https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 07:14:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916705 Sun, 21 Jun 2020 22:35:21 +0000 Lilbear 2916705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a teacher in NYC, and they are mostly talking about returning in September with a blended model with groups of students either coming in 2 days per week, one week on and one week off, or going fully remote. Nobody knows anything and our schools are notoriously overcrowded and underfunded. In order to follow the social distance and cleaning rules, we need at least 2x our current teaching staff, which our schools can’t afford. Our union is saying that unless the heroes act passes, we will not have funding and will have to go 100% remote. Personally, I hate teaching remotely and prefer to be in the classroom BUT I also prefer to stay healthy and alive. </p> <p>There was a recent article in the daily news that made an excellent point against the blended models. We can’t get near our students to check work etc because of social distancing rules, so we will have to do some sort of live messaging in the classroom......which is exactly what we are already doing from home. Also, regardless of if we can even provide a safe environment to open the schools, our students will all start riding the subway and city buses again to get to school, and that alone skyrockets their exposure to the virus. Finally, if they are going to school on certain days and in smaller groups, there still is no reliable childcare for parents. What are parents going to do if school is only 2 days per week? What about those other 3 days? Who watches your kids so you can work?! </p> <p>I understand the sentiment of some of the frustrated parents out there. Working from home and helping (and sometimes corralling) your own children is exhausting. My own kids are currently finishing 3k and 1st grade. However, as a NYC teacher, I have seen the deadliness of this virus. 3 of my students have lost one of their parents. I have had 4 of my own friends/coworkers lose family members. I heard the ambulance sirens going off all hours of the day and night at our peak. I saw the multiple refrigerated trucks outside of the hospitals..... I know everyone wants to go “back to normal” but we don’t have any ways to safely do that yet, and I feel any form of reopening is going to kick off the next wave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916579 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 07:34:41 +0000 hilary 2916579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really feel for all of the teachers and the situation this creates. I also can't imagine having my incoming Kinder twins at home on virtual learning. They are so much more interested in learning from other people and let's be honest, I don't have the appropriate skills to teach them. Teachers have degrees and levels of certification and continuing education that makes them far more qualified. Even with our state fully opening up, cases have stayed below a certain level so I'm hoping that level keeps dropping and people feel more comfortable/safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916523 Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:08:02 +0000 msmilkshake 2916523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@desertdreams88 Thanks for making this thread, it occupies so much of my thoughts (no matter how much I try to tell myself it’s not worth stressing over unknowable things). Kids are done, PD is on going here in Baltimore and today we spent the day brainstorming around building-specific logistics for reopening in the fall. It was so overwhelming and mostly just makes me so sad. I teach elementary school and while of course safety comes first, just listening to list of what has to go is just...well, you all know. Add to this general foolishness at the district level (they wanted us to come in for a week of unpaid PD in the fall, union refused, now they’re insisting on a week of Pd now that has not been planned yet). And I’m so worried about how any of the options being discussed will be remotely feasible for our families (like some others pointed out here), not to mention our own health and safety. Anyway, not sure I’ve said anything worthwhile or even sensical here, but thanks for the opportunity to process! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916491 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:46:43 +0000 wrkbrk 2916491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: It’s very stress inducing (I have anxiety anyway). In no way am I blaming the schools!! They have it the worst in many ways. But the whole situation, no matter how many iterations I turn around in my head, baffles me in terms of logistics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916490 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:31:12 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2916490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Agreed, and I'm not sure 2 days a week is much better either tbh. I know everyone is trying their best but man, all this sucks :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916474 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 19:19:19 +0000 petitenoisette 2916474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m just finishing up the school year in MA. Current guideline calls for max of 10 kids/2 teachers in class - this would require dividing my school into 3 groups. Idk if they will revise this number for the fall if cases continue to go down (obs uncertain with reopening). The state is going to come out with further guidelines before the end of June I believe and I really really hope that schools then announce their plans ASAP. Like @Chuckles: I’m so stressed about how I’m going to coordinate my schedule with my two LOs two schools. </p> <p>@AngelicOne: My daughter is also starting K and I am so sad about what it will be like 😞 I’m just hoping that she’ll be so excited for a lot of the traditional aspects of school that they’ll still adhere to that maybe she won’t be as affected by the restrictions. </p> <p>@DesertDreams88: The logistics of subs, and teachers needing to be out for sick days potentially for weeks at a time for something that turns out to be minor ...ugh it’s just a disaster. This is the thing that makes me feel like we really shouldn’t go back. Can you imagine sending your kid for their 1-2 days in a week and their teachers are absent? Though maybe there will be less illness spread due to all the restrictions. </p> <p>My ideal situation wearing my teacher hat would be to see kids twice a week. Even once a week, @wrkbrk: , would allow me to introduce new material, explain work, Answer questions, give feedback on prior work etc. before sending students home to do their remote work for the week. Tho I’m not arguing your point about the risk and lack of childcare dilemmas. My mom hat would be me going fully remote...@gotkimchi: I think having the lower grades go back in part time capacity to reduce classroom size and high school fully remote makes the most sense overall. Older kids can stay home alone (maybe not ideal but it’s much more of an option), they can use a computer by themselves, and work much more independently. It is much more difficult/impossible to keep high schoolers in designated groups. And then I think schools should offer more in person services to kids on IEPs and 504s even if hs is fully remote. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916466 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 15:03:02 +0000 wrkbrk 2916466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: 1 day a week?? I’m not sure how that’s any better than full on remote. Seems like the worst of both worlds - taking a risk AND not having childcare 4/5 days. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916465 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 14:28:31 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2916465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read through the plans our school district is putting together this morning - they'll be making a final call by the end of June. It looks like the options are full remote learning, 2 full days a week at 50% capacity (they'd rotate kids in M/T and TH/F groups) or in school at 1 day a week at 25% capacity (kids would be in 4 groups, one group per day of the week). One day would be off for teacher planning and special services for kids who need them. Distanced desks and PPE for teachers but no other details beyond that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916448 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 08:10:52 +0000 bhbee 2916448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel so much for teachers and really everyone who works for districts. No good answers that will keep everyone safe and happy. TX, like AZ, is trending in the wrong direction right now. </p> <p>I did think it interesting - there was an article in Dallas Morning News about some potential plans. We live in a nearby large district so expect to have similar plans to whatever they land on. </p> <p>They mentioned doing masks for hallways, PE and recess and switching to shields for the classroom to increase comfort and rapport. I know there’s some debate about effectiveness there. The district seems to be planning to provide the PPE to all. </p> <p>The article actually had a lot of detail (even though they are still waiting for state guidance) and I found it exhausting just to read - I can’t even imagine implementing all this and how hard everything will be for teachers and school staff. </p> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2020/06/12/dallas-isd-offers-ideas-on-what-school-could-look-like-next-year-says-it-wont-start-early/%3foutputType=amp" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2020/06/12/dallas-isd-offers-ideas-on-what-school-could-look-like-next-year-says-it-wont-start-early/%3foutputType=amp</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916446 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:13:38 +0000 AngelicOne 2916446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: My son starts Kinder this year and we haven't heard any plans as of yet, but it makes me sad that this is how he's going to be starting school. The school we picked did lots of outside time &amp; freedom in the classrooms, which he won't get now. I have no clue what we'll do because he didn't do well with learning at home while his preschool was closed when AZ first shut down. Those plans you listed don't sound ideal. I don't trust the parents to self report any fevers or anything. I see so many adults not wearing masks when I do venture out for groceries, I fear for what the Summer/Fall brings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916442 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 20:23:59 +0000 periwinklebee 2916442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: p.s. thank you for the recommendation! </p> <p>and yeah, frat parties (which will happen, regardless of university policy) are definitely going to be the new cruise ships. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916441 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 20:21:19 +0000 periwinklebee 2916441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I think it's pretty much a pipe dream to expect school and university openings not to be a fiasco, unless we can somehow drive cases way down (a la South Korea, etc), which is really hard to imagine happening in the US... And as you say, it's not so simple as just having older teachers do remote, as young and healthy people get seriously ill all too often as well... I understand that there's kids going hungry w/o school lunch, kids who have no one to uncover child abuse, kids with no access to wifi... no words, its really, really awful. At the same time, the most horrible thing that can happen is kids losing a parent, a grandparent, a teacher because they caught the virus at school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916440 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 20:00:36 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2916440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a teacher but reading this.. man, I'm so sad for the kids and for you all. My daughter is heading into 2nd grade and I just can't fathom a school environment with no group interaction, no recess, stuck to desks all the time. I can even appreciate in-class lunches but everything else being taken away, seems like it'll be awful for them and I imagine for you all to teach, especially at the elementary level where interaction matters so much. Sending you all so much love, y'all are heroes for everything you've been doing this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916439 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 19:59:10 +0000 DesertDreams88 2916439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: "how do you simultaneously teach small kids in the classroom and manage remote learning?" I hope they will offer high-risk teachers the option of 100% online and those will be the teachers managing online. I can't teaching full-time in person AND manage part-time instruction online, no one can. </p> <p>And totally agree about the domino affect of needing to quarantine and rolling class / school closures. And it's beyond just the classroom - if my son or daughter gets a bad cough, both my husband and I will need to stay home until we can get them tested AND get the results. That will be the scenario for all parents, because God forbid it's covid and we unknowingly bring it to the workplace. </p> <p>I definitely am VERY concerned about higher education along with you and @wrkbrk: . College without parties and close contacts? Yeah right. Dorms are the fall's cruise ships. But by-and-large many students don't want any more online classes... .ugh. Highly recommend the Academic Mamas* facebook group, btw.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916438 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 19:55:26 +0000 wrkbrk 2916438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I totally get it. But practically it will be a conundrum if all schools don’t act uniformly. If my spouse’s school goes remote also that would be fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916437 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 19:52:35 +0000 DesertDreams88 2916437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: @periwinklebee: I hear this sentiment a lot: "The schools have to go back full-time in person because adults have to work" but it's literally not possible to respect any social distancing norms when doing that. At the bare minimum, to achieve classes of 10-15, the nation would have to DOUBLE the teaching workforce.... every school would have to hire 10-40 new teachers this summer, they'd all have to be trained and processed through HR, etc. There's not that many extra certified teachers or subs around.... here in AZ, we have 1800+ positions here EVERY YEAR not filled by a certified teacher, instead, they get a long-term sub (often one that quits after a month, so, then a new one, who does the same, etc). That's just one state. </p> <p>If schools were to go back full-time (every student every day, normal hours), it's just asking for uncontrollable outbreaks and risking the health of staff and students, even ones that might not be older or immunocompromised. </p> <p>Come August, in SO many districts, K-12 teaching will be one of the most common, covid-dangerous jobs in America. Requiring us to be in a SMALL room with 15-30 other people, often elbow-to-elbow, with little ventilation? If schools are unwilling to limit the class size (seemingly some aren't), we are all at risk. We don't even have windows in my room. </p> <p>Most districts around here are mask-optional as of now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916429 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 11:42:13 +0000 Fawn 2916429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alba4: I live in a NYC suburb as well. My next door neighbor is a math teacher and told us that the superintendent told them school will be in-person when it starts in September, though she seriously doubts it.</p> <p>My neighbors have been having play dates as well. We have started seeing our parents, but so far that's it. As things begin to open I dont think I'll be bringing my 13 month old out much since I cant trust that people outside my family/friends have been practicing social distancing and good hygiene. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916428 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 10:08:04 +0000 periwinklebee 2916428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I talked to a friend a couple days ago who teaches second grade. Their tentative plan is to give families who want to be fully remote the option, and then the remainder of kids will be divided into two groups that go two days per week to reduce density. </p> <p>I am struggling to wrap my head around the logistics behind this - how do you simultaneously teach small kids in the classroom and manage remote learning? A large number of teachers have their own kids, which will create a logistical nightmare. Many of the other teachers are older and will still be at significant risk... and then every time a student tests positive, which will I'm sure happen (all the more with widespread testing), I think everyone needs to self-quarantine for two weeks, during which I guess the shift is totally to remote learning... </p> <p>I work at a university, still no word on our plan yet. But I see a lot of colleagues at universities that have announced they will be back regardless advocating for purchasing plexiglass fencing to separate teaching staff from students in classrooms. No one wants to catch a deadly virus because an ill-advised frat party became a super spreader event on campus 😒 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916414 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 07:54:42 +0000 Chuckles 2916414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also very anxious about next year. I teach kids with severe autism at a therapeutic school, so social distancing and mask wearing all day just won't be a thing. I'm nervous about getting sick or getting my family sick. We haven't heard anything yet about what the year will look like. I'm in Illinois, just north of Chicago, so still a high number of cases here.<br /> But I'm more nervous about whatever kind of hybrid of learning ends up happening and my district not matching up with DS's, who will be in second grade. We did okay with remote learning, not great, but it was only because my schedule could be flexible and we were both at home. If we are on different schedules, it will be impossible. My husband has been working from home, but he will probably be back in the office soon. And even if he was at home with DS, there's no way he could facilitate remote learning.<br /> I feel like the people who are creating these plans just have no concept of what it will be like for teachers and students. Even for middle school and high school students, I think it's completely unrealistic to expect decently helpful mask wearing all day. They will be playing with them, sharing them, throwing them around. This is funny and also worrying: <a href="https://www.boredteachers.com/trending/elementary-kids-wearing-masks-in-school-will-be-like" rel="nofollow">https://www.boredteachers.com/trending/elementary-kids-wearing-masks-in-school-will-be-like</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916408 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 06:03:30 +0000 Alba4 2916408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a NYC suburb and we still have 2 more weeks of the school year. I teach middle school and my oldest is finishing up first grade. Distance learning has been a real struggle for our family.</p> <p>Our district hasn’t said a word about next year and what school will be like. I’ve obviously read many articles about hybrid learning situations. I have over one hundred students that I teach and multiple grade levels. It will be interesting to see what they propose.</p> <p>To be honest, I think the district will start the school year in-person (most likely with staggered groupings and social distancing) and most work will be online. I feel like we’ll end up doing distance learning again as the number of cases and infections rise. </p> <p>NY is only starting phase 2. Things are starting to begin to open up. I see my neighbors and friends having play dates while my family is NOT. I feel like we are way more cautious than most.</p> <p> I’m nervous that I’ll have to be exposed to so many germs once school begins. There are no “pods” in a middle school. I teach multiple grades and more students than the average teacher as it is, so I am concerned about my health and my family’s health. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916401 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 20:57:15 +0000 gotkimchi 2916401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: ok this is what I mean - if parents are back to work and there’s no school people will have to use daycare so as far as kids exposure isn’t it the same? I mean we can’t all continue doing what we’ve been doing so I have concerns about that aspect as well </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916398 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 20:06:16 +0000 charm55 2916398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Wow - that is high... I can see why they may need to make significant changes to schooling in that case. Maybe the numbers will drop over the summer? But then there’s always the risk of a second wave, ugh. </p> <p>@gotkimchi: I’m with you... so over home schooling. We actually kind of gave up a couple weeks ago. She just reads and spends lot of time outside now 🤷🏼‍♀️. She desperately missed her friends and teacher and it became such a big struggle to get any school work done each morning. Not to mention her schooling is completely in French and so much of that is oral interaction with others. The only bright spot were the weekly zoom calls ... she lived for those ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916397 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:59:58 +0000 wrkbrk 2916397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It’s hard to see how parents will work if school isn’t in session something close to fulltime. For example my spouse is a teacher. It’s looking like her school will be in person but our son’s will not. So obviously she cannot split the week with me to watch him if she’s in-person teaching.<br /> I’m not sure how it will play out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916396 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:43:02 +0000 gotkimchi 2916396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: @charm55: our county has 485 cases, 27 deaths and a population of about 225,000 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916395 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:35:19 +0000 Anagram 2916395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charm55: oh wow, those numbers seem very low risk. If we combine the counties where my husband work, where I work, and where we live/our kids go to school, it’s 58,000 infected with 5500 deaths. 😳</p> <p>Even so, people are kind of out and about like things have totally gone back to normal now. 🤷‍♀️ So I’m not sure what September will bring for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916394 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:25:07 +0000 charm55 2916394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: We are a small province that is mostly rural, less than a million people total. We’ve only had around 130 total cases .. 1 death. My county itself has only had 1 case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916392 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:22:20 +0000 gotkimchi 2916392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charm55: what are low numbers and how big is your province? I’m just trying to get a comparison for our area </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916391 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:00:12 +0000 charm55 2916391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow - that is so sad and I would be really discouraged too :sad: I was very very anxious the past few months as so many possibilities were being thrown out. My youngest is starting Kindergarten this year and I really want her to have a good experience. </p> <p>They just released our provinces plan today... K-2 will go full day, every day and be maxed at 15 kids per class - which will effectively become their own pod that they will eat with, play with, etc. They don’t have to social distance within their pod. Recess may be staggered to allow the pods to not overlap too much. Music Art and PE will all still happen which makes me happy because I was worried that would be cut. Higher grades are essentially the same idea but may have more than 15 kids per pod. Temperature checks may be a possibility. </p> <p>It’s basically the best case scenario in my opinion, as a teacher and parent. Our province has had very low numbers of COVID which I am sure plays into it though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916390 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 18:14:57 +0000 DesertDreams88 2916390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: We normally have subs only 50% of the time (legit number - I work on our budget negotiations team). The rest of the time, the non-covered classroom gets split up into other classes (we can't have teachers cover on their prep, every grade level has a different bell schedule). </p> <p>Forbidding subs on campus is to minimize "outside" infection risk. It's a district, not state decision. I agree that having subs would not raise the risk level substantially at all. Given that during a NORMAL school year we have at least 1-2 teachers out EVERY day, that means 1-2 specials will be canceled every day. Sometimes we have 5-7 teachers out.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916389 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 17:52:12 +0000 Anagram 2916389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in a middle school, too, but we haven’t heard anything yet. I’m super pro mask, and I finally got my hands on some kn95s in anticipation of having to go back in person in Sept (we are still in school—online—until Thursday of next week). </p> <p>So I’m actually crossing my fingers that masks will be mandated. </p> <p>The rest of what AZ is proposing sounds miserable—no Subs? It seems like they are using COVID to further decimate public education in that state (no surprise for Arizona I guess). Why couldn’t they just get permanent subs, or just use regular subs? Let’s get real, a teacher exposed to tons of kids a day and going about their life with their kids in schools elsewhere, a spouse that works, and going to supermarkets and stuff...how is not having a sub reducing risk in a measurable way that outweighs the risk of having a sub? If a sub is also wearing a mask, not touching students, etc. Kind of just seems like they are trying to screw over teachers and get rid of specials and cut benefits. </p> <p>I am so glad we have a later start. It will be interesting to see what other states do before us. Of course our numbers here have been much higher than the rest of the US, so we may very well end up doing something different but I’d like to think some of our education officials will watch and learn from others mistakes. But I’m also pessimistic about that in general, haha. </p>