https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:34:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918029 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 07:27:36 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2918029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: this is what I was wondering too. I’m seeing so many requests on social media for any families of the same grade wanting to join together in the pod. But these are strangers in lots of cases! Who the heck knows what they’ve been doing all this time or think is ok. Plus several are mentioning they have younger kids so would also be bringing them or looking for others with small kids to act as ‘playmates’ while the older ones do their schooling. The logistics sound like an absolute nightmare...and then what if this continues on for 2 or more years?! My son has about 3 closer friends that we just started to get to know the parents through birthday parties and pick ups, but there’s no way I would trust any of them to form a pod. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918019 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 16:04:51 +0000 Tionn3 2918019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: This must be why. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918018 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:56:40 +0000 Corduroy 2918018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tionn3: I saw that but my neighboring school districts have closed their on campus care so I'm concerned that the trend will continue.</p> <p>I found this article published in SD yesterday that mentioned "The state health and safety code says that camps operating as unlicensed child care can only operate during the summer months or outside school hours." I'll hope it's related to that.</p> <p><a href="https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/education/public-schools-may-be-open-in-the-fall-to-those-who-can-afford-it/" rel="nofollow">https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/education/public-schools-may-be-open-in-the-fall-to-those-who-can-afford-it/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918016 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:40:08 +0000 Tionn3 2918016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: This is only San Diego County. Day care and preschools are still allowed to be open because child care licenses are separate from summer camp/ day camp licenses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918015 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:37:59 +0000 Corduroy 2918015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tionn3: Cue frantic Google search since I'm in CA as well. Where are the kids of essential workers supposed to go?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918014 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:37:42 +0000 Tionn3 2918014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: I don't know why. The summer camps across the county have been going extremely well. There have been no outbreaks at summer camps.</p> <p>ETA our preschool is attached to a private k-12. That is why they were investigating day camps under their camp license. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918013 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:36:34 +0000 Mama Bird 2918013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tionn3: Illegal? Why? Sounds like they won't come with a solution, but they won't let you do it either... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918011 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 14:56:19 +0000 Tionn3 2918011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>San Diego County just made home pods/day camps illegal if they are operating during the school year. No press release yet, it just happened this week. I got the information from our preschool because they were thinking about doing a day camp for students that had parents that worked outside the house as essential workers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918009 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:18:47 +0000 PinkElephant 2918009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lindseykaye: I'm hoping my kids end up in assigned classes with families I know and trust so that I can also do some sort of informal "pod" arrangement 1-2x per week like you're mentioning. In my mind, the kids (probably just 2-4 kids) will meet for a portion of their learning day. Perhaps they can watch a lesson and do the associated work, particularly if it's something that would work well in a group, like a science or social studies project, at one house for an hour/ninety minutes. In an ideal world, both of my kids would end up in class with their friends who are siblings so we could just swap houses (ie 1st graders at one that day, 3rd graders at the other), but that's pretty unlikely.</p> <p>My main issue with a lot of the more formal "pod" set ups I'm seeing is that there is still a huge element of trust involved when you're podded with people you don't know well - it may not be significantly better than school itself! I think we are pretty conservative with our social distancing rules for our kids, and worry about the things some of my friends allow that I think are kind of crazy...but I'm conscious enough to realize at the same time that there are others who probably think I'm insane to let my six year old dance (in a way I feel is safe), or my eight year old occasionally accompany me on a quick masked Target run...so everything is relative. In the end I will probably only feel comfortable doing a pod with people I already know relatively well, who I feel will be honest about sharing what their families are up to and potential exposures. I feel that with these paid pods, people are using them as childcare, and will feel justified sending kids so long as they aren't actively coughing up a lung/vomiting/running a 103 degree temperature, just as some people do with "real school", and that worries me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918006 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:45:03 +0000 lindseykaye 2918006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: We were deciding between staying with our private K-2 class or moving to our county e-learning option (that has been in place for &gt;5yrs). Going with our county program would keep funds local and employ our county teachers vs. opting into our established state virtual program.</p> <p>In the end our school decided to split kinder and 1/2nd grade. Kinder will be in the school room with one teacher, while 1/2 graders start virtual with the other. Previously the three grades were mixed with two teachers, about 15 students total.<br /> Now, we are talking with some of the other 1/2 grade parents (who we already would see socially if not for the pandemic) to do a pod 1-2x a week. Kids would be at one families house who has a large screened porch and parents would rotate to watch and guide them through the lessons. Hopefully it provides some safer socializing and parent relief here and there. But our state is bananas (FL) so it will really all depend... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2918003 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 09:06:55 +0000 krispi 2918003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're working on putting together a learning pod for my daughter with some other kids from the neighborhood. What we're discussing is a pod that rotates houses and each parent takes a day leading the pod. They are still enrolled in public school, so it's more helping them connect to the online sessions and helping complete the practice (they're all in kindergarten) than actual instruction. For those of us working full-time, it will require some creative scheduling (like doing 4 10-hr days a week), but it still seems better than trying to take on my daughter's facilitation by myself while still working full-time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2917971 Tue, 04 Aug 2020 20:04:28 +0000 QueensBee 2917971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are one of the families seriously considering this model. I teach at a private school that plans on opening 5 days/week. My son goes to a public school that has him in school 2 days/week and may close at any time. Usually, my parents help us with childcare but they will be unable to do that this year due to the Covid risk. My husband is working from home right now but may get called back into the office in September. We don't know. </p> <p>For our own childcare sanity, we are looking into a learning pod. Although it's expensive, it's less than what we were paying for daycare or a nanny when he was in preschool so I am trying to think of it as an unexpected year of daycare expenses. It's not my intention to give my child a leg up, widen the inequities in education, or take away support from the public schools, and that weighs on my mind. I am just looking for a place for my son to be while my husband and I are at work and this feels like a stopgap solution to help us survive the year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2917967 Tue, 04 Aug 2020 10:02:37 +0000 ShootingStar 2917967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've seen a lot of chatter about it, but more about home schooling groups, which TBH I want to no part of :silly: . It seems a lot of families here are choosing to do some version of online learning (we have multiple options here and not all take away funding from schools). But my perception of it was that it was going to be a group of kids moving from house to house, with a parent facilitating, which doesn't sound like a good option for us. </p> <p>We're choosing in-person schooling for various reasons, but the whole district will likely do online learning for the first 9 week grading period. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2917955 Mon, 03 Aug 2020 09:09:56 +0000 Mommy Finger 2917955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In theory, it makes sense if you're talking about a small group of families in the same community trying to help each other out. I can see maybe grouping together and taking shifts to help the group of kids on your day(s) to facilitate learning along with their virtual teacher. The other families can then focus on their days "off" to do what they need to do. </p> <p>But when you look further into it, that's not at all what this is and totally exposes the inequities. It becomes a case of the "haves" and "have nots". One of my friends who also has an incoming kindergartner was exploring all of her options for her DD and talked to a former teacher in our area just to see what this was all about. In our area, to put your child into a pod, it's $20k each for the year and the teacher takes around 5 kids. To me, that's insane. I also have fears of the privatizing of education and agree this will not help that.</p> <p>I note that not every pod situation is like this and absolutely applaud you, @Jess1483: for thinking about the possible inequities of the situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2917954 Mon, 03 Aug 2020 08:33:06 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2917954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: thank you for mentioning the cost and inequality factor in your setup. I read this the other day: <a href="https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/22/huge-problem-with-education-pandemic-pods-suddenly-popping-up/%3foutputType=amp" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/22/huge-problem-with-education-pandemic-pods-suddenly-popping-up/%3foutputType=amp</a></p> <p>And it’s really been on my mind. It’s not feasible for us, we will send our guy to grade 1, but I see these postings pop up especially on the affluent Facebook mom groups in our city. A few weeks ago I thought this was insane, but now it’s becoming more of a conversation since we know our reopening plan in Ontario. Something didn’t sit right with me about these individual pods but I couldn’t put my finger on it until I started reading. Before Covid, our provincial government was putting plans in motion to privatize education and many are fearful this will be the unwanted outcome, going so far as to say their reopening plan is purposeful to encourage enrolment at private schools or pods like this.</p> <p>I’m interested to hear others replies to this thread as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2917949 Sun, 02 Aug 2020 19:11:04 +0000 Jess1483 2917949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will be homeschooling two other families with mine (well, remote schooling). I’m a former teacher. One family will pay (a little) and the other family has a young one and will take my baby. I’m very concerned about the equity of homeschool pods so 1) committed to not making cost a factor and 2) committed to leaving them enrolled (virtually) in local schools. It’s not perfect, but I have a medically compromised child and contact with my parents. </p> <p>I also teach online (which also gives me conflicting feelings about equity, but it allows me to pay the bills), and I know people at my company are facilitating some of these pods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2917940 Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:21:51 +0000 lioneyes 2917940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone doing a learning pod for the Fall? Schools are starting 100% online here and I heard about a company that facilitates a teacher for your pod of kids. It's local to me but also can facilitate an e-teacher- Thepupilpod.com<br /> There was an article on pods in the NYT today, it seems like a good solution if you have like minded friends/neighbors. Would be nice to get a break from homeschooling (though ill still have to be a preschool teacher). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875409 Thu, 07 Mar 2019 19:04:21 +0000 mrsrain 2875409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not be ok with this. We teach our children that feelings are natural and that it’s ok to cry in response to them. This would be reason for me to talk to the teacher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875348 Thu, 07 Mar 2019 15:06:17 +0000 maddyz 2875348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be pretty upset about that and I would like to think there is a different way to manage a classroom that doesn't mean that a child has broken the rules when they cry from nonphysical pain. I have a rule follower and he would 100% stuff his feelings until he got home. I don't see how this rule would actually help bring up and processes emotions and really that's what K should be about. Side note, I am going to have one hell of a time when we start school in the fall.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875231 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 17:18:43 +0000 Rocker2014 2875231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mommy Finger: Oh good! I realized once I posted that it was a long and complicated response, but this is a big part of my job (and creating trauma informed spaces like @Mrs. Turtle: mentioned) and I have a lot of feelings about teaching youth about feelings, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875228 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 16:44:39 +0000 Mommy Finger 2875228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rocker2014: You put into words what I couldn't. I agree with this but couldn't figure out a way to say it in a coherent manner. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875215 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 15:49:49 +0000 Rocker2014 2875215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't love this statement as it is quite limiting, but upon reflection I don't really disagree completely. Crying is useful for self-soothing, but not really for problem solving. I am constantly reminding LO to "use her words" to manage situations and/or get her needs met, as she is prone to dissolving into tears without any visible trigger and I have no idea how to help her address whatever she is feeling. If she gives in to tears it can often be 10 minutes or (much) longer until the issue is resolved, but when she can tell me what is going on I can usually help her resolve it in just a few moments (ie. want to wear a different shirt, want fruit snacks package opened, etc.). In a learning environment, I can see this directive as a part of that process, but I'd like to see it pared with an action step for the child - like "Crying is for when we are hurt, can you tell me what you are feeling/what is upsetting you/how I can help?" Or maybe have a feelings faces chart on the wall where a child can point to their feeling, which can start a conversation. Helping children learn to express emotions in safe and productive ways (ie. that allow for self soothing, maintaining relationships and problem solving) is a very important developmental task , and I like the idea of it being reinforced in an educational setting (though I wouldn't assume that was happening in a class just based on the statement the OP is concerned about). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875193 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 13:39:54 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2875193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be pretty upset about this. I'm surprised so many of you feel it's par for the course for Kindergarten. One of my goals for my daughters is to teach them it's OK to feel, OK for things not to be OK and that they can express their emotions rather than bottling them up and pretending everything is OK. (which is the unspoken tradition in our family) If this is par for the course in Kindergarten, I need to start thinking about alternative school environments. Not to mention, I think all schools should be trauma-informed at this point, and this mindset would not work for trauma kids. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875185 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 11:47:42 +0000 Portboston 2875185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can understand why she says it but I don’t agree with it. That being said I’m not sure it’s worth saying anything since the school year is almost done. I would empower your child to vocalize that she is emotionally hurt and her mom told her it’s ok to cry not only when her body is hurt but also when her feelings are hurt. It may be a good opportunity to teach her to recognize that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875171 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 10:46:00 +0000 shabang 2875171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@poppygirl15: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @LadyDi: From our schedules, I actually never see our main teacher, and we just had parent/teacher conferences, so unfortunately, there's no casual way for me to mention this. I will say that because I've talked to another parent who heard the teacher say something very similar, I'm pretty certain it's not an isolated incident or misunderstood comment. I'm going to keep talking to my child about this, but this really is the tip of the iceberg as far as social/emotional/peer issues this year, and since it's March, I'm just really ready to be done with this school year in 2 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875170 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 10:39:07 +0000 shabang 2875170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: @bhbee: @gotkimchi: @Mamatimes3: @MrsRoo: Thanks for level-setting me, guys. I hear this and start snowballing into imagining my child becoming emotionally repressed which obviously is ridiculous from this one thing, but it's helpful to hear that I can let this one go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875077 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:40:15 +0000 LadyDi 2875077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @poppygirl15 and I would ask for clarification from the teacher and put it nicely. This would really bother me, but I think it would help to understand the context in which she says it and if it's just a "rule" difference then explain that to your child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875075 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:26:37 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2875075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d like to know more about the situations when the teacher is uttering this idea that crying is reserved for physical pain. We know that bullying starts at a young age whether that’s being teased or excluded or whatever and I would hope that the teacher would take those situations seriously and do something about them. I will say that I do not tolerate whining and fake crying at home to get something LO wants and I ask him to use his normal voice or not cry about it and that could be what she’s dealing with. You never know until you discuss it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875072 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:14:26 +0000 poppygirl15 2875072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I would talk to the teacher. I'd approach it really nicely and just as that you want clarification. It's possible she said one thing, but a different thing was understood/heard by the kids. That will allow you have a more directed conversation with your child, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-should-only-cry-if-you-are-hurt#post-2875070 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:08:31 +0000 MrsRoo 2875070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To me it sounds like a situation where the rules at school are different than the rules at home. It also can probably explain why kindergartners (mine at least) comes home sometimes and is an absolute wreck from keeping herself “together” all day at the age of 5. </p> <p>I like the suggestion above to use it to talk about coping skills, and also reiterating that home with you is a safe place where she can let her feelings be felt. </p>