re actually in a decently funded district and still supply everything..even paper towels, tissues, hand soap, hand sanitizer. Our PTA was doing a school supplies drive for the students who may not be able to buy their own.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Sept 3, 2020 8:11:21 GMT -6
My husband complains that he doesnt get time to himself at home. He goes into work, I dont. I'm told not to because they dont want people in the building if they dont absolutely need to be there. I told him I would gladly go get a coffee and just sit in my car and nap...
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Sept 3, 2020 8:22:45 GMT -6
The inequities are astounding. Please be sure you are registered to vote in two months. Especially if you recently moved. Register. Vote. Confirm it gets there. So many lives are at stake. We need a new administration who will help.
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Post by grumpycakes on Sept 3, 2020 10:58:04 GMT -6
We had our remote learning FAQ zoom meeting the other night. It seems in line with a regular in-person day with live instruction interspersed with time to complete assignments and breaks. It’s a best case scenario, IMO. I’m seeing a lot of parents who chose in-person learning freaking out on Facebook because the class sizes are literally the same as usual even though we were promised social distancing would magically happen without extra classrooms or teachers. I don’t blame them for being upset, but I’m also a little like...duh! They threw hardly any resources at this problem and now we just have to see how it all pans out. Anyway, I’m feeling good about our choice to do remote now that all the facts have come out.
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Sept 3, 2020 11:26:25 GMT -6
We had our remote learning FAQ zoom meeting the other night. It seems in line with a regular in-person day with live instruction interspersed with time to complete assignments and breaks. It’s a best case scenario, IMO. I’m seeing a lot of parents who chose in-person learning freaking out on Facebook because the class sizes are literally the same as usual even though we were promised social distancing would magically happen without extra classrooms or teachers. I don’t blame them for being upset, but I’m also a little like...duh! They threw hardly any resources at this problem and now we just have to see how it all pans out. Anyway, I’m feeling good about our choice to do remote now that all the facts have come out. So funny bc the opposite is happening here. Hybrid/in person ppl get class sizes of 9-10 when they are there (other half there opposite days), and last night the remote people found out it was 23-30 per remote class. Sounded like even the remote teachers would do lots of dividing of kids into groups to work with since 30 1st graders on zoom is useless.
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Post by grumpycakes on Sept 3, 2020 12:11:51 GMT -6
We had our remote learning FAQ zoom meeting the other night. It seems in line with a regular in-person day with live instruction interspersed with time to complete assignments and breaks. It’s a best case scenario, IMO. I’m seeing a lot of parents who chose in-person learning freaking out on Facebook because the class sizes are literally the same as usual even though we were promised social distancing would magically happen without extra classrooms or teachers. I don’t blame them for being upset, but I’m also a little like...duh! They threw hardly any resources at this problem and now we just have to see how it all pans out. Anyway, I’m feeling good about our choice to do remote now that all the facts have come out. So funny bc the opposite is happening here. Hybrid/in person ppl get class sizes of 9-10 when they are there (other half there opposite days), and last night the remote people found out it was 23-30 per remote class. Sounded like even the remote teachers would do lots of dividing of kids into groups to work with since 30 1st graders on zoom is useless. Omg a zoom meeting with 30 first graders! Noooooooooooooo!
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mc13
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Post by mc13 on Sept 3, 2020 12:25:38 GMT -6
We had our remote learning FAQ zoom meeting the other night. It seems in line with a regular in-person day with live instruction interspersed with time to complete assignments and breaks. It’s a best case scenario, IMO. I’m seeing a lot of parents who chose in-person learning freaking out on Facebook because the class sizes are literally the same as usual even though we were promised social distancing would magically happen without extra classrooms or teachers. I don’t blame them for being upset, but I’m also a little like...duh! They threw hardly any resources at this problem and now we just have to see how it all pans out. Anyway, I’m feeling good about our choice to do remote now that all the facts have come out. So funny bc the opposite is happening here. Hybrid/in person ppl get class sizes of 9-10 when they are there (other half there opposite days), and last night the remote people found out it was 23-30 per remote class. Sounded like even the remote teachers would do lots of dividing of kids into groups to work with since 30 1st graders on zoom is useless. That’s the same here! R’s in person K class has 5 kids but the fully virtual class with the same teacher is 13 kids. I mean, at least it’s not 30 though!
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milano
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Post by milano on Sept 3, 2020 13:19:46 GMT -6
I think J's online classes have like 20+ kids. And everyday she is welcoming new kids so the list has apparently grown.
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sarenu
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Post by sarenu on Sept 3, 2020 14:56:44 GMT -6
Our classrooms are around 20-23 kids.
The specials are crazy though with 4 classes in one (2 dual language groups). And it's only 30 minutes.
The only thing I'm struggling with is activities. C is so done with school at 3pm. But he gets small activities assigned. Thankfully he's started to see that they take about 5 minutes at most, so he has been powering through them.
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