COVID-19 Homeschooling Week 4

Posted on by
Reply

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 by
1

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 by
1

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.

 

COVID-19 Homeschooling

Posted on by
1

We started over the weekend by making a social distancing chain to count the days out of school/practicing social distancing (I’ve got more links if we need to extend it-but for now they enjoy removing one every night).  I’ve been conducting school as normally as I can at home and the kids LOVE me being ‘Teacher Mommy’.  I even pick them up from their rooms on the ‘bus’ which is basically us conga-lining down stairs after they get themselves dressed. I printed out a bunch of worksheets to subsidize the workbooks I already had the kids (I use workbooks normally to supplement their school homework assignments). In the afternoon’s we do an ‘open air park excursion, where we go to an area outside that isn’t populated. On Tuesday, we did a field trip to the beach. It was mid-50s and windy so we were the only ones there essentially. We enjoyed corned beef and cabbage for dinner and AJ came home form working finally! I have access to the schools teaching computer programs (yea-me for saving the log-on papers from September for Alex and from kindergarten for Brooke!) and every day after quiet time they play the learning games they’d use at school. Today we pretending it is ‘Saturday’ because AJ is home (though he’s attending virtual meetings until this afternoon) and the weather is so nice (80s!). We will have ‘Friday’ tomorrow when it’s raining and AJ’s on shift. They have been doing really well with the new routine and not fussing about having to wave at the neighbors from across the street as everyone plays in their own front yard. Just wanted to let you all know what we are up to!