Surviving Corona Virus with Less Chaos
- Modern Miller Mess
- Apr 7, 2020
- 6 min read
Homeschool Addition
Well, I know we have all been in quarantine now for what seems like forever. No matter how good everyone has been at this and how much fun everyone has had just spending some quality time together, it sure does make one a bit stir crazy.
I have been debating on what to post lately. The day before everything got really scary, I was still in London on a family vacation. Our timing getting back “home” couldn’t have been more perfect. Just in time before quarantines started. I spent the next week or so having debate after debate with myself on the subject of making a post about London. Obviously, I haven’t yet. What’s the point? It’s supposed to be a post not only to share and memorialize our time together in London but I wanted it to also be a helpful guide to anyone who wants to visit there.
So….. here we are about 3 weeks into isolation and I finally feel I have got this quarantine schedule down pat. The weekends are still a bit iffy but we are still having a really good time.
I know you’re all thinking, “Come on crazy lady stop rambling and spill it already!”
To start with, this is a very stressful time for everyone and our responsibility as parents is to keep that stress from transferring over to our children. We have explained to Owen that we can’t go out because of some germs. Usually, if L and I are talking about the virus or any of this situation we don’t discuss it with him around. If he does happen to be listening, we’ve made it into a joke. For example, we may burst out in song and sing “My Corona!!” (No, none of us have it, it’s a play on words in a song.)
Our first week home from school was just the boys and me. During that week, we worked out a pretty good schedule. Then, L started teleworking. Some of the schedule had to be changed but the change was for the better for sure.
We get up and eat breakfast everyday. After breakfast, I make sure to get fully ready for the day. It helps my “mind set” through out the day and I have found that I am so much more productive which makes me feel so much better. Plus, by the end of a PJ day I feel so gross and lazy. I’m trying to feel and look more positive and encouraging for the family during this difficult time.
After I get ready,(haha doesn’t everyone work out with a full face of makeup? no just me???) we do family P.E. EVERYDAY! (P.E. and school are done during Evan’s nap time which insures 100% attention on Owen). Having an almost 5 year old at home with all of his energy and in a European home that is smaller than we are used to, can be challenging. I have found that doing P.E. with all of us has helped Owen work out his extra energy and it really helps L and me work into the energy we need to keep up with both boys all day.
P.E. PLAN:
We keep it pretty simple. I find exercises for us to do on u-tube. We all have mats and we do a 30 minute work out. Owen really thrives with encouragement. So, as much as I feel like the instructor is trying to kill us hahaha (I feel that almost everyday… remember I am NOT a work out fan) cheering Owen on keeps him going!
Right after P.E., we change into our clothes for the day. We meet back together to do our school work.
SCHOOL PREP:
When all of this crazy started to happen, I got panicked about school work so I went online and ordered some “at home” workbooks. I really love the brands Collins and Letts. I ordered a pen control book, a math book that was very very basic (learning to count and write your numbers), a second math book that worked on addition and subtraction, a phonics book that helps us write and read letters and short words. The Letts Phonics Book is very thorough. It covers letters, vowels, split digraphs, alternative vowel and consonant pronunciation and even silent letters (it’ll take a while to get through that book). We also continue to work on reading with our BOB books that I “swear by” (thanks to my sister-in-law, Allison) and lastly a book that teaches how to tell time.
If you are thinking that I was a bit ambitious, hahaha you are right. Don’t think that has slowed us down though, especially since on top of all my home workbooks the school has put assignments up on the web site.
When I was younger, I swore I wanted to be a teacher. I even started going to college working towards that. It didn’t happen but I can really see why teachers love their jobs. It is so rewarding to watch a child’s progress. The way they become so proud of themselves and their faces light up as soon as something clicks and they get it right!
DO NOT get me wrong though, this isn’t easy at all. My patience, which I thought was already pretty good, has had to get sooooo much better, and that had to happen very quickly!
SCHOOL ROUTINE:
Math - We do a couple workbook pages and then some online math work as well. There are so many apps out there and websites that help your child with math and learning to “count with out counting.” We love “Numbots,” also “Number Blocks”
is a great site as well.
Pen Control - The book I got is a dry erase marker workbook. It starts out pretty simple but then ends with harder lines to follow, then on top of it all, numbers and letters. Once we finished the whole book we now do the numbers and letters every school day, since writing is a huge part in human life.
Phonics - Phonics covers so many parts of reading and writing that we spend most of our time there. We start with one phonics book that works on writing, saying, and reading the letters. We only do 3 letters a day in that book. Remember your children, especially if they are young like Owen (4 almost 5 years old), don’t have the longest attention span. So, keep things short and sweet. The next phonics book varies on what part of phonics that book is focusing on next.
Story Time - This changes from day to day. It can either be a kids podcast story we listen to. It can be Owen reading me a BOB book story. We could watch a story from one of the websites his school gave us. His teacher has even started doing a “once a week” online story time with them.
Creative Learning - We always end the school day with creative learning. It could happen after story time or it could happen after quiet time but it happens for sure! It is the most fun part of our day. It’s either a dance party, craft time (we love using our
recyclables to make things), or even baking! We’ve already baked “bread in a bag” and “cheeze-its!”
School is usually over by 12:00 (Evan is normally awake for story time and creative learning) and that’s when it’s time to start making lunch. Keep lunches simple as it saves your energy during the day. Make sandwhiches, leftovers, chicken quesadillas or anything fun to eat and EASY.
By 1:30, it is nap time for Evan again and quiet time for Owen. Quiet time is a must in the house. I get to clean up the house and re-boot, Evan sleeps (babies need sleep and we all love nap time) and Owen needs some time where he is in control and be on his own. So his quiet time is in his room and he can take his kids kindle fire if he wants or he can just play with his legos. Lately, he’s just wanted his legos which I LOVE since we try really hard to not turn on the tv or have too much screen time.
Quiet time is over at 3:00 PM in our house. Normally, we have done creative learning at this point so we always try to do some outdoor time. Sometimes, that’s riding our scooter up and down the street for a few minutes or maybe that’s us spending some time on our back deck. The fresh air is really good!
Finally around 4-ish we will allow some video games or a show until it’s time to cook dinner. Owen loves to cook so he is usually helping me in the kitchen.
After dinner is a free for all; shows or games or whatever. Having a schedule has really saved us during this time.
I hope this helps you figure out a nice schedule with homeschooling or just a plan for your everyday activities during this crazy time.
If you have any homeschooling questions please ask away!!!!
Till the next mess,
Dana
Alright!!
This is such a helpful and fun post! Thanks!