COVID-19 Homeschooling Week 6

Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2020 by Laura

We started off the week getting some wiggles out with GoNoodle because it was a rainy dreary Monday. Brooke wanted to do Frozen yoga, but Alex wanted to lift weights for PE. After Math we did Art outside drawing on our front porch. Tuesday I voted by absentee ballot then we had class. We went on a 4.75 bike ride for PE. After school the kids made a house on the front porch. Wednesday Brooke completed her daily online assignments for school and Alex had his weekly reading session with Ms. Soles. He completed his online writing assignment too. PE was taught by Coach Daddy and was soccer. Before he went to work, I cut AJ’s hair and I have to say I did a pretty good job. Cutting Alex’s hair twice already gave me lots of practice. We had Music outside and then relaxed in our beautiful backyard as it was the perfect spring day. Alex got up close and personal with our baby bunny and Brooke did my hair. Thursday for PE we did tabata before going on a long family walk. The kids did a science class on the computer learning about animal behaviors and got to play along. For Friday’s PE I set up a field day with races, an egg walk, three legged race, and tug-o-war. AJ joined in and made it even more fun. That afternoon we went on a hike to get out of the house. Saturday Brooke made brunch in the playroom fort and we ate that before I made second brunch of waffles and fruit. Sunday we went on another long bike ride after cleaning the entire house and AJ came home from his second 12-hour shift just in time for bedtime snuggles.

COVID-19 Homeschooling Week 5 “Spring Break”

Posted on Sunday, April 19, 2020 by Laura

This week was supposed to be our spring break and so I took the week off homeschooling the kids. Monday was my birthday and we spent it at home. AJ made me delicious donuts for breakfast and then I opened my presents. My friend, April, brought flowers to my door and I got to shout/talk to her from 15 feet away for a little bit. Then AJ and the kids washed my car while I relaxed. AJ made me Chinese food and lava cake since we couldn’t go to Dim Sum; it was perfect. I read the kids to sleep, and AJ and I relaxed with each other. Wednesday we had mulch delivered and went on a hike. A woman on the trail told us about a back portion we hadn’t been on, and we explored it until it dead ended. Thursday was mulch day and we spent it making our yard look beautiful. Afterwards we relaxed next to the fire with s’mores while the kids did horse races. Everyone took a shower to clean off the smoke smell. Friday Alex got up early with me and we did the dishes before working on some trial assignments from Ms. Soles in preparation for online lessons next week. The kids played in the playhouse and I put my hammock up. I made strawberry daiquiris and pulled AJ away from work for ten minutes to drink them and listen to steel drum music. After dinner we all played a family game of croquet. Saturday we went on a 4.9 mile bike ride to see horses and then back home to complete Alex’s homework from school. Since he read enough with his class for the read-a-thon they did before the school closure, she assigned that each of her students watch a movie with their family since they couldn’t do it in class. We watched Annie and had popcorn. Sunday the new tank for Ollie arrived and he seems to be enjoying his new space. I asked if anyone wanted to walk along the beach with me (still open for exercising) and everyone said “no”. While I walked 3.6 miles along the coast, they played in the playhouse and had a pretend fire.

COVID-19 Homeschooling Week 4

Posted on Monday, April 13, 2020 by Laura

This week we started the week with Reading and Writing outside before getting changed into our workout clothes to complete our personalized PE workout. The kids did great and we subbed out overhead tricep presses for dips since we have no benches. For Recess the kids drew love notes for the people walking on the sidewalk and played in the magnolia. For Music, both kids played piano taking turns working on handwriting when they weren’t playing. Tuesday I perfected the garage computer setup so that I could take Zumba and later that day Brooke could Zoom her ballet/tap class. For PE, Coach Daddy subbed in to teach soccer. We did Math followed by Art, making doodles inspired by one of our favorite authors, Mo Willems. Brooke had her first Google Meets class session and then the kids planted the garden with AJ before Brooke had dance. We enjoyed a beer in the backyard while Alex played and she had class. Wednesday was so nice we were back outside for Reading and Writing. We took a bike ride to visit and talk about fresh water habitats and the living and non-living things that impact that ecosystem for Science (AJ tagged along). AJ drilled a hole through the table for our umbrella and I accidentally broke glass in the garage and then had to vacuum it. You know you are losing your mind in quarantine when spring cleaning includes vacuuming the garage. AJ received masks through mask-match for providers and was very touched and excited to bring them to the hospital to share with his colleagues. Thursday Alex had his Google Meets session with his class and we went on a nice hike finding a secret trail at a park we’ve frequented for the last 10 years. Friday for Writing we worked on letter writing *wink*. We did a nice walk for PE and emulated Georgia O’Keeffe’s shading and perspective techniques in Art. Saturday AJ helped me get the tools I needed to make a swing for the kids in the front yard and we loaded up the bikes to ride on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. On Sunday the kids had an Easter egg hunt and then we dyed eggs before showing AJ the super secret trail. I made Easter cookies for us all and watched a little SNL At Home during quiet time before AJ made us a delicious steak dinner.

COVID-19 Homeschooling Week 3

Posted on Sunday, April 5, 2020 by Laura

This week the school gave us integrated learning packets in addition the the worksheets I’ve printed off homeschooling websites for the kids to do so we included those in our school day. Alex’s packet centered around weather and Brooke worked on states of matter. Monday for our Open Air session we went on a hike to Lake Smith. We all got to walk over the water on a forked, fallen beauty. Tuesday stuffies joined us for Writing, and I got some work done too (air show earmuffs needed with kids playing in the background). On Thursday for PE, I took the kids on a 6.3 mile bike ride. They did great and it was nice since we’d been inside while it rained Tuesday and Wednesday. Brooke had a nice afternoon chat with Ollie before playing ninjas with Alex in the backyard. Nibbles, our backyard bunny, has been out and about a lot while we’ve been outside lately. We invited Ollie to join Reading on Friday. The kids have been wearing their PJ Masks costumes from Halloween for Recess in the backyard a lot this week. For PE Brooke practiced her Tap videos and Alex had Coach Daddy for Basketball. We walked the Great Bridge Lock Hike for our Open Air class and AJ was able to join. We had some fun swinging from the vines! Saturday the kids helped AJ with some yard work and we had a Rosenbaum/Langa Skype session before bed. Sunday, the Daddy Express took the kids all over the house before I tried my best and home cut Alex’s hair on the back deck with an electric razor and some thinning shears- at least he’s a little less fuzzy. I spent the day playing with the kiddos outside, and using our new lawn game, ring-toss, to have even more fun in the backyard. After dinner we roasted the very last of our marshmallows under the bright moonlight.

COVID-19 Homeschooling Week 2

Posted on Sunday, March 29, 2020 by Laura

It’s week two of school closure homeschooling and here are some of the pictures of our week. I took the kids to the park for some scootering for our ‘open air’ afternoon session. I’ve been doing some dirty garage workouts in the morning, often the kids wake up and join me for the end of my workout. I ordered some new equipment for my makeshift ‘gym’ and found out the hard way that one band was made out of latex, so Brooke helped with my breakfast and left me a note (so cute). Math/Reading/Funzie worksheets galore. We had a flowered marshland meadow to ourselves one afternoon. I’ve been teaching Alex his crucial information including how to call Mommy, just in case. When it rained, the kids did ‘Star Wars Yoga’ for their PE and loved it. We chalked up our fence for Art one day. The kids made cards for a neighbor’s outreach project. AJ was home Friday and it was sunny and warm, so we had a picnic at the park followed by dinner outside and dessert by the fire. Saturday I set up short video calls with a friend from school for each kid, then we biked to the library to pick up our holds. Today was hot so I made a ‘sprinkler’ for the kids and we did water painting before they both helped me make dinner.