What do we think my kids did at school today?

[oiboi]

My reception aged twins like to keep an air of mystery around their school day, they tell me nothing. It's annoying but I get it, what happens in fight club school stays in school; a bit of learning, a bit of playing, a bit of running round screaming.

They're currently going one day a week at the moment and I suddenly realised I haven't a scooby what they're up to? Are they allowed to play with toys or is there a concern about contamination? Do they watch TV? I know it's not education but how do the staff fill their day?

Just to be clear this is not a criticism of the staff, I'm very grateful they can go in and completely understand why teaching isn't happening I'm just intrigued what they're actually doing? Maybe some nuclear fission before a snack followed by conversational mandarin? There's only about 6 kids in and they're very different ages.

Can any teachers or people with more conversant children shed any light?

If they were at my school they would have had the choice to do loads! Play outside, crafts, Joe wicks, yoga, watch a movie, play board games...

Well my DD went in for one day... they did Joe Wicks first thing. They did some of the work that had been set for the kids who were at home and they played out on the equipment for a fairly extensive time. My DD is home now but the teachers called and has said she had 8 in the class ( out of a total of 500) including nursery children so she was finding it challenging. The emphasis seems to be on fun though and maintaining equilibrium rather than schooling - particularly as some children were a bit upset to still have to go in.

Well that sounds rather fun, I hope they've done similar. Though I pity anyone who tried to play a board game with them, they are not good winners or losers!

Thanks both, I'll imagine them having a lovely day.

Kids at my school have been doing..
Joe Wicks, maths and English with a break in between, reading time, lunch time.. followed by one lesson in the afternoon (suited to their year group) and then playtime when they’re done with their work.

The work has been set for all children whether they’re in or out of school, so what the others will be accessing at home, the kids at school will be accessing also but just doing it at their desks!

Hope that helps a little - it may well be different for other schools but during ‘term time’ we are still teaching and then holidays at school will just be play, different activities either set for or chosen by the children :)

My teacher daughter is in school this week. She said they've done lots of PE, cookery, art and craft stuff and music.

Obviously these things are a lot less than they would have been doing in the classroom, maybe half an hour or 1 hour lessons compared to normal times x

I have also read lots of stories as when I'm in normally teaching, storytime is my favourite time of the day and the kids are still, calm and engrossed!

My 8 year old said... It was really strange. Mr x, from another class, sat with me for like, ages! And we did my work together and he taught me a rhyme to spell necessary. And then he read something and suggested some better words and we fixed it together and it was really good.... There wasn't much stopping for breath.

She's usually in a class of 34. Is not too good, not too bad and often overlooked. She's having a ball with the small group and is getting personalised attention like never before.

I've found the trick is not to say 'what did you do today?' But to ask strangely specific things like

What was the last thing you did before lunch?
What made you laugh today?
How did you feel after register today?
Who did you play with after morning break?

Then when you get an actual answer you can build on that.