Routine for your secondary school dc

[mostwonderfultime]

Going to try and work out a plan with my two today. They’re year 8 and 10 pretty good kids generally but without a structure will definitely end up staying in bed until lunchtime then sat on their devices until late. I want them to get school work done, do some exercise, help with chores, do something creative, as well as time on devices. Seen some suggested timetable around but I think they’re aimed at primary dc. What are you planning with your older dc? I am panicking a bit. Both were so happy and on track at school and I really want to do everything possible to help them stay motivated. I work 3 days a week so will be relying on them to get on with things on their own those days.

Cookie
"My year 10 and year 8 will go into school on the days I am working."
Why. Dear lord they are. Old enough to be alone while you're at work.
Endangering school staff is unnecessary.

My rule is that mine have to be up at 8 and get dressed every weekday still, by 9.30. They are getting a decent lie in for them, but still have some kind of routine. Eldest has to check google classroom for work and crack on. On Friday all her friends got together on FaceTime and got through a tonne of work that way. I was impressed.

My youngest is trickier as he has ASD and ADHD so my aim is to keep him busy and avoid meltdowns. Which his class in his special needs school have a similar aim anyway in that they’re teaching them but not a lot of it is from sitting at desks quietly writing stuff down.

Mine are 14 and 17.

I've been waking them at around 8, giving them breakfast and off they go at 8.30. Youngest has a radio broadcast at 8.30, they both have electronic chapel at around 9 that they've been skipping.

8 and 10 is tough, I really feel for you (but let's all spare a thought for those with toddlers).

ds is being sent work using teamworks and has been advised to keep to the school timetable for classes. I will get a weekly report of the work he has/hasnt completed.

Otherwise we will try to keep to some normality mid week bed/getting up for him (I'll be up early as WFH). Also walking dog twice a day in quiet areas while it's still allowed.

Dd age 14
Much like others, school are going to set work online. Prior to school closing we stocked up with lots of arts & craft stuff that Dd enjoys do we have scheduled in an hour for that every day ( this is also no phone time)
We are going to walk for an hour in local woods for as long a possible & then watch a film everyday - taking it in turns to choose
Morning/evening routines will stay roughly the same but she can get up a bit later as she doesn’t have to get to school.
Dp & I will both be home, I hope the WiFi can cope!

I am so lucky DS (yr7) is a fan of routine.
Plan is to login at 9am each day, work thru what's there & probably off by 11am.

My y9 14yo is expected to log on to his Google classroom for each subject at the normal start tine for every lesson, attendance will apparently be monitored! Not sure how I feel about it tbh, I think some flexibility in how they achieve the work should be allowed, surely, these are exceptional times.

Mine are in year 10 and year 8. I am working from home full time. So we are just going to all see how it goes and what we each need in terms of space, privacy, mental stuff. School work itself is low on my list of priorities but I do think a structure helps.

With these ages I'd be asking them how they want to spend their time, what's important to them, where would they like to be by September, what have they always wanted to learn or know about etc. Then I'd support them in achieving this, including structuring their time for the first time ever.

I wrote up a schedule for DD on Friday, I'll share just incase its helpful.
8 am wake up
Breakfast
Shower
Get dressed.
9am online exercise class.
9:30 online learning
30 mins maths
30 mins literacy
30 mins science
Brings her to 11am, for a break.
11:30 school guided learning- there are emails from teachers telling her what they'd like her to do. I'm hoping she can get on with that until 1pm.
Lunch at 1pm.
After lunch we will have 15 minutes of reading whilst I set up whatever our activity is for the afternoon. The school have recommended life skills, and as DH isnt at work and has a trade background hes going to teach her some bits.
Were going to start growing fruit and veg (not helpful immediately, but it's something that she should know how to do, and having seen the empty shelves in the supermarkets, I think it's a good idea to maintain a small supply of food growing in the garden.
Were also going to go for walks in the woods.

Mine are 13 and 10.
Our secondary school has said they should do a normal school day and is providing work online for each lesson of the day.
Our primary has provided far less work, as to be expected. It might take 2 hours a day.

I am also supposed to be working a 7-hour day from home, so I will need to find more for the 10 year old to do. I also feel like having a structure will be good for us to keep a semblance of normality. I have seen loads of posts about not attempting to home school, but I also don't relish the thought of endless days without purpose.