Welcome to the new Lockdown Learning area.

[YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet]

Come on over to Mumsnet’s corona classroom . Are you feeling more Miss Trunchbull than Miss Honey? Don’t know your Plantagenets from your Pythagoras? Many of you have said you’re feeling a touch overwhelmed at the prospect of home-education and could use more guidance. If that sounds familiar, then Lockdown learning is the place for you to share advice, tips, and resources. Or if you just need some moral support from your fellow Mumsnetters and a virtual scream into the wind during the school closures.

So if you're wondering when Year 3 maths got so complicated and you’ve forgotten all dates of ancient battles apart from that one in 1066, then we hope this new section will help put things in perspective.

Parents who are old hands at home-education are MOST welcome to pop over and share your wit and wisdom.

Thanks, everyone - and good luck.

Can I just add my (minor) grumble?

As a foreigner I'm entirely confused about how to teach phonics as I learnt to read in a different language with a completely different system obviously. And I didn't even use them to learn to read in English.

And I was only allowed to write cursive .

Even the friggin' Maths different, surely that's wrong .

I'll have a particularly confused child at the end of this.

If you’re looking for English work for secondary aged kids, I’ve found www.parrot-learning.co.uk/ to be quite helpful for Gcse things.

I found a great project which is supporting the storytellers who usually come into schools to work with our kids.
There are two stories offered per day in 45 minute sessions.
All of the stories are available anytime on their website archive too.
It’s a creative way to break up the learning day, and there’s the option to support the storytellers too.

I love projects which help people on both sides of the deal !
Www.worldstorytellingcafe.com/story-circle

I am a final year broadcast journalism student, attempting to complete my major project during these frustrating times. Before lockdown began, I intended to do a small documentary on whether schools and the education system are doing enough to support children with ADHD and dyslexia. Given the changes and schools closing, I have decided to pursue a slightly different question: “Are children with ADHD and dyslexia coping in their education during isolation and have schools done enough to support them?”.

To do this, I am looking to interview some students in primary school with these learning difficulties and their parents to ask a few questions. I understand I cannot visit and skype calls may prove too difficult, so I am looking for some people to respond to some of my questions with written responses. I will use voice overs and animation to represent the children and parents, however it is the responses which are important. If anyone would be willing to answer a few questions please get in touch, and it would be greatly appreciated!

Regards

Conor Cockcroft

I am looking for some secondary school students (14-17) to trial an education programme which will help them define their own education interests and journeys.

This is particularly calling out to parents and students who find the traditional education system pretty uninspiring, limiting and challenging to engage with.

If you're struggling to engage your kids in learning I'd love to help them through my programme to support them in defining themselves, their passions and then on to creating a personalised project-based project.

Programme consists of 1 hour video call a day over the course of 2 weeks.

Biggest goal is the help students take ownership over their own personal development and to help them figure out their 'thing'.

This programme is in the trial phase so all free right now! :)

Please drop me a message if you're interested!

From a learning designer trying to help students and parents in these uncertain time

F

Glad there's a new section on mn!

I need number 21

Famous Food and Drink Brands

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10. 👵🏽😴 11. 💃🏻 12. 🐦🦅🐔👁️ 13. 🌪️❄️🍭 14. 👨‍⚕️🧂 15. 🦀🐝🐝 16. 🍕❌📰 17. 🦊🦊🥳💍💍 18. 👄1000kg 19. 🤒🌳 20. 👴🏼🇯🇲 21. 🌶🌹🍷🐃 22. 👶🏻🔔 23. 😇D💡 24. 7️⃣⬆️ 25. 🛒🚪 Bonus: 👋🇳🇿

@nativityhumbug That must've taken you ages!! Nice!

I'm no help, still working out No1, but impressed!

Ooo, 9 is Starbucks

REDBULL!

(Currently working my way through the rest, but quite impressed with myself )

Sorry i thought i had started a new post! I didnt create the game i am just trying to solve it. 21 has me stumped!

Redbull @nativityhumbug

No I knew you didn't create it! I was just impressed you retyped all the emojis!

You should post in general chat, they love a quiz!

Just a quick look for opinions from people..

We have my DPs kids coming to stay next week, and obviously want to keep up with learning whilst here! I'm aiming on engaging and fun, however as much as I'm looking forward to it (in and around my nightshifts), I would like some opinions please!

I've read PPs and have taken some ideas to look into..
any thoughts/things I haven't covered please let me know!

(Hopefully the images load..using the app)

@zombiepara i think you're awesome- your DP & his children are so lucky to have you

@IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls thank you!

They're such good kids and their mum said they're getting bored at home, so I want to try and break up the routine they had there...as well as keeping it educational and learning based...

I severely missed out on some life skills growing up (overbearing adults yet at the same time providing/caring so much that I did not have many life skills such as bills and taxes and stuff taught to me..)

Over the next few months where we were meant to go on holiday (a week me and DP, and a week with the kids) so hopefully having them for extended periods of times... but i want to keep it fresh!

So any ideas welcomed, and any constructive criticism also gratefully received!

I honestly think you have nailed it @zombiepara .

Im a mental health nurse , and honestly so much of what we do right now needs to be around helping our children to feel physically & psychologically safe.

Routine is SO important. It helps children & adults feel safe . With my own children iv been doing what you have planned... mine are younger teenagers but we are only doing about an hours formal laptop school work per day .

Because, their mental well-being is so much more important.

So like you , we have a mix every day of exercise ( a lot of Joe Wicks P.E lessons which are really fun ) , exercise on the wii, exercise outside, reading, cooking, art .

We have been watching Blue Planet and some history documentaries during the day , but if your children ( and i do class them as that as i am also a stepmum) are primary age you could find some Horrible Histories to watch with them as they are funny , entertaining & educational.

Again , i think you are really thoughtful.

The effects of Covid upon childrens mental wellbeing will long outlive the actual virus and i will be seeing the impact in my work for years to come .
So don't underestimate just how much you are nourishing & protecting these children.

@IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls
Thank you. Seriously, reading that... well. Emotions.

The documentaries is a really good idea, I'll pop that on the list, and they are primary aged and love Horrible Histories! I'll make sure that's on there too.. gives DP some quiet options for while I'm asleep while still being passive learning!

Have you got any ideas for outside bits? We've moved house recently, and unfortunately due to a lot of opposite shifts haven't explored much of the area (although happy to do this with the kids).. we also have zilch in the garden. We did have a football which got kicked over a fence a couple of weeks ago, to someone we dont know... who hasn't thrown it back (or at least, not in our direction). I was looking at trampolines - all sold out, and realistically we couldn't manage a swing set because of potential issues with securing it safely..

From me growing up, i had a swing and footballs..and hula hoops, but other than that not a whole lot of garden things if that makes sense.. and since we've been here the weather has been so poor we haven't really looked at or thought over any ideas for outside.. left it as a "when it's nearly the summer" kind of thing...which obviously now isn't going to be easy 😅

@zombiepara
Ideas For Outdoors:

• ( depending on how brave you are) mine loved making mud pies . There is something so relaxing & therapeutic in it for them!

• they loved me pushing & pulling anything outdoors together so I could drape sheets over it and it would become their den. With juice and snacks in their they used to while away many hours . ( i even had a neighbours child turn up to eat breakfast in it once )

• outdoor chalk for chalking on slabs

• bubble wands

• planting sunflower seeds ( if you PM me your address i will send some to you i have lots )

• if you go for a walk you could do a simple nature hunt - i will put a link on this thread for you .

www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/activitymenu/?cat=scavenger

Outdoor activities x

I'm also 'weekly planning' with my two Dd's @zombiepara- it's been a real help-

Their only 1&2, but like @IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls said it adds a great bit of routine and a bit of something to look forward to (we had great fun with getting messy baking, made a window garden, had a 'Disney Day', Carpet picnics...).

Virtual tours online are on the list this week, do prefer a lot of 'real play' but was thinking of a way to 'bring the outside indoors' so they might enjoy it!? Some of the Zoo's, Parks and Museums are doing it.

The 'themed days' seemed to be a winner though!

@IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls
Brilliant thank you for the link - I'll have a good look at that tonight once DP goes to work 😅

I love the idea of growing some sunflowers, but have no idea where i would buy and pots or compost from nowadays? We have no growing patch where we are, just paving slabs and lawn...

Will have a look for some chalk and bubbles, definitely things they would enjoy!

Cheers @Taddda - i forgot about the virtual tours places are doing! I'll have a look at those as well!