So home learning has finished and the kids have been back at school for 5 weeks. It has given me time to pause and reflect upon the whole home learning experience. When I think about it, this year has been so much better than last year, for all of us.
What was different?
-Starting the time with home learning rules and goals, like what you would do in the classroom. This was an amazing difference! It was a physical reminder of what we agreed upon at the start of home learning. When the kids would be all calling for me at the same time I'd say '1 mummy' and Eliza would often respond with '3 kids = patience' (one of the rules that I included). It eased my guilt of only being able to help 1 kid at a time and also helped them increase their patience and also independence.
-Letting go of the need for me to be guiding each of the lessons. This year I went with the lessons planned that day. I let the teachers explain the task and then I just added my advice when they needed it or asked for it. It still drove me crazy that the lessons would come through at 9am but I tried to just role with it
-I wrote a preschool program for Alexander that was based around his interests - that included writing, maths, reading, play. It gave him something to do when he said 'What can I do now?'
-I was mum first, teacher 2nd
-The kids had motivation of a Friday afternoon tea reward to look forward to and they really enjoyed the creative treats that they got and working out what it was and how it connected.
-Not having a kindy kid in the house who was still getting used to school made a huge difference on her independence when working
-Starting the mornings with hand exercises for all 3 and handwriting helped the kids be settled and start their day together. It worked really well when the day plans were sent out late
-Having 2 iPads and a laptop worked much better this year than just 2 iPads last year. Last year Alexander missed out on the screens because we only had 2 for them and both school kids needed to use the iPads. This year Daniel needed to use a laptop so that meant Alexander could use the iPad to watch videos and do activities. He loved it and he felt included in screen time, even though he didn't use it anywhere near as much as the big kids
-Having the time to focus on OT work for Daniel was a huge help! He built his finger strength a lot because we had the time to focus on it.
-I had teacher expectations of Daniel's writing presentation and he once needed to do it again because he rushed it. To have the space to focus and be clear in what he needed to do with his writing was great and really helped him have clear expectations. I could also follow it up straight away.
-Having time to focus on Alexander's speech was great. We played speech games to work on his r, l, sh and th sounds thanks to Susie his speech pathologist. Not needing to rush to activities gave more freedom to fit in games and activities.
-I tried to be a lot more positive in my approach with the kids - kept reminding them that I just wanted them to try their best.
-Age definitely helped the kids with their tasks and their focus. Daniel and Eliza were a lot more independent in their tasks which was great.
-On our off day we just stopped school work and went for a walk (with Bob Bilby) into the bush. It was so important that we broke away from the work that was stressing us all. And by having the break we were able to come back and finish it off with a much calmer perspective.
So overall it was a much nicer experience this year. Thank goodness! It came from being in a better headspace this year, the kids had a positive approach to their learning, a year older and just relaxing expectations. No idea if we will do home learning again but if we do, hopefully I'll take away from it the positives from this period of home learning.
Here are the poems that I wrote for each of the kids to reflect upon their home learning experience.
Daniel’s Term 3, 2021
Happy and busy days
Outstanding improvements in your writing.
Letter formation, letter size, spacing between
letters and words. You have worked so hard.
Maths has continued to be a strength. Mental
strategies to solve questions, measuring and angles
Eating tasty food made by Daniel including smoothies,
apple crumble cookies and peanut butter chicken.
Lego building the LEGO Olympic Rings and your ideas
for Westleigh Park. So much creativity and detail in your designs
Environment Captain wrote a great journal entry about
pollution at school
Acrostic Poems, Simile Poems and Alliteration Poems have
been fun to write
Reading books on Epic is always fun because there is so
much variety
Nature pictures have been amazing. I especially loved
your Harbour Bridge and Opera House picture from
the A is for Australia book
Investigating how to make a hand that moves and can pick up
a bottle. I loved your reaction when it did pick up the bottle.
You showed a lot of persistence with this task
Nice chats over Zoom with your class and teacher.
Great work this term Daniel. I am so proud of your positive
attitude
put in. Your writing has come so far and you should be so
proud. You have been working hard to achieve your goals
that you set at the start of this term. You have done sport
and movement each day which has been great for your
mind and body. Well done for all you have achieved this
term Daniel. I am so proud of you.
Eliza’s Term 3, 2021
Happy and busy days
Outstanding creativity with making shelters, fireworks in jars and
drawings
Money has been fun to work with and explore. Learning about the
pictures on different notes and coins. Recognising the Queen
and Parliament House on the notes.
Edward the Emu led to you drawing our Emu family. Such a cute
artwork.
Listening and learning music lessons using a box of counters,
saucepans and spoons.
Eating tasty food that Eliza made – banana bread, cakes, smoothies.
Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying and Sharing numbers. Tricky to do at
the start but then after some practice, you got it! Proud of your persistence.
Reading PM books out loud to Mrs Barwell with beautiful expression
No standing still while doing Active Kids Online. Kicking, throwing,
bouncing and skipping.
‘I don’t get it’ has been said at times. But reading through your work again,
listening to instructions and having a go, you have understood
and been able to complete the task.
Nice chats over Zoom with your class and teacher.
Great work this term Eliza! You have shown real resilience and
persistence with your learning. I have been so proud of
your writing and spelling strategies. Your reading has
continued to be expressive. You have also worked really
hard to grasp different maths concepts taught. What
has amazed me the most is your creativity. You come up
with ideas that I would never imagine – fireworks in a
bottle, a full bedroom for your toys. You have had such a
positive attitude this term and I am so proud of you.
Alexander’s Term 3, 2021
Happy and busy days making craft, writing and drawing
Outside playing hide and seek with dinosaur eggs, Bluey toys and
kangaroo joeys.
Making and driving around in the Big Red Car for Wiggles Week
Enjoying Preschool Zoom, seeing friends and teachers
Learning about the Light Rail thanks to Auntie Jenny and making a
driver’s cab and tram. I love how you included opening and
closing doors buttons, your microphone and windscreen
wipers dial. Ding Ding!
Eating tasty food that Alexander has cooked – BBQ, Bingo toast,
cakes, pikelets and muffins
Art For Kids Hub has shown you how to draw many different
things including buses, Hugo, Bluey and many animals
Reptile Park animals were learnt about, made and drawn. Over 2
weeks you watched, made mind maps of information, made,
drew and moved as different animals from the Reptile Park. I
love that you wrote your own letter to Ranger Dan.
Name writing has improved so much
Investigating how transport works – cars, buses, light rail and trams,
planes and helicopters and boats. I loved your joy making and
measuring paper aeroplanes and helicopters.
Numbers work of doubles and counting by 2s was impressive
Great work this Term Alexander! I am so proud of your efforts and
giving different tasks a go. Your attitude and excitement
towards learning is to be commended. You have surprised
yourself and me many times with what you have picked up and
learnt. You have tried new things like sewing and BBQing and
have really enjoyed learning how to form letters properly when
writing. You have made so many cute craft projects and I have
loved seeing your imagination increase. Keep flying like Bluey the
Fruit bat because you will reach the stars with such a great attitude towards
learning.
No comments:
Post a Comment