lockdown learning chat (primary school children)

[HelloMist]

I wondered if we could have a daily chat where we can just drop in to update how we're doing learning from home, good or bad, or tips etc and find some company.

My DD is KS1 age though we can broaden it if you want to join.

puts the kettle on, cuts some

@Indecisivelurcher is that for your 6yo? We get comments or marks but no requests to go back and correct anything! I would feel the same.

Yes, for my 6yo. The way I feel today they can sod right off. We're getting less and less done every day now. Dd is just fed up. She doesn't want to do the work. And she doesn't want to play on her own. I've had a crap day at work, I am lucky to be working reduced hours but I have far too much to do and my brain isn't big enough.

DS in KS2; has inattentive ADHD diagnosed in 1st lockdown, so this time has medication which has made life easier. He still dashes off the work, but he usually actually does it. He is that bit more mature as well.

School is providing 2-3 zoom lessons a day plus independent learning in between - much easier than last time when it was all independent learning and I had to sort of 'schedule' each day myself, and decide what he could do and leave out what I didn't think there was a chance of.

He has a corner in our front room, but it's being redecorate at end of the month so will move desk up to his room, probably permanently, in place of dressing up box. I blue-tak up the day's zoom schedule and try to leave it to him to log in, but he usually needs reminding! I also write up the independent learning on a little whiteboard - more for my benefit than anything else! I also stick up a few good pieces of work or helpful guidance by the desk.

I'm sorry @Indecisivelurcher. The week is so long, by Thursday you need more of a break than it's possible to get with all this. My DD6 is the same, fed up, doesn't want to do the work (also misses other children's company). I'm not working so I have time to encourage/beg/support more so some of it gets done but it really takes it out of both of us. There are fun moments still but tasks can take much longer when she's quickly losing focus or grumpy.

@Echobelly glad that there are some improvements on last time for you. His work area sounds well thought out.

The work area is a mess, but I can just about find everything!

@Echobelly my ds has adhd as well and is medicated for it but the slow release medikinet was making him lose too much weight so he now has 2x smaller tablets per day. They wear off much more quickly so when we're trying to do maths just before dinner, after his live lesson, it's a nightmare because he's bouncing about all over the place. Today we had to sack it off and start again after dinner but that of course meant a later finish.

You'd think I'd find it easy to work with 2 children at the same time but they're in different year groups doing completely different tasks so it's a pain in the arse when both dc need support with something. To top it all off, they're doing something with the phone lines further down the village so the Wi-Fi keeps going off as well.

Luckily DD is in Y8 and her school providing full Zoom curriculum (including arts subjects, which I'm really happy about), and she's finding that much less stressful than independent learning last time.

DS has recently moved to equasym after teacher said he seemed to be running down after lunch - it seems to be holding up better as he maintains focus OK during the day. It probably helps not to have the distractions and social challenges of the classroom as well. He is a skinny little whippet, but appetite and weight seem to be fine.

I was so happy today actually, because after a 'break out' activity, he told me today he's made a new friend - they mixed the two classes in his year in September, so he doesn't know all the kids, but he said they enjoyed a 'nice chat' about Minecraft, so I've contacted the other kid's mum and arranged for them to have a video call at the weekend. I'm so glad when he makes a friend, as social skills are not his forte, but every now and again he does manage it!

Is seems to do better after dinner than before but is very rigid in some ways: if there's a timetable he has to follow it so since he knows that school finishes at 3.15 he is rather unwilling to continue after then.

I know what you mean re. the friendships as well; ds can struggle with social interactions and with starting and maintaining relationships. His school are doing live learning mentor and nurture group meets a few times each week via google classroom and that seems to help him.

Those groups sound really useful @TwoZeroTwoZero, I wish my DC had more Zoom sessions with their class and teacher! We only have one a week and they really enjoy it; two or three times a week would help motivate them a lot more. I think about 1/3 of the kids in their class (Reception) are in school though and the teachers simply don't have the opportunity to do more Zoom sessions - they're very active on responding to emails, posting work on the class site etc so this is all extra work for them.

DTS1 has ASD and is finding it particularly tricky at home, he loves school, his class, his teacher etc and isn't as motivated/ focussed at home. I am just losing the will to live trying to make him actually do things without a meltdown

Hope everyone has survived another week. I’m feeling hopeful that schools will be back on 8th March so trying to keep positive. We’ve had good days and bad days this week. Some days we’ve achieved a good amount, others we’ve done nothing 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’ve learnt not to push him too much, trying to let him choose what he wants to do and when rather than cause a meltdown. Hope you all have a good weekend.

8th March... I can only hope!!!

I had no energy to push the DC to do anything today, I've got an eye infection which was hurting like mad and all I wanted to do was rest... there was more TV watched than school would have liked but needs must sometimes!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl that sounds difficult. Hope your eye is better now? It probably did you both good to have more of a rest day when it was needed.

It was "snow school" here today! I was pleased DD could have some fun outside but worried we'd get little done. Pleasantly surprised that we've managed a bit of both. she's had some nice praise from her teachers over the last few school days which I think has helped a little bit with her dropping motivation.

@Emmacb82 definitely good to let him choose and not push too hard. How's your Monday been?

Half term count down.... T minus 3 days to go.... Not that we'll have anything to do over half term anyway but at least it won't be worksheets!!!

Happy Tuesday! We had a snow day yesterday. The school had sent out home learning but then they shut the actual school so sent a message saying have fun in the snow don’t worry about the home learning. So we did none yesterday. Today we get a whole new lot, I thought they would have just moved yesterday’s to today but nope. So we’ve had to try and cram two days worth in. Not fun. But we’ve managed just about and still played in the snow. 2 more days till half term.

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl the groups really do help my ds and I'm sorry that your dc sounds to be struggling. Is your eye better?

We have a whiteboard on the kitchen cupboard and usually use it for noting down times/amounts of calpol etc if the dc are poorly or for writing quick reminders etc. At the moment it has a big countdown to half term on it! 3 more days, then a week off, then 2 more weeks and hopefully, hopefully back to school for the dc and back to work for me.

Mine have done OK today. Dc 1 had a report to write on the holocaust so I he had to research it last week in order to plan it. He's a very lovely but sensitive lad and even the watered down, carefully prepared notes about it upset him. I sat and typed it for him and he just gave me the sentences.

Dc2 is just saying, "I HATE [insert task here]!!!" for every task presented. I wouldn't do this in any normal classroom situation but I'm finding myself doing a lot of the work if they tell me what to put because they're otherwise just sitting there not bloody doing anything.

Our school closed yesterday too, and a couple of days the other week, but just said that everyone had to do the online lessons instead! Never mind, we've had a lot of icy, horribly cold wind here but only a spattering of snow so my dc didn't want to play out anyway!

Happy Friday and End of this half term to you all!

DD is having some health/toilet related issues, so I spoke to the GP on the phone this afternoon. Hoping what they've suggested will help. She asked whether lockdown has been stressful/upsetting for her. Sad to think how all this might be affecting so many children's mental health and even physical health too. Not just from getting less exercise, though that is one factor for us.

@TwoZeroTwoZero there's definitely an icy wind out there!

@Emmacb82 I can't believe they told you to just enjoy the snow and then expected you to catch up! Hardly fair. We managed to do some of our learning (writing) in the snow, though plenty of fun was had as well.

Do you have any plans or simple ideas of activities for half term? Or will it just be rest, relax, go with the flow of the little ones.

I suspect our week off will involve a fair bit of Minecraft with the odd woodland walk thrown in for my sanity good measure.

Happy half term everyone!!

My eye infection still hasn't completely cleared up but I'm hoping enough for me not to need more antibiotics. The DC are old enough now to understand when I'm under the weather although not old enough to remember and not bloody squabble which has made things a bit easier.

@HelloMist I think our half term will involve catching up on a few projects that the DC should have done already but in general more Lego/ TV/ drawing if they want to. I'll keep on taking them out for a walk whenever I can but it's brass monkeys here! Really there is nothing extra or different for us to do this half term - usually I'd have planned some trips out, meetings with friends etc - so I'd rather keep the DC busy and not thinking about it too much.

@TwoZeroTwoZero we had another Zoom group the other day but by the time all the kids had said hello, waved at each other, talked over each other etc etc it was pretty much time to finish! I'd love it if they had more Zoom groups; one a day would be ideal but even two or three a week would be appreciated. I understand why the teachers can't do it - I'm not blaming them at all - but it does make me sad that the DC are missing out on social interactions

Happy half term everyone! Hope you all manage to have a bit of a break. Makes me sad as we would normally be packing up the car to see family as they don’t live near us but not this time.

I'd love to go and see my family again too @Emmacb82 the closest are an hour and a half away, the rest two hours further than that! I've missed a funeral, a hospital stay and elderly relatives generally getting more frail. A lot of them have been in the highest tier all through so I couldn't have visited even during the summer holidays. I do try to engage my DC in talking about them/ sending cards etc but they're only small and I don't think it goes in!

Hi all!
I am currently researching lockdown learning for my dissertation and I would be extremely grateful if you could spare 5 minutes of your time to answer my questionnaire (link below). A similar questionnaire has been sent to teachers and the data will be used to see if parents and teachers have similar or different views. Thank you for any help you can give me.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5Qc2DlF52cMUmZ_8MIBN7UUqlHp31rEIAIiFrs_902EYZmQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Good morning!
I've recently returned to Mumsnet after a 4 year break and this looks like a nice thread to ease myself back in!
I have an 8 year old DS, just diagnosed with autism and in Y3. Plus a 4 year old DD - summer born with delayed entry, so starting reception this September. She's bright enough but VERY nervous. I'm very grateful we delayed her as it means she still gets her 2 days of preschool a week!
I'm also a key worker, but as my husband isn't we weren't able to get a school place for DS (Our school has a large proportion of vulnerable children who have been prioritised for places - quite rightly in my opinion). He's doing well at home but it's hard juggling it all. Crossing everything he'll be able to go back at least part time soon!

Welcome @BellaGoth
We are all keeping our fingers crossed that the schools will reopen on the 8th March! I think I will be able to get through the last 2 weeks if so.
Sounds like it was the right decision to delay your dd. At least hopefully she will have a more normal start to school than reception this year have had! Although I’m grateful that the kids didn’t know any different really. Hope half term is going well for everyone. It’s been a very strange week.