Minor rant, kid's teacher phoned it in for last week of virtual school

[BZB]

I got caught flat-footed! I had a reasonable routine going with my tween son and pandemic virtual school. We have a kanban style board with all his chores and expected school assignments on sticky notes and he moves them to the "done" side when he's done. It's been keeping me sane while working full time at home. I have some deadlines on projects this week, and I need to be able to focus and research. This is the last week of school, and I expected his teacher to send out the weekly work plan and zoom meeting schedule. But surprise, no more zoom meetings and no assignments this week. I'm scrambling to put together my own plan for him, but I really need to be working. If I'd had a heads up, I would have prepared for this over the long weekend. Feh! I have him recording teacher appreciation videos right now. We'll figure it out...

[Sibley]

I have friends who are teachers. The last week, they're doing things like movies, end of school year parties, cleaning up the classroom (putting the kids to work), field days, tying up loose ends, etc. So it's not that they phoned in the last week of virtual school. It's that the last week of school generally is pretty light, and you didn't realize or forgot that, thus didn't plan for it. Please don't blame the teacher.

[BZB]

@Sibley You're jumping to conclusions or you didn't read carefully. I have a deep respect for teachers. My mom was a teacher, and I know how hard the job is. I'm not blaming the teacher. That is why my son is spending the day making teacher appreciation videos. Usually at his school there are a lot of activities and the learning continues in the last week. Last week the teacher did give the impression there would be at the very least some zoom meetings. It was only this morning we found out that there is nothing planned. So, I was expecting some kind of a plan, but we're adapting and coping.

[Playing with Fire UK]

That sounds really frustrating. You said the teacher had been sending out work plans and Zoom meetings every week so far: maybe this week something awful happened so they don't have the capacity to take the meetings and send out the work. It's still a major pain for you, but IMO it's more likely that a conscientious teacher is having a terrible time than they just decided they couldn't be arsed any more - especially if they suggested that there would be a work package last week. I hope your son finds something fun and educational to do so you can get your work done.

[EricEng]

Does your son have to be kept busy at all times?  What's the issue with just letting him play independently this week?

[BZB]

@Playing with Fire UK Thanks for your comment, and yes, we're managing. The teacher completed what was required to get the grade books in, and she is done. I don't blame her. It's been a rough year.

@EricEng Good idea, I will try that and see how it works out. Are your kids good at playing independently for long stretches of time while you work?

[Playing with Fire UK]

It has been a rough year hasn't it?! Glad you are managing and hope you have a good summer.

[EricEng]

@EricEng Good idea, I will try that and see how it works out. Are your kids good at playing independently for long stretches of time while you work?

Mine are both under 3 still, so they play well together for an hour or two, but need lot more attention than a 10 year old would and safety supervision.  I just remember when I was 7-12 during summer vacations while parents were at work and I was only child.  I did fine entertaining myself and keeping out of trouble.

Wife as a nanny for many years before we had our own.  She always discussed how over scheduled a lot of preteen kids were.   Parents wouldn't let the kids have any free time from sun up to bed.  Was all school, homework, camps, sports, band, music classes, w/e.  Caused behavior issues from overtired children and they never learned to entertain themselves.