Home schooling

So it is March 2020 and the Coronavirus has reached us. On Monday 23rd of March Alexander was home sick because he had a fever and a cough (it was tonsilitis) and at 8:30am James and I decided that we would keep Eliza and Daniel home from school after the premier announcing that it was best to keep your kids home from school if you could. Well, that changed my plans of having Mondays and Tuesdays as productive times to myself. 

The kids were excited to not go into school, however, I sat down and wrote a planned timetable for the day and told the kids that it was still going to be a day of school work, just at home, not at school. It was to be the start of who knows how long. I was a bit excited to get back into teaching, but also a bit nervous because I think it is much harder to teach your own kids instead of teach a group of 30 odd kids in your class. But this was to become reality so I was going to do the best that I could do. 

We started with partner reading which was really cute to see. Daniel read to me one of his Aussie Bites books and Eliza and Alexander had a turn at reading 'Where is the Green Sheep?'. I loved watching them both read to eachother and they joy on their faces when they 'read' it.
We headed out for a ride to get some fresh air and exercise. It is such a great area that we live in that we can do this. And the kids are loving their bikes! And it is great for James and I to be able to go for a walk too.

For Science we did an experiment with bread to show how important it is to wash your hands to get rid of as many germs that you can and also an experiment to show how soap is great at repelling germs (modelled by pepper). The kids were quite into the work which was great to see. 

Maths was maths rotations - number puzzle on the ground, mathletics on the computer and a maths activity with me at the table. The kids did pretty well with rotating through the activities, the only tricky part was that Alexander didn't have an online Maths task to do which he was a bit sad about.

In the afternoon we started to read the book 'George's Marvellous Medicine' which the kids just loved sitting and listening to. I quite liked sitting there reading with them too. I don't know that I've read this book before.
We then did some water colour painting (thanks to Eliza getting paints for her birthday). The kids really liked making their own pictures.

Lastly, we did some Just Dance on the Wii for Eliza's dance classes (because they too had been cancelled). It was lots of fun to watch the kids trying to keep up with the dance moves and to have a go myself.

Overall the first day wasn't too bad a day which I was happy with. It gave me confidence to keep going.

Tuesday saw us have a similar day planned. We did another partner reading - this time I read with Eliza one of her readers from school and Daniel read to Alexander the rest of his book and Alexander read one of his books to Daniel. Again, lovely to listen to them all reading to each other. Daniel then did some writing about the book he read, describing his favourite part.

We have enjoyed doing Mainly Music, thanks to the leaders being so creative an filming it for us and sending it home.

Eliza has enjoyed writing sentences and drawing pictures. I have been so impressed with her sounding out of words, the way that she has strung sentences together and that she write full sentences. Love her joy over learning this! This writing was using her camera words.

Today it might be rainy. She is getting wet. Where are the umbrellas?

Our school was pretty on the ball with starting online learning. I headed into school on Tuesday to collect some books and resources for the kids to use at home. The teachers were setting lesson plans on SeeSaw. This was great, although I did like planning my own days because I felt in more control. It is trickier because the teachers would send out their lessons between 8:30 and 9. Each day one of the teachers would tend to send it through just before 9am. This was getting too stressful for me. I wasn't coping with not having planning time. Especially with having Alexander at home too. I needed to get my head around teaching similar lessons to Daniel and Eliza and also working out an alternate activity for Alexander to keep him occupied. Getting this as the day started just wasn't great for me. The night before I prefer to get my head around the next day, the lessons and resources that I needed. I found that I was just getting stressed out in the mornings and wasn't being a very polite person while sorting out the day. I also felt that I wasn't teaching the kids very well because I was on the back foot.

I decided that the following Wednesday (after a few days with tears) I would do my own day of lessons and be a day behind in the set lessons. While I felt bad that I wasn't doing the work that the teachers set (well, I was but for that day it looked like I wasn't) I just needed to do this so that I had the night to plan and prepare before school started again. 
Wednesday I dressed as a pirate to try and make the learning more fun and real. I wanted Daniel to write a description of a pirate, Eliza to write a sentence about a pirate and Alexander could draw a pirate. The kids loved that I dressed as a pirate and spoke with them as a pirate. There were many giggles.

Unfortunately the giggles stopped there. Alexander wasn't keen to draw a pirate. He just wanted to dress as a pirate, only problem is that there is only 1 pirate costume and I had it on. Eliza did well with writing her sentence and drawing her rainbow pirate. Daniel though was in tears for a lot of the morning. He just couldn't work out how to describe a pirate, even with one infront of him. I had him draw it. This he could do (he basically drew my costume) but when I asked him to describe the different parts, he just said 'I don't know. I'm thinking'. It was really hard for me because I knew he could do it. I knew he had the ability but he just had such a negative attitude to writing. My poor boy. We decided to brainstorm different parts of the pirate and he started to get on a roll. Eliza and Alexander also offered ideas (which some he accepted and others he got frustrated with). But we did get there in the end and he wrote a wonderful description! What I wanted him to work towards is believing in himself.

We did a science experiment to learn more about sound waves (Daniel had been learning about sound waves at school). We tested what happened with salt on top of a cup covered with glad wrap when we shouted. Daniel was pretty excited about seeing the vibrations.

The rest of the school term was based around what the teachers sent through. I basically was teaching a day behind and some days combined the kids to do one activity together.
Eliza made some shapes.

Daniel was excited to describe a dinosaur, however, he lost motivation when he couldn't make the dinosaur on the computer. I told him to draw it in his book but he totally changed his attitude and approach. It was a painful lesson for him and me. We got there but it really was a real struggle.

We all made zippy zebras (Eliza's lesson but Daniel wanted to do some craft too).

The kids loved making an obstacle course (both kids had this task just not on the same day). They each participated in it and then went outside throughout the day to do it again and again. They even made me do it. 

Their PE teachers have set a few tasks during the day which the kids have enjoyed doing. As an aside, Daniel has been learning how to do start jumps properly. It surprised me that he didn't know how to do them but I'm glad that I could help him break it down.

The kids have had free play opportunities and time to play together at lunch.

Alexander and Eliza were chefs while Daniel was a builder. The chefs were making his lunch for him

 For Easter activities Daniel decided to make an Easter boardgame in the shape of a bunny. He used inspiration from Uncle Howie to make 'yes' and 'oh no' cards which you had to do the task if you landed on them. We had fun playing the game together.

 An initiative was set up in different areas to put a teddybear in your window that overlooks the street so that as kids exercise, they can go on a bear hunt. We decided one afternoon to head off on a bear hunt. We predicted how many bears we would find and in the end, Eliza found the closest (I think the number was 18). There were a large amount of bears in our street alone. Great that so many people got onboard with this.

Going on the bearhunt with our teddies

 Eliza needed to draw a self portrait for school so I taught the kids how to draw a self portrait and then they each coloured theirs in. They each did quite well!

The most detailed Alexander has drawn a face! I loved it!

 I loved watching Alexander reading to Daniel and Daniel helping fill in the words (most of them) that Alexander didn't know.

The use of whiteboards has been a big hit with the kids. They just love to draw pictures on them.

To include Alexander a bit more I tried to make a preschool section in the play area. My goal was to set up a couple of activities that he could do independently during the morning, sort of like how they set up preschool. Unfortunately Alexander was still keen to have me or someone else play with him. Not quite the plan I had. And the big kids wanted to play with what I set up - not so helpful with the school work side of things. He did get there though at times.

Preschool set up

He got his toys and made breakfast for them.

Uncle Howie asked Alexander to draw him a picture. Alexander drew a picture of Uncle Howie. I love his little feet in the photo.

While Daniel and Eliza did some work, Alexander worked on cutting along lines. He surprised me with how well he did! He surprised himself too. Although he did complain that it is too hard to do.

The kids have enjoyed building with the megablocks again. I have really been amazed at how well the kids are playing together during this time. It is the best that they have played together in a long time. A month ago I was begging with the kids to try and be kind to each other. Now I can't really seperate them. It really is a lovely thing.

Eliza and Alexander were keen to do painting. I wasn't keen on cleaning up mess so paint brushes and water was the solution. They had a great time.

I loved walking out in the morning and seeing and hearing Daniel reading one of his Dog Man books to Eliza. So beautiful!

To continue the cutting activity I made Alexander a lion. He needed to cut along the lines to make the lion's mane. I was a bit proud of myself for coming up with that activity.

I pulled out the hammering activity that they sometimes have at preschool for Alexander to create with too. Daniel enjoyed playing with it at morning tea and lunch.

Continuing on the lion theme while the kids did their maths activities, Alexander needed to make a lion's mane using pegs. Strengthening his fine motor skills. He did give up after about 10 pegs... it was worth a try. He did get excited that he could make his lion stand up with the pegs.

We rode to church to get some cards to give to our neighbours to say we are happy to help them. On the way home we spotted some more bears in the windows.

Eliza wanted to make lunch for me to say thank you for all that I was doing. Such a sweet gesture to show thanks to me. She is so sweet.

Eliza is enjoying her writing. She is doing it by choice and I love seeing what she writes. This was quite special to see that she was writing about me.

Mum is going for a walk. Mum is going for a swim.

The kids made some herb bread from a recipe on Kidspiration. They loved kneeding the dough and it worked out really well. We really liked it.

I found some playdoh sheets and decided to print them out for Alexander. They were really cute ones - Very Hungry Caterpillar. They were great! He had a great time making with the playdoh for an hour. Perfect..

Making a caterpillar

Making caterpillars

Making apples

Decorating the butterfly

 Alexander being occupied meant that I was able to help Daniel and Eliza a bit more with their school work. And also helped keep my mind more settled.

Daniel working on his recipe for his sandwich at lunchtime. I then had to follow the instructions to make it as it was written out. He did pretty well.

The day before, Daniel and Eliza then decorated a sign to hold up for their teachers. Their school teachers are so amazing. They decided to organise a drive by of the different students' houses. The kids were so keen to be outside and see their teachers. It definitely filled my eyes with some tears.

While we waited for the teachers to drive past, the kids went out to the front lawn and did a little video for Carol's kids talk. We then had a picnic snack out the front.

We did some maths on the driveway (number lines and jump strategy and numbers).

They did some more work outside (tricky though with the sun and distractions outside).

And then the teachers drove past. There were so many cars! They all waved hi. Daniel was a bit sad that he didn't get to see his teachers in the drive by, but he was very excited to see Eliza's teacher Miss Stewart. It did make me smile when she shouted out to Eliza that she misses her. It really brought tears to my eyes. Daniel was pretty excited to still see his PE teacher and some of the others teachers who he has seen at school.

Waving to their teachers

Holding their poster up for the teachers

Waving to Miss Stewart as she drove past

Here is the video of Miss Stewart shouting out to Eliza. So beautiful.

Daniel wanted to say thank you to me for homeschooling by making me my lunch, like Eliza did.

We have gone for more walks and rides.

 Alexander has been a builder during his 'preschool at home' time thanks to a hard hat from the Howies.

He has also done beading.

Eliza has enjoyed having a zoom time with her class mates on Friday at lunchtime. Although, she isn't very chatty she does like to listen to everyone else and have a giggle.

Daniel has had a couple of zoom session with his class including his teachers. So nice for him to be able to see them and chat directly with them.

Daniel and Eliza went through the book box under Daniel's bed. He was excited to find Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a cricket book but they both were so excited and ran out to me screaming with joy when they found that I had Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator in there. They were so happy that we could start reading it after we finished George's Marvelous Medicine. I love that they are so excited about reading.

I managed to set up the little table as a preschool area. One day I made a picnic set up. Another day I made a Doctor's surgery. He is starting to learn how to play with his toys as people instead of actual people.

The bonus of being home on Tuesdays is that the kids have enjoyed watching the Garbage trucks come and collect the bins. As always the garbage men have been awesome with smiles, waves, horn beeps. The kids just love it! One of the garbage trucks even got involved with the Going on a Bear Hunt and had a teddy at the front of the truck. The kids were so excited to spot it!

Alexander has started to have zoom sessions with his Preschool class. Only a handful of people join in but it is nice to see Alexander get up and dance with his class, listen to some stories, and chat with his teachers and class mates. He always gets excited when he sees Gus on the screen.

The kids have gotten back into playing with LEGO. They are loving being creative.

Alexander has done some weaving during 'preschool' time.

It was really cute to see Daniel helping him learn how to write.

Eliza's dance classes have moved to being online too over Zoom. She isn't enjoying it as much online as she was when in the class but I am hoping that she will get motivated again when face to face classes resume. She is doing really well when she is dancing. And she does love her high kick!

 Alexander received an Easter pack from preschool which was nice for him to be able to make some craft. James had the last week of school off so he enjoyed sitting down with Alexander and helping him make an Easter Bunny mask.

Daniel also made a board game of Bunny Hop which we got to play in the lead up to Easter.

What I have loved seeing is that the kids have kept in contact with their friends. They want to chat with them and send them letters. Lachie, Ems, Flynnie and Anne have had a few factimes to our family. The kids just love chatting with them (often having tears when we have to say bye). And letters are being delivered to different people's letter boxes - Matilda, Clara, Gus, Lachie, Sadew, Alex, Ems, Flynnie. Just so sweet to see their messages.

 James has also bought a bike. With being home more he is wanting to get into exercising more. As the kids love riding their bikes, it will be nice to be able to go riding with them as they continue to grow more confident together. He and Daniel went down the fire trail to Pennant Hills and then back again.

 Overall, the end of Term 1 went alright but we all were ready for holidays to start and have a break from the juggle and the set work. The kids were keen to not have so much structure and have some more freedom with playing what they want, when they want.