Homeschooling NIGHTMARE

[MrsFluffyMuff]

Just been informed the kids' schools are closed for another 2 weeks (at least) so all learning will be online. Last time I struggled so much with homeschooling. I am a single parent with four children, all under 10, youngest is 1. How the fuck do other people with 4 or more kids manage it? I literally can't get one on one time with them for more than 2 minutes, it's impossible. They need someone to be able to sit for at least 30 minutes with them and go through everything. I've Got no one in my bubble to help as my parents are shielding.

AIBU for really struggling with this?

Other ideas for when formal sit down learning has got too much:

Baking, 10 year old read, 6 year old measures and 4 year old stirs/ eats the raw mixture!

Silly home science, mix cornflour with water (food colouring optional) to make gooo. Bicarb and vinegar volcano (also dancing raisins). Make an egg float (add lots of sugar or salt to water).

Maths with toys, make a bar chart with different types/ colours of toys (eg car colours). Measure how big toys are.

We are just going with topics that interest our ks2 child, he is not behind so a few weeks/month out of formal school won't be a major impact. Is there anything your 10yr old struggles with? Maybe either you or someone else over zoom aim to spend half an hour a day on that and the rest of the time projects around things that interest them. Are they a yr5 or yr6 10yr old? If yr 6 and you know where they are likely to go for secondary then maybe get them doing some Duolingo for a MFL taught there.

Oh and for your loss. If your youngest is only 1 it must have been fairly recently, I don't think anyone would think badly if you ask for help.

I would read some homeschooling blogs, plenty of big families (mostly in USA) homeschool permanently mixed ages. I homeschooled mine at one point and I taught the same lesson to both of mine but the output was different depending on their ability.

Does the one year old nap OP? If so then I’d do ‘classroom time’ during their nap and have the others sat round a table or in a circle and have them do work at the same time. Get them to ask each other for help rather than just you, the 10 year old especially will be a big help and it’s good practice for them to explain concepts to others, that’s still learning.

Other than that I’d let the 10 year old have some time online on websites like bbc bite size where they can read/watch videos and do a quiz on a topic you choose.

The 6 and 4 year old will be fine with lots of play, it’s still learning if they’re playing shops etc. You can get them to make some fake money out of paper and pay each other and give change etc. That’s all still learning.

Get them to do story time and read each other stories, that way you can get the 10 year old to be ‘teacher’ and read to them whilst you need to do something like dinner. And practice reading aloud is great for the 10 year old as well.

You could get some wipe clean numbers/letters books for the 4 and 6 year old and get them to sit and do those for half an hour which is great handwriting practice and can buy you a bit of peace. And for the 10 year old if they go to bed a bit later than the others could you do 30 mins of reading etc with them then?

I wouldn’t worry too much about doing the set work, do what you can and make the rest of the time just play. There will be loads of kids in similar situations and they’re all still young enough that there’s plenty of time for them to catch up once things return to normal. They’ve all still for years of schooling ahead of them.

Doing things like baking can be great for maths skills as well.

@Whenwillow

I second that. My kids thrived been homeschooled, I only put them into school because I needed to work

How are your finances? Not asking to be rude but a subscription to a website like busythings can help.
There are games on there for all ages from preschool to 11. Maths, English, Science, geography, just for fun things.
You could start the younger ones off playing games, while you sit with the older one. Then when he understands what he’s got to do, you can spend some time with the next one. Or use things like Numberblocks and Alphablocks for the little ones.

But also, don’t stress. Do what you can, and if you can’t, you can’t.
I would say try and do a bit of reading with each of them, certainly the younger ones. I’m a TA and what was really noticeable when we returned to school was who had read and who hadn’t. (Years 1 and 2). We had one child who had done nothing but 10 minutes of reading a day all through lockdown but the difference it made was huge - because his reading is good he can access everything else much more easily because he can read instructions etc so although he’d done no maths, he has picked it up quickly.

Maybe with the six year old, if you are out for a walk, get him counting in twos, fives and tens. Just as you are walking. Helps with times tables.

Good luck, it’s a totally rubbish situation all round.

Thankyou so much everyone, some brilliant tips and ideas to try, I'm really grateful!

Don't worry too much - I have 3 boys. The oldest (11) has his set homework but I tell him to pick 2 or maybe 3 things a day. The middle (7) I read a short book with him every day then tell him he has to write a short review of it. If I can manage it, I try to do a page of maths if i can. Often I can't. I try to put on YouTube videos of grammar (mc mcgrammar is good). The other one is a baby..hence the difficulty.

I think as long as they are reading everyday and doing a bit of writing and maths. I don't worry too much about what the school send home because often they send stuff which I think is too time consuming to do. For example, last time they had to do a big write up of florence nightingale, draw a picture, make a lamp. This is for the 7 year old...well that's lovely but when you have 2 others it becomes a massive time consuming project. Impossible.

I found that putting pressure on myself made me take that frustration out of my children. I ended up shouting. So I had to change my mindset. I realised they are great kids, they are going through alot, what with not seeing friends etc. It is difficult and new for them. I will do the basic as I can and make sure they remain happy. Their mental health is more important.

Xx

Also OP. I taught my 7 year old adjectives, nouns, verbs etc. I had to look up what they were! I didn't sit with him, I just gave him sentences during the day and said 'what is the adjective, what is the verb'. But he knows them all now! They never taught him these in school, as far as I did anyway, so I don't think you have to sit with them for them to learn. Xx

As pp said, hopefully your older one can be fairly self sufficient with a bit of help here and there.

For the middle two I would go mainly with apps and the odd bit of reading (maybe at the baby’s naptime/at bedtime).

I recommend:

• Teach Your Monster To Read - it’s free and suitable for the 4 and 6 year old. You will probably need to spend 10 minutes showing them how to use it at the start.
• BBC bitesize website
• National Geographic Kids website
• SqueeblesTT (Times tables)
• Khan Academy Kids
• Any apps your school has a subcription for

Do you have enough devices for the school aged 3 to be on at the same time?

Just to say my dds school put together learning packs for the kids who had no desire to try online learning.The school just did packs of worksheets with other activities spanning off the main topics,so they would suggest and afternoon walk with counting white houses or looking out for something relevent then doing a drawing or a bit of writing about it, this was brilliant as it dint seem like work it was more fun based which helped loads to keep my dd engaged. However that was when t was 25 degrees in june and not -25 in january! Ring school would be my advice maybe due to your recent change of circumstances and I am really really sorry to hear of your loss,(happened to me when my son was 15 and doing GCSEs nightmare time) they may make an exception and let the older children back with the children of critical workers? Our school has been really kind like that to a few people whos circumstances have been unexpected or no the normal reasons. Take care OP and you can only do what you can its fine in these crazy times.

Take the pressure off yourself to provide the same learning they would have at school, but find ways to maintain and improve on skills. We did lots of craft sessions, baking, board games, puzzles, etc. As well as finding times for reading and writing practice. Mornings are the best time to get outside this time of year as sunlight helps you make melatonin (the sleep hormone) which regulates their sleep pattern (and yours!). There are lots of opportunities for learning if you can get out to the woods or somewhere, but there are opportunities to learn in the garden too and the play park is great too for social interaction and physical confidence. In the afternoon bake, do crafts and art, make some music, even watching a family film can give you things to talk about. You can get older ones to write a film review, story board, ideas for a sequel, or act our their favourite scene. Get them Helping with chores. This is a good opportunity to teach independent life skills like cooking, laundry and housework. Get one child to help you cook dinner. Get another to help you wash up. Children under 7 can go to bed earlier, children over 7 can stay up to do some worksheets at the table. It's about being flexible and finding opportunities. And on the days all you manage to do is feed them and keep them alive being gentle with yourself

@MrsFluffyMuff

He passed away.

I’m so sorry. Must have been quite recent as baby is 1 💐

Don’t beat yourself up

The 10yr can do stuff by self

4&6 can read colour write with you

Doesn’t need to be 9-3

Another thought.. see if you can get hold of some reward stickers.. a lot of 4/6 year olds will enjoy ‘playing school’. If you dress it up as a game, they may be surprisingly productive!

Brightly coloured pens, mini whiteboards, any crafty stuff can help with the role play..

Tiger or IKEA are good for cheap supplies or If you don’t have a shop open nearby (tier 4) quite often you can get basic gold stars etc in the supermarket or your local fb group might have surplus supplies to free cycle).

Some really good suggestions here.
You could also get the 10, 6 and 4 year old writing a diary. Get some cheap exercise books. They write the date at the top - 4 year old tracing over your writing. Then they free write their own diary entry and draw pictures. The 4 year old can do mark making - it doesn't have to be recognizable words. You can later write underneath what they were trying to say. You can also write a question such as "Did you enjoy the cake?" Read the question to them and they write yes or no.

If you can afford to get a printer or if a family member can lend you one I would do this as there are endless resources on the internet which you can print out - worksheets for the 10 and 6 year old.

I'd set up a couple of routine things which happen every day at a certain time - eg. the diary writing at the beginning of the day - followed by reading. The 10 year old can listen to either the 6 or 4 year old read and you read with the other.
Stick in a bit of Maths - bit of addition and subtraction for the 6 year old and the 4 year old can count objects.

Then do what you like and don't worry too much. Maybe think of some kind of topic that you are all interested in and base activities around that. The Egyptians was my favourite when teaching in primary schools.
You need something to get their interest. You can go in any direction you want with your topic - cooking, art, music, anything really.

The main thing is not to worry about it too much. If you can't manage all the stuff the school sets online, so what! You can't work miracles - with 3 primary school children and a one year old and the circumstances of their father's death.
If you can do anything at all, that is a success.

@MrsFluffyMuff

Thanks so much everyone, all really helpful advice. My middle ones are 6 and 4. Just so worried that they will all be so behind :(

They will be no more behind than any other child when they go back and will soon pick up again. Please don't worry. Other posters have suggested you prioritise the ten year old and I agree with that, they will be able to work independently if you start them off.

Children learn in all sorts of ways. Try to find some fun and educational videos for them. Reading to and with them is excellent and can be enjoyable plus it won't over tax you. I like someone else's suggestion of putting on a play!

This could be a good time for you all as long as you don't become too stressed out so do take care of yourself.

(Parents deserve medals and claps!)

I feel your pain OP. Mine are 8,5,3,3. I could cope when I thought the twins would be at nursery but we’ve just had an email saying they will close too.

It’s so hard juggling all their different needs but I’m definitely going to take on board suggestions from this thread.

The one thing that makes me feel better is that at least they all have someone to play with!

Lots of amazing ideas already but one extra thing that I don't think has been mentioned is English with Holly on Facebook and I think YouTube now. Some of it is for older children but we watched s few with my 6yo. Some of it might go over their head but her enthusiasm is effective. I am an English teacher as she is and found it to be really good. She does a spelling test every Friday.

I am so sorry for your loss which makes things extra hard but you will get through this and remember, it won't last forever.

We only did 1.5 to 2 hours of 'formal learning' per day and I am a teacher with only 2 DC so please don't beat yourself up about it.
This is the link to English with Holly - youtube.com/channel/UCr8FBvGfgMoWPGLiPqJ1YWQ

Just do lots of reading. I had 2 boys who read alot from an early age and even at GCSE the teachers would tell me they could tell my children read alot. They would have hated all the worksheets etc and found them boring but would read a paperback a day. After that a bit of online maths games / apps or spelling apps and then whatever keeps you sane. Get the 10 year old doing chores. A higher reading age has so many knock on effects it helps with writing and spelling and for the 10 year old needs zero effort from you. If he's happy to read Harry Potter all day let him. Also lego / Hama beads / colouring / painting / clay etc all help with motor and design skills. We have an old nintendo wii and did wii fit / sports last lockdown.

Thanks for the amazing advice everyone! I'm sure i won't be the only one benefiting from this thread too. So many fantastic ideas X

How we survived last time is almost entirely ditched formal learning and took them on walks - as soon as we did that everybodys mental health improved. Even the 10 year old can survive with missed learning - and if you aim for reading and a bit of maths every day it will be easier if he has had fresh air and exercise.

I don't have as many kids as you but I do work from home on full time hours. During the first lockdown I wasn't working (I was self employed but my industry was shut down so I got a job) and 6yr old came on leaps and bounds with all of the work we did together. I absolutely loved it because I had the time to spend doing stuff.

This time around will be MUCH more of a challenge but actually I don't think impossible. My plan is to sack off the idea of mon-fri schooling. We will do a bit of reading and a bit of online maths everyday (probably in the hour before I start work) then during the day it will just be a question of keeping him entertained (so err screentime lets face it) and then 1 activity after work if we have the energy. We can do something more structured maybe on a sat/sun but honestly, I am not prepared to stress myself out too much