How is "school at home" going? Kids? Teachers?

[mdurette]

When last updated on 2/6/2020, 94,000 people in Oregon don't have any wired internet providers available where they live. What do we do those students?

Internet Access in Oregon: Stats & Figures

Oregon has access to 10 MBPS internet service from 228 broadband providers.

broadbandnow.com

I would assume most households have cell service, that can easily be turned into a hotspot. Now, the question of data usage and the cost. Most of the big companies are offering free data for hardship which I believe this would fall into. Granted it won't cover everyone, but a lot. OR....the school system I would assume is saving a tiny bit of money somewhere in this shut down. Even just not heating and cleaning buildings. Maybe they allocate funds for those that need????

 

[mdurette]

I am impressed that schools have been able to go online as quickly as they have. I praise the schools for how much they have been able to achieve in such a short time.

I think when we all come out of this, we will realize how much more we can do with technology. I think about companies that are still up and running and 80% of their work force is home, when it use to be 5%. How we do business and educate everyone may change from all this.

 

[mdurette]

MissyCrew, You are kicking butt lady! And all in the name of making a difference and helping others.

 

[bbodb1]

I would assume most households have cell service, that can easily be turned into a hotspot. Now, the question of data usage and the cost. Most of the big companies are offering free data for hardship which I believe this would fall into. Granted it won't cover everyone, but a lot. OR....the school system I would assume is saving a tiny bit of money somewhere in this shut down. Even just not heating and cleaning buildings. Maybe they allocate funds for those that need????

Admittedly this applies to the mostly rural areas, but cell service is still quite lacking throughout the country. While we can get cell service where we live, it is not reliable enough to use as a hotspot on a regular basis. The problem worsens the further out (more rural) one goes.

I know we are all aware of this but it is in the addressing of the quality of cell service for the remaining areas of the country that a lot of cell towers will need to be built and the ROI is going to be very slow (very unattractive) to cell phone companies.

 

[Miss Marty]

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Educational Resources

smiles.colgate.com

 

[Miss Marty]

Create and Learn At Home
Fun Things to do with KIds

Keep little ones, children and adults busy with free printable coloring pages from crayola.

https://www.crayola.com/featured/free-coloring-pages/

 

[WVBaker]

I would assume most households have cell service, that can easily be turned into a hotspot. Now, the question of data usage and the cost. Most of the big companies are offering free data for hardship which I believe this would fall into. Granted it won't cover everyone, but a lot. OR....the school system I would assume is saving a tiny bit of money somewhere in this shut down. Even just not heating and cleaning buildings. Maybe they allocate funds for those that need????

These are trying and difficult times. Even our children must sacrifice.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

DW has been running her fourth grade classes for three weeks now using Zoom. She is on-line three times per day doing her instructional sessions that she used to do in her classroom. In between on-line sessions the kids do their assigned work, as they would have typically done in her classroom. he gives out assignments, and kids submit homework by email. She feels it working as well as can be expected.

She has received numerous emails from parents commending her on what she is doing, Many of them appreciate how having the kids in the on-line sessions and doing homework has freed the parents to be able to do their work-from-home activities.

That being said, she says one of her biggest problems is hovering parents. They make the students nervous or feel pressured to perform. And sometimes parents start feeding the kids the correct answers. And sometimes parents will intervene during her on-line sessions with criticisms. That elicits an immediate response from to stuff it and submit those comments off-line (email).

 

[bbodb1]

I think when we all come out of this, we will realize how much more we can do with technology. I think about companies that are still up and running and 80% of their work force is home, when it use to be 5%. How we do business and educate everyone may change from all this.

This - definitely.

 

[SteelerGal]

We are fortunate that we are on a small SD but my friends aren’t as fortunate. However I am very concerned w/ the needs of my SN children who are receiving the bare minimum at this point.(I have restarted private resources at this point which many parents do not have the option to do).. I understand why but if schools are allowed to waiver IEPs, this will negatively affect today’s and future SN children.

I do agree w/ @bbodb1 inregards of the vast # of SD not being modernized. Hell a significant # of SD were barely surviving prior to the Pandemic. Hopefully we as a society will begin to prioritize education.

 

[Miss Marty]

Attn: Kentucky Parents and Teacher

Public schools in Louisville and Lexington Kentucky are among those implementing Kentucky’s non-traditional instructional program for the first time next week, having a state approved distance learning plan for each student in exchange for not having to make up days this school year.
Families having technology issues can call (859) 381-4410 to talk with technicians.

As of March
9,366 Jefferson County families had requested one of 25,000 available Google Chromebooks.

Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington has roughly 35,000 Chromebooks and laptops available for students to use at home during NTI “Non-Traditional Instruction”

People who have not heard from their child’s school by April 6, should check the school website, e-mail the principal, or call the district offices of the school chiefs.

Read more here: https://www.kentucky.com/news/coronavirus/article241700751.html#storylink=cpy

 

[bbodb1]

Add Arkansas to the growing list of states that have closed their schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 SY.
And I wholeheartedly agree with that decision..

 

[needvaca]

Add Arkansas to the growing list of states that have closed their schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 SY.
And I wholeheartedly agree with that decision..

how are states without Shelter in Place orders going to close their schools for the rest of the school year, like Arkansas?
where are those kids going to go while their parents have to leave the house to work? who's going to watch those kids?

 

[bbodb1]

how are states without Shelter in Place orders going to close their schools for the rest of the school year, like Arkansas?
where are those kids going to go while their parents have to leave the house to work? who's going to watch those kids?

It is a bit of a misnomer to say (as the national media has done) that Arkansas does not have restrictions in play here because we do indeed have those. While there is NOT a SIP order in effect at this time, the state has closed schools and restricted any gathering of 10 or more people. The state has been pushing social distancing with every available breath it seems.

As an aside, you can view the current business limitations on this link: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/Business_limitations_April_4.pdf

If you are interested in more info on COVID-19 in Arkansas, click this link: https://govstatus.egov.com/ar-covid-19

A lot of work is being done from home in Arkansas - a lot of it for the first time ever in many cases. Businesses have been encouraged to allow work from home as much as possible. Obviously, that doesn't apply to every job here but the number of people out and about has radically decreased. Watching kids is indeed still an issue here but thankfully we have not seen any significant increases in crimes as it seems there are more gatekeepers in more places these days. One county (Saline) has a stay at home order and you can read about that by clicking here.

One other resource - Gov Hutchinson explains why he has not issued a stay at home order for Arkansas - click here

As an aside, our SY was coming to an end around May 22 so another reason I supported the closing of schools for the remainder of the year is the fact there is not that much school left anyway. All in all, we seem to be doing better than most states here. We certainly could be better but could easily be worse. Our first case was much later than other states so we are likely to peak later.

 

[b2bailey]

On the lighter side, seems many students are hoping they don't get the same teacher next year.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

I tried homeschooling, but after lunch the kids were found in the backyard smoking weed, with their teacher, and their weed was better then mine.

Just kidding, my kids are grown, I was in the backyard alone.

heard this one - first day of (home) school
- 2 kids got suspended & a teacher got drunk .......

 

[bluehende]

heard this one - first day of (home) school
- 2 kids got suspended & a teacher got drunk .......

I heard it

2 kids got suspended for fighting
a teacher got fired for drinking on the job
but that is ok because she is sleeping with the principal.

 

[Miss Marty]

Nemours: KidsHealth for Parents & for Educators

Articles and Videos for parents, kids, teens, teachers and childcare providers

Understanding COVID-19

Looking for information about COVID-19? Our articles and videos explain what the virus is, ways to prevent it from spreading, how to talk to kids about it, how to care for someone who is sick, and much more.

kidshealth.org

 

[Miss Marty]

Nemours
Teachers Guide for Classroom and Home School lesson plans for Parents

KidsHealth in the Classroom offers educators free health-related lesson plans for PreK through 12th grade. Each Teacher's Guide includes discussion questions, classroom activities and extensions, printable handouts, and quizzes and answer keys all aligned to National Health Education Standards.

- KidsHealth in the Classroom

classroom.kidshealth.org

 

[pedro47]

Questions are kids at home, still required to wear uniforms to class and turn in homework assignments on time?

LOL

 

[MrockStar]

Questions are kids at home, still required to wear uniforms to class and turn in homework assignments on time?

LOL

I will let you know next week when my wife starts teaching High school physics online next week after the School board approves the curriculum. This should be interesting.

 

[Miss Marty]

Teachers Guide for Classroom and Home School

Teacher's Guides have been developed at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens to help you teach students in an active, hands-on way. Each guide includes goals and objectives, information, vocabulary, a bibliography, and classroom activities. Activities strive to integrate science, mathematics, geography, art, and language.

https:// seaworld.org /teachers/guides/

The SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Education Departments offer more than 75 print educational resources for teachers. Information booklets and Teacher's Guides provide animal information and classroom activities.

Great Opportunity for Teachers and Parents to teach students and children "While Staying At Home". All you need is a computer, laptop or phone with access to the internet and a way to open & save pdf files or a printer to print out booklets & guides.

Activities strive to integrate science, mathematics, geography, art, and language.

Thank You SeaWorld and Busch Gardens for these amazing educational tools to help teach our children (K-Grade 3 and Grade 4-8) especially during these uncertain times.

 

[bogey21]

The easy retort (of course) is satellite based internet service - but in many instances, the cost of such a service is prohibitive (at best). We have similar issues here in Arkansas.

My Son has satellite Internet service. It works like a charm and in case anyone cares it costs him roughly $75 per month. I'll leave it to others to decide if this is prohibitive or not...

George

 

[MULTIZ321]

'l Am Doing My Best ' - Teaching Math During the School Closure Crisis.

'I Am Doing My Best' - Teaching Math During the School Closure Crisis

Four teachers offer remote teaching tips for math instruction, including recognizing that nothing they do is going to be anywhere near

mobile.edweek.org

.


Richard

 

[bbodb1]

Just an update from our frontline:

As we near the end of what would have been our school year (2 weeks to go), participation rates (both paper and online) have cratered. However, to be fair, were we still in school we see this phenomena occur at this time of year as well. Once EOY testing occurs (which for us is in early April - which makes no sense either), the last month (or so) of school is so filled with other EOY stuff as to render those weeks nearly useless.

Our district is trying to figure out how to start next year (assuming we can start in person AND with all students present).
In fact, that may be a good place to pause this report.
Due to what may still be in play come August (social distancing requirements), there is NO way we can use existing classrooms, buses, hallways, and cafeterias and maintain anything close to appropriate social distancing.

The problem here is you have to make plans and take into account any possibility that might occur.
And that is going to make for a very complicated summer leading up to the '20-'21 SY.