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24Hr Teacher Talk

A Blog By Jodi Hetman

One Less Thing to Put On Your Plates, Parents

8/13/2020

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It is coming up to the middle of August when most schools are starting or the teachers are at least planning the first days of instructions for the end of the month. I am lucky that my district had already scheduled a late start this year due to a fabulous new high school being completed this summer. That means our teachers and parents are in the beginning (-ish) of planning what to do when the doors do open.

Do we send our child back to school? [parent]

Do we limit the number of students on the buses? [administrators]

Do we keep our child at home and resume distance learning? [parent]

What, who, and where am I teaching? [teacher] 

Can I work from home even if my child goes back to school? [parent]

Who is going to sanitize desks and how often? [administrators]

Will I get sick? [everyone]

If I do get sick, what happens…
  • Who teaches my class? [teacher]
  • Who takes care of my child? [parent]
  • Will I end up in a hospital room alone? [all] 


As I listen to my own heart as well as those of my friends and coworkers, I keep coming back to one thing:
Parents, no matter if your child is in my classroom or on my Zoom call, I don’t need you as my co-teacher.

I don’t mean for that to sound harsh. Honest, I don’t.

What I need is for you to be your child’s parent. I promise I will teach them math and science content this year. It may not be with as many labs or manipulatives, but it will be with enthusiasm and rigor whenever possible.

If I am in class, that means I will tell stories to illustrate the math concepts. This will include some singing, some dancing, and definitely some laughing.

If I am on Zoom, that means the same thing. Maybe a little more laughing, though, because let’s be honest, technology will glitch and we can react in two ways: anger or laughter. I prefer the latter.

Your student and I will get through everything from place value to types of energy. We will learn a lot about ourselves, our iPads, math, and science. We will try. We will fail. We will pick ourselves up and try again.

You can relax and do what you would do any other year. That means check in on their day, look over their work (as you would homework any other year), and ask them questions like:
  • Did you have any problems with math today?
  • Can I help you with anything?
  • What was the best part of your day?

You don’t have to watch my reteaching lesson so you can explain the content to your son or daughter. They will be exposed to in several ways from me and have ample time to practice. (I promise, I will do my best to make sure everyone “gets it.”)

You don’t have to sit next to them while they work to make sure they mark it as done in Google Classroom. (I promise, they will catch on to the new routine as surely as they learned how to buy lunch themselves.)

Please know this, though, I DO want to work with you! I want to know if your child is struggling but putting on a brave face for me. I want to hear if they are at home worrying about schoolwork AND a sick friend, family member, or dog. My relationship with you to see to the overall growth of your child this year remains vital. I just want to make sure you know you are not expected to teach your child math and science this year. I will do my best to get that one off your to-do list.
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Zooming and Chatting and Meeting, Oh My!

3/29/2020

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I don't know about you, but I didn't envision my 10-year old would know how to log into a video conference at her age. Yet, these kids are adapting and learning how to connect faster than some of us! In fact, I told my kids to download Zoom on their iPads on Monday and by Tuesday afternoon they were setting up meetings with me! Incredible!

Again, I caution you, though. Don't mistake technology know-how with being on top of their own remote learning. Children need to learn how to manage and prioritize their days. For us, that means looking at the assignments for the week, and helping the child decide what should be done each day to have everything turned in by Friday. My students liked the idea of someone helping them with this so much that I shared the blank schedule we use at home. Here is a sample schedule similar to the one I sent along with the blank schedule to my classes:
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Notice this is split into work by subject, by day. This was ideal in our house because once my daughter finished a subject, even if it was all the work intended for the week, she knew she was done and had more free choice in the rest of her day. You child may prefer more variety. 

My next tip is for those of you using Google Classroom. To make this schedule you can log into Google Classroom after the weekly assignments are posted and go to the To-Do List. This is a nice, comprehensive view of the work you are expected to do for the week. You can refer back to it throughout the week to see what is still open and what is done. This is great for also catching what fun, optional assignments might also be posted. 
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Advice from a Teacher

3/22/2020

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I think it is amazing that children can pick up a device and figure the ins and outs so quickly. I am a firm believer that Apple tests their new devices on 3-year olds. It just seems like iPads and iPhones are intuitive for kids. They pick it up and have no fear, swipe up and drag icons like we used to sling mud pies and chalk on driveways! 

However, after one week of #RemoteLearning, here is what I definitively know:

Knowing how to use an iPad is VERY different than knowing how to work from home. 

Parents, I urge you to please sit with your child this week. I honestly don't think it matters if you child is in second grade or twelfth grade. Students do not know how to learn from home. They don't know how to set a schedule, prioritize their work, or how to / when to ask for help when the answer doesn't come naturally. They need their parents to teach them how to set up a desk at home. They need an adult to guide them through making their to-do list for the day. They need someone at home who can help them establish this new normal until school resumes. 

Sounds easy, coming from a teacher, doesn't it?

I know I am in no way in a position to say that this is easy. My job is to teach while my child's is to learn! Even more ideal, my grade is her grade!! I know I have it easier than most in this area. But, like you, I had to put my daughter before work last week. I needed to set down my phone, put my iPad on mute, and close my MacBook. I needed to sit with her and tell her that reading when we start our day wasn't negotiable. And on the flip side, I had to tell her that if I was online with a student that she needed to be patient and wait for me. Continuing into this week, I need to teach her how we can work together (and yet do our own thing) so that we can both be successful in our "jobs." It won't take a day. It won't take a week. But I firmly believe I need to repetitively show her how to be a student at home. 

via GIPHY

Kids, especially in elementary and middle school, don't get that this isn't "coronacation." The reality hasn't hit home (thank goodness) ... but neither has the sense that school must continue despite no bells, no recess, and no teacher managing the day. Your child needs you to teach them how to be successful right now. That does not mean you need to hover over them all day long. Encourage them to research something on their own! Not all screen time is bad! Let them watch that show in Kitten Rescues or go online and find out when movies shifted from black and white to color. You might be surprised by what they can teach themselves after they know the expectations! 
To minimize disruption to childrens' education, keep a strict schedule and a list of goals to meet. Recognize that challenges, and plenty of distractions and interruptions, will occur. We need to model self-discipline and focus."                 
​- Michael Rich, Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children's Hospital
Tomorrow is a new week. The governor of Ohio has said we need to stay at home. Make the most of your time and bond with your children over the workday. I think (I hope) your boss will understand if you miss a call because you took a moment to watch your child show you their brochure for school. And in the long run, your child will appreciate it and be better for it. 
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Get Creative

3/19/2020

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Today I taught my daughter the age-old skill of Latch Hook. She loves it! We are trying to do an Encore Special everyday. Yesterday we practiced her recorder and today we chose art. I had ordered these latch hook kits the night the schools were "closed" and I am so glad that I did!

Today's Tip:  Be Creative!

Think about what you are doing at home, and see how you can make it an exploration with your child. Are you making spaghetti sauce? Include them! Talk about why you are adding certain spices. Are you doing laundry? Discuss with them why you add dryer balls or dryer sheets. And don't be afraid to experiment! Get on Pinterest and see what you can find! Today, we found this gem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQdLttUh_b0

Have fun and #BeCreative!
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Balance is Key

3/18/2020

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I used to have a custom license plate that said WORKHRD. I was proud of my work ethic and where it got me in life. After having a child, the priorities changed and although I still worked hard, I found I needed to balance work and home. I must admit it was hard to do that after I started teaching! But I always tried to keep the hours of 4p.m. to 8p.m. dedicated to my family when they wanted or needed me. Now I am going to have to learn to balance monitoring student activity, posting review and enrichment material, and helping my peers with guiding my own kiddo through this process and new way of learning.

Since I am not alone as a working mom trying to balance work-from-home and pseudo-teacher, I thought I would give you some tips. These aren't perfect, but even if one of them helps you then I am okay with it! 
  1. I said it on day one and I will say it again: Keep a Schedule
    1. It is okay to have your work time on the schedule, too! 
    2. It is also okay to be flexible! If "chores" only takes 30 minutes instead of 60, reward your family with free time!  
  2. Use your teacher's office hours
    1. Revere Local Schools has a consistent Virtual Office Hour time of 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Many teachers are available through email but some teachers are also using these options:
      1. Google Hangout Chat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrltJsIRwDA&t=3s
      2. FaceTime - I know I posted directions on how parents can enable FaceTime on student iPads on my classroom webpage. If you're interested in that, maybe drop your teacher an email to ask about it. It's nice being able to see the screen a student is struggling on! 
  3. Let this week be a learning week!
    1. Remember that this is new to everyone - you, your child, and your teachers! If you have opinions on work load or what else you'd like to see or do, find a nice, polite way to share that information. It is hard to tell what will be accomplished at home so teacher's may need to adjust workload as we go. 
    2. Trial and Error is an effective way to navigate (iPads, life, classwork, etc,)! I like this poster I have in my room. It applies even to trying the new remote learning challenges ahead of us.
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Hardships in Remote Learning

3/17/2020

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Tomorrow my school district officially begins remote learning. The teachers have been given time to plan with teams to ensure the work posted is consistent and quality review materials. However, as everyone is home today and we hear about the "what-if's" to come, we are quickly learning there are roadblocks we will all face in the coming days (as teachers, parents, and students).

From a former IT professional and now a Fourth Grade teacher, I want to give you a heads up on some of the hardships I think we will face as we all adapt to Remote Learning:
  1. Not everyone is iPad savvy. This goes for students, parents, and teachers. 
    1. My school has done a great job getting the teacher's Apple Certified, which means we can fluently use the applications. This does NOT mean we are all experts on how the apps work with Google Classroom and out-of-network environments (like your home).
    2. Please be patient as some "how-to" questions will take a team. I do know this, we are #BetterTogether so my advice is this: If you are struggling with something, ask. Someone in your class, your grade level, or your community will know. We got this! 
  2. Not everyone has devices or Wifi.
    1. If you do not have a device, ask your school. This is hopefully not an issue for my school, as all students went home with iPads last Thursday. However, I know that not just Bath Elementary families are reading this so I am trying to be broad-minded. 
    2. If you do not have wifi in the Northeast Ohio area, Spectrum has offered free broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students who do not currently have service.  It will be available for 60 days.  You must call 1-844-488-8395 to enroll. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
  3. Apple files and Google Classroom / Drive do not talk the same language.
    1. My district is posting assignments to Google Classroom for grades 3 through 12. However, when you post an Apple file, it ...
      1. Does NOT open immediately. See https://youtu.be/QUEzNVXAMWI to understand how to open the Keynote, Pages, or Numbers file from your iPad. 
      2. Does NOT save back to Google Drive. It is an Apple doc, not a Google Doc. It DOES save automatically but to your iCloud. Therefore, if you need to get the file back to your teacher, you need to post it back to Google Classroom. See https://youtu.be/xajRq98ouOc to understand how to do that. 
  4. Other Stuff
    1. Yes, other stuff that I cannot even fathom right now but it's going to happen.  
    2. Remember, if you are struggling with something, ask. Ask someone in your class, your grade level, or your community. Give it time, be patient, and it will get figured out. We got this!
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My Recommendations to You

3/16/2020

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Although my district is using today as a planning day for teachers to prepare comprehensive review plans that are consistent among teachers within a grade level, we are officially starting our homeschool today. I volley back and forth between being excited to have this time with my daughter and scared/sad that I am not in my room with my students. 

I know my plans as a teacher include pushing out some solid review by topic each week until April 3rd. I will also post some optional extension activities. Since this is new to everyone, it is hard to tell what is the right amount of work to post. Everyone at home is operating differently right now; everyone will work at a different pace and have a different motivation. I think this is an important time, however, to establish a consistent schedule and routine. IF this goes longer than the governor's mandated three weeks, families need to be prepared to have children mentally and physically able to learn new material at home. 

As a result, I am recommending to parents to do the following:
  • Set a schedule
    • Whether you are home with your child or a sitter is, the key will be consistency. We all have great intentions of doing this over summer but if you family is like mine, that soon slips as play dates pop up and camps interfere. Now, with hibernation underway, we have no excuses. We can use this to our advantage 
  • Don't forget about Encore/Specials
    • At my school district, the Encore teachers are putting together a website that will give students things to do at home for art, music, gym, and library. We also have a STEM teacher that has a Google Classroom plan for our students at the upper elementary level. We cannot forget about these activities! These are critical to young children and are often the key to busting boredom. 
    • If your district doesn't have a plan for this, try to inspire creativity in the core activities. No one says math has to be paper and pencil! Grab some m&ms and start counting, sketch a picture and write a story, and go outside and have a dance party in the driveway. 
  • Challenge your child
    • Is there a topic they have been curious about? Now is the time to let them explore it! Whether it is a career, a hobby, or an animal doesn't matter. Let them start a research project, movie, or creative masterpiece that lets them truly explore what they want to explore. 
    • Resources you can use at home to accomplish this include Ducksters, Libby (you will need a library card), National Geographic Kids, YouTube, BrainPop, and even some great shows on Netflix and Hulu. 
    • Check out this site: https://askatechteacher.com/20-great-research-websites-for-kids-2/ 

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    Author

    Mrs. Jodi Hetman is a fourth grade math and science teacher. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely my own. 

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