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Lockdown learning

Home schooling. How did you find it and how much done?

32 replies

Bringringbring12 · 23/03/2020 17:23

9 and 7. High performing schools and lots of remote working to do!

Morning
Dd brilliant
DS almost broke me

Afternoon
Ds brilliant
Dd brilliant

Late afternoon
Dd brilliant
Ds almost broke me. Again.

I reckon hour in morning after ds settled down.

2 hours over course of afternoon.

With another 1hour out in the garden.

Now they’re watching TV and I’m wondering how the heck I’m going to do this for weeks / months!!

OP posts:
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Itsmybirthdaytoday20 · 23/03/2020 17:27

Aged 8 and 9.

We did Joe Wicks in the morning for half an hour.

Then 2/3 items each from the list the teacher gave - one was ‘learning’ or starting to learn the 9 times table, one a comprehension exercise, some sums for younger one etc. That took just under an hour.

Half an hour or so of the online learning their teachers sent log ins for.

Half an hour of Easter craft activities.

Half an hour of quiet reading.

Then painted their nails and watched an episode of Malory towers.

I think we will need to try and up the ante a wee bit tomorrow. It didn’t feel like enough of the school stuff.

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bellinisurge · 23/03/2020 17:29

I only have one. We exhausted ourselves and took the piss (nicely) out of each other doing Joe Wicks' PE class on YouTube first thing. That helped. A lot .

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Glittercandle · 23/03/2020 17:31

You really don’t need to put a full day in -2- 3 hours over the course of the day would be plenty.

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Bacciferous · 23/03/2020 17:33

My stepson worked so hard to get through the work he had been set for the day and managed about half. He feels shit about it and said he's feeling the pressure. School's expectations are ridiculous. We won't be pushing him. Poor lad

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Glittercandle · 23/03/2020 17:36

DS (yr7) did
40 mins English
40 mins RE
40 mins science
30 mins Maths
30 mins typing practice

It felt like a productive day and because I worked with him 1-1 (he has SEN and it how he works at school) I know he got plenty done.

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HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 23/03/2020 17:42

Please don't put any pressure on your children to complete every single last task right now if it's not working for them. The have had a massive change in their routine and it's a very scary time.

Reading, times tables and some handwriting practice in one form or another would be great. Any other skills will be caught up as necessary. But if your child isn't able to concentrate for a full session then maybe come back to it at a later date when they are bored and more receptive to it.

Try completing the same maths through application, perhaps play shops if they are learning about money etc.

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22Giraffes · 23/03/2020 17:46

Tried our best but it was stressful at points. DD11 and DS7. Both did maths this morning, then I printed out literacy worksheets as school aren't putting up their work on the website until tomorrow. The both read, we danced around to music and played UNO as a family. They got the guinea pigs out for floor time which is always fun.

We stopped for lunch and snacks, and after 3pm I called it quits and let them on the Xbox! Hopefully tomorrow will be easier once they have "proper" work set from school!

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Nuffaluff · 23/03/2020 17:47

DS aged 9. Two hours work: one maths, one English/ 11+ practise (grammar school county). Followed by one hour reading.
DS aged 5 in reception. Fifty minutes work interspersed with play. 20 minutes maths, 30 minutes English. He will read a book every day as part of this.
Afternoon- countryside walk (quiet-only saw 6 people before anyone has a go at me). Followed by marathon Mariokart session.
When it’s bad weather/ lockdown we’ll do art and science in the afternoon. Bit of history and a film probably.

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SachaStark · 23/03/2020 17:51

I’m on the other side- I was teaching remotely today. Ages between 9 years and 15 years, largely through video link and responding to student emails.

I was TERRIFIED to teach online first thing this morning. I prepped for today’s learning more stringently than I’ve prepped for most observations in recent years!

But my god, the kids were brilliant! I’ve had such a fabulous day, and it was actually really fun! Sincerely hope it continues as the days go by.

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CoronaIsComing · 23/03/2020 17:52

Fab but I have one very well behaved 10 year old.

We did Joe Wick this morning as a family which really helped settle us.
Then I did some work while DS did his maths from school then watched the Glasgow Science Centre video at 10am.
Then we had a break then did some spelling practise followed by the English that school set while I worked.
After lunch we did the science experiment that was on the video earlier and DS wrote it up on his computer while I did more work.
Once he’d finished, DS did some of the online stuff his school have set up and his Duolingo Spanish.
Finally we coloured in a rainbow together and stuck it up on the window.
DS watched the Horrid Henry film while I finished off my work and went to the DRs to get my niece’s prescription as they’re self isolating.
Once DH finished his WFH, he played football with DS (which never happens!) until DS kicked the ball over the back fence and now we don’t know if it’s ok to go and get it!
I want my tea now but waiting for Boris 😂

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ShowOfHands · 23/03/2020 17:53

12yo dd did 45mins each of German, English, Maths, RS and Music and also worked on an art project.

8yo DS did an hour of maths, an hour of English, some coding, drawing and some reading.

We also went for a 5k walk (rural, saw 2 dog walkers in the distance) and collected some wild flowers to press.

Tomorrow, we are going to do the set work and then some baking and a simple science experiment.

8yo DS was quite sad in the morning, kept calling himself stupid and saying it was all too hard but he settled down. 12yo dd says she got more done than she would at school and loved it.

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ShowOfHands · 23/03/2020 17:57

The 12yr old also has a daily video WhatsApp chat at 3pm with her best friends (a girl and two boys) and they discuss their work for the day, compare notes and laugh a lot. It's her happiest bit of the day; it took until high school to find her tribe and she will miss them terribly.

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JemimaPuddleCat · 23/03/2020 17:58

@SachaStark That's lovely to hear the kids were so good. Hopefully that continues.

I have two children, 11 (at primary) and 14 (at high school). They both logged in to Microsoft Teams and did the work their teachers had assigned for the day.

Its enough for now.

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Mintjulia · 23/03/2020 17:58

Not too bad for a first day. Ds (11) has completed German, English and RE assignments for today. The Heggarty Maths site was down so we'll worry about that one later.

40 mins work, 20 mins off, using a timer, worked ok. DS played a bit of minecraft in between, didn't lose interest, and didn't get upset.

We cycled in the sunshine at lunchtime - we live rurally and didn't meet anyone. We'll kick a ball about tomorrow if it's fine.

It's only day one. I'm think any completed assignments are better than none. Feels like I'm fumbling around in the dark.

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SmileEachDay · 23/03/2020 17:58

School's expectations are ridiculous

The school is probably doing it’s best. We’ve never had to dream up a home learning curriculum in 48 hours.

Just relax. Have some work sessions. Do some exercise. Do some creative and active sessions- common sense and gentle structure.

In all honesty most schools are going to have to reteach any new content set over this period because it’ll be very patchy in terms of completion.

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CountFosco · 23/03/2020 17:59

Fucking awful. 2 parents working shifts round each other and 3DC. I was up at 4.30 and at my desk at 6am. DH is working till 8pm this evening. One child at secondary school expected to follow her usual timetable had a complete teenage tantrum in the morning because DH couldn't get Office set up immediately, was apologetic and fine once things were sorted. Y6 child was generally fine (she is like her father and very easy going generally). 7yo read all morning in his bedroom hiding from the storm downstairs then did some maths and english. Joe Wicks was a hit after school hours.

It is going to be bloody exhausting doing a days work and then a day's HE. I want my bed already.

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CaveMum · 23/03/2020 18:02

I saw this on Facebook and think it is well worth repeating:

Distance Learning Q&A

Usual disclaimer, I'm a head teacher but I speak only for myself. Others may have different ideas

I'm seeing a lot of threads online with the same general theme, so I wanted to just given a schools perspective on it all and answer some FAQs. Also happy to answer any questions people have that I can answer.

Lots of people feeling stressed, overwhelmed and under pressure by the work being sent home for kids. I hope this can help with that somewhat.

Few points to note first :

  1. This is not homeschooling. This is an unprecedented emergency situation impacting the whole world. Let's keep perspective. Homeschooling is a choice, where you considered, you plan for it and you are your child's school teacher in whatever form you choose . This is at best distance learning. In reality, it's everyone trying to separate their bums from their elbows because none of us know what we're doing and what's right and wrong here.

  2. You are, and always have been, your child's primary educator. If you decide that your child isn't going to engage with anything sent home and is going to spend the entire period playing in the dirt, or baking, or watching TV, that is your choice. That is your right. It is clear in the constitution. There is nothing to stress or feel guilty about.

  3. Schools don't know what they're doing either. They got no notice, no prep time and we're told 'continue to plan lessons as normal and just send them home' as if that is in any way possible. If it were, we'd all be out of a job very quickly. I won't rant about my thoughts on the Dept on this, but suffice it to say your school is winging it.

  4. It is absolutely not possible to facilitate distance learning with a primary aged child and work from home at the same time. The very idea is nonsense. If you're trying to do that, stop now. You can certainly have activities where your child learns, but your focus is your job, and survival. Again, unprecedented. Stop trying to be superheroes.

    So, a few FAQs:

  • My school has sent home lots of physical work. Pages and pages, hours and hours. How am I supposed to get through it all?!


You're not, don't try. Your child's teacher spent a couple of hours in utter panic gathering things to send home so they could say they did their best and there weren't a lot if complaints that enough didn't go home. It's not a competition, or a race, it's unlikely the teacher will even manage to look at it all.

  • My school keeps sending home links and emails with more work. How do I make it stop. Ahhhhhh


See above. These are suggestions and ideas because the school is worried itl be said they're not offering enough. Use them if they suit you, don't if they don't. If you're getting stressed, stop opening the emails. No one will know!

  • X in my child's class has everything done and we've barely started. Will they fall behind?


Even if everything were equal in terms of support and time and number of kids etc (which its not) kids learn at different rates. In the class there's a wide range of levels in all subjects, there's different paces and there are many kids working on differentiated level of work. It's almost impossible for teachers do differentiate at the moment, so you have to do it. By expectation and by time.

Your child will not fall behind. This is all revision and reminder work. If kids could learn new concepts without specific teaching we wouldn't need teachers. They will cover all of this again, multiple times.

  • I'm not doing any work with my kids. All their doing is Lego, cooking and playing outside.


All of this is learning. Very valuable learning. Give yourself and them a break.

  • How can I get three different lots of work done with 3 different kids of different ages?


You can't, stop trying. If they're old enough, try to get them to do little bits independently. Otherwise try to do something they can all engage with, reading a story together, some free writing, baking etc.

  • So what's the bare minimum you'd expect?


For me, survival mode. I won't pretend that may be true of all teachers, but you know what if they can't have perspective in a time like this then I wouldn't overly worry about their opinion anyway.

My ideal for my kids in our school?
  • A bit of reading every day (independent or to them or via audiobook etc)
  • some free writing now and then. If they'll keep a diary or something, great. If not, would they draw a comic?
  • Practical hands on maths. Be that via cooking, cleaning, outside or some maths games physical or digital.
  • Some fine motor work. Lego, cutting, playdough, tidying up small toys.
  • Physical exercise everyday
  • Some art/music where possible through the week. Doesn't need to be guided.

-Stretch goal, if old enough getting them to independently work on a project is great for keeping brains ticking over. Get them researching in a book or online and putting together something to present to you or family.
  • If younger, lots of imaginative free play, the more independent the better.


You are doing enough. You are loving your kids and supporting them through a difficult time. Look after yourself. Minimising stress is absolutely vital in a time like this for mental health. Don't let this be something that stresses you. Only you can control that by accepting it is in your circle of control, you are the primary educator and this is all your call.
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SmileEachDay · 23/03/2020 18:04

Fosco

Sounds like you’re doing a great job.

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formerbabe · 23/03/2020 18:06

Two DC
One primary
One secondary

Tried to do pe with Jo but they found it a bit dull to be honest

We had a walk... sticking to social distancing rules

Primary DC had work set out...quite a bit but manageable.

Secondary DC has so much I feel totally overwhelmed and like we're never going to get through it.

Thank god we have a printer...finding it tough to only have one laptop between them...sorry, I know that's a bit of a first world problem and I'm luckier than many others.

No idea how you'd cope if you didn't have one at all.

Gave them some art to do this afternoon.

Survived the first day I guess. God knows how I'll keep this up for weeks...or maybe months...

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katienana · 23/03/2020 18:09

Went for a walk 9-10.15. We collected small items like a leaf, flower, stick on our way. Home and 3 year old played loudly with duplo and trains while 7 year old started maths. Point blank refused to practice times tables. Did 2 pages of workbook, cried because he got 2 wrong.
Had creative time before lunch, we spent some of it coming up with ideas. Decided to use a big box to make a ticket booth for a cinema. Made tickets. Lunch then they had tv while I did jobs and had my own lunch.
After lunch we read (this didn't work out very well)
We then did English, this was supposed to include 30 minutes of writing but I could see that would not happen so I opted to play Consequences as better than nothing.
There were loads of nice moments but I ignored my 3 year old a lot! I could have planned it better.
I feel better for having had a day off my phone obsessing over the news.

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kingis · 23/03/2020 18:25

Ds9 I thought him how to use protractor. He got it quickly so around twenty minutes total. Couple of pages of English questions and he read one book club book.

Dd7 is trying to learn to read the time. She is not getting it so we have been practising everyday. English practise went much better.

I think that for dd the aim of this "holiday" is to learn to tell the time.

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Suniscomingout · 23/03/2020 18:48

Just do what the school has asked you to do, and if you can't fit that in either because you're working or the children won't comply that won't matter in the long run.

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WellGoshDarnIt · 23/03/2020 19:21

DD11, (yr 6). We have just been given a pile of workbooks and papers by the school and left to do them at our own pace. We've started slow today - 40 mins maths in the morning and 30 mins English in the afternoon. We also watched that quiz on cbbc that Susan Calman presents, (Top Class??), and DD answered most of the questions. She's been on her trampoline loads and will also read for half an hour before bed. I'm sure we'll ramp it up gradually, but I'm happy that's enough for Day One.

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Itsmybirthdaytoday20 · 23/03/2020 19:23

@kingis you probably already have one but i got my kids of similar ages their own Tikkers watches with the little guide on them for past and two and they were really starting to get it within a couple of days!

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Herpesfreesince03 · 23/03/2020 19:27

My eldest still had her normal lessons 9-3.15 online so she cracked on with that. We did gardening, cooking and played games after. My middle child had worksheets and work to do online, I’m really surprised how much she got done. She’s getting weekly work set up online and I’m not really worrying about her falling behind anymore. We actually had a really good day. The only thing I didn’t plan for was my 3 year old. He hasn’t started nursery yet (but is used to going to playgroup and visiting friends every day) and was a pain in the arse when I was trying to teach his sisters. I’m gonna have to think what I can do to fill his days

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