Here we go. The first full week of home learning of the new year.
We did three days of it last week and it was ok. Not amazing but not disastrous. So I’m taking that as a win and hoping for much of the same this week.
It’s been interesting seeing posts from different parents around the UK and hearing how different things seem to be in terms of the amount of work that’s being provided for children to tackle at home.
Some seem to be really full-on, with a lot of live, online lessons and full days of work to get through. While others seem much more hands-off, with worksheets and so on being sent out for children to get on with.
Our school has found a nice balance I think.
The children both have a live online lesson with their teacher each day, which lasts about 45 minutes. It’s long enough for them to properly cover the work, but not too long that the children start to get too fidgety.
And luckily both Rhys and Nerys seem to enjoy them.
Nerys decided to dress as Hermione from Harry Potter for one of her lessons last week which her Harry-Potter-loving teacher appreciated. Nerys thought it was hilarious when he commented on how he’s still waiting for his letter from Hogwarts to arrive.
Rhys generally needs a bit more convincing to get dressed at all for his lessons, and I think he’s loving the fact that some days he can get away with doing his school work in his PJ trousers and whatever top he decides to grab from upstairs.
Along with their live lessons and the piece of work associated with those, the children also generally have 2 other pieces of work to do each day.
It is a juggle when they both need my input, and I’m still trying to work out the best way to fit my own work in each day without getting stressed and feeling pulled in 3 different directions. But I think we’ll be ok.
I think the key thing for me is to just accept that some days not everything will be done, and try and get myself focused so that when I do have a bit of time to work I can just crack on with it. I do find that hard though, to be honest. Dipping in and out of tasks leaves me feeling quite overwhelmed, I’m much happier when I have longer to get into something, especially when it requires a fair bit of concentration.
All things considered though, if that’s the worst of my problems at the moment then we’re doing ok.
The children have adapted pretty well to doing school work at home again. They seem to be enjoying their live lessons, with the chance to see their teachers and some of their friends each day that way.
They’re also both pretty willing learners which is something I’m incredibly grateful for. We have a few small battles now and then, but generally once I remind them that the quicker they just get on and do the work, the sooner they can finish and do what they want, they just get on with it.
I just hope it lasts.
The Welsh government have announced that schools will be closed until at least the end of the month, and most likely until half term unless cases start to drop dramatically before then. So we’ve got a fair while of home learning to go, and I have a feeling this initial enthusiasm from the children may well wear off before long!
Lovely to see Nerys’reaction! We really feel blessed with all our grandchildren coping so well. You and Imogen are doing a great job. (No mention of Jasper as his two are with Sarah at the moment!)
Thank you, I know we’ve been so lucky with how well the children have all coped and adjusted to doing school at home again! x
It sounds like your two have a really nice balance with school. Ours have four hours of work a day and a daily Zoom thing with their class/teacher. It feels like SO much work x
Oh wow that does sound like loads! The more I hear from other people the more I appreciate the way our school have set things up! x
Aw your two look like they’re loving their live lessons! My two are in Year 1 and have four a day!! One is just a story but still, it’s pretty intense!! Handy in that all the lessons are covered but doesn’t leave much room for anything else! Hope this week goes ok xx #livingarrows
Oh wow, I’m not sure how we’d cope with 4 live lessons every day! I do like the flexibility that we have with how we structure our days around their one live lesson. x
It’s amazing how different the provision is across the country isn’t it? Gabe in Year 1 usually has 4 tasks to do, and Toby in Year 3 has 5. They don’t have any live lessons but their teachers are sending a few videos of them explaining some of the tasks. Your two sound like mine in that they are both fairly willing to get on with their work when they it know it means they can watch TV and play once it’s finished! I don’t know how we’re going to go on if this carries on much past half term though. I hope you had a good week x
I can’t get over how different things are across the country! And I know what you mean, I’m fairly optimistic we can manage until half term but I can’t get my head around the possibility of doing this for longer than that! x
I am very fortunate that my little girl is only 3 so we don’t need to do any homeschooling, mainly learning through play. Your two seem to be coping well and I love the Nerys dressed as Hermione- girl after my own heart!
Katrina x
She was so excited to dress up as Hermione that day, especially knowing her teacher is a huge Harry Potter fan! x
Awww I love that she dressed up! Not gonna lie – the boys spent the whole week in their pj’s last week. Saved on washing which I was struggling to keep on top of haha! Sounds like your school have got a good mixture – I believe we are due to have our first live get together this week with his classmates so we shall see how that goes!! #livingarrows