1/2/’21
Dear Parent,
It is good to speak to you. I hope this correspondence finds you and the children well. I just want to say I think you are doing very well with the home schooling. This is a situation none of us expected to be catapulted into. However, I think the staff mobilised competently and efficiently and I also think you responded brilliantly.
With regard to home schooling or indeed normal everyday schooling, especially for primary school children, ‘one size fits all’ does not work. Young children present such a range of emotions, development and abilities that each child’s home schooling journey is personal to him/her. There are children who will thrive on this and there are children who will be totally disengaged. There will be children who waver somewhere in the middle of this range. Undoubtedly, children are missing a lot, but in a sense, they are all in a similar ‘boat’. I know that young children, in particular, learn quickly and make up for lost time. As teachers, this concept is second nature to us. I think we have to put this situation into perspective and see it only as a number of weeks in the children’s lives. Everything in life passes, good and bad.
I hope you are being kind to yourself as parents. If I might give advice, and indeed there is plenty of it out there, again not always helpful, I strongly advise making sure your child reads a bit every day. There is a tendency to worry about the daily exercises set, yes they are important; but keep up the children’s reading. The remainder can be picked up when they come back to school. If your child is really resistant just say ‘do this wee bit of reading and we will look at the rest another day’.
If the technology aspect presents difficulties, use the pack. Both reflect each other. The only difference is that the teachers can directly mark and monitor via the technology. However, do not allow it to be a deal breaker. Again, if your child has missed chunks of work do not feel you have to backtrack and get him/her to cover masses of missed work. My advice is to start afresh from the current date. For the older children, get them to chant their times tables and revise spellings. In other words, do the key things.
I hope that you are kind to yourself and give yourself a pat on the back. I am keeping an eye on the situation and I think you are all doing a really good job. If you have difficulties, worries about your child or you just feel the need to speak to me please do so. I am available for you all.
The school will be closed for keyworker children and online teaching and learning on Friday 12th February. This will be a staff day where we can regroup, reflect and plan for the next stage.
My Very Best Wishes to You All, be kind to yourself and do your best. Your best is your best and may be very different from another’s experience. Remember you have been thrust into the role of a teacher and you are trying to combine this with your roles as a parent, a nurturer etc. It is not easy.
Ms. O’Neill.
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