Staying Healthy!

I honestly do not know what to write.  My family has been home together since March 13th.  It is now April 26th!  My family is lucky to live in a bubble.  My husband and I can work from home.  We are both getting paid.  My children do not need to go to childcare.  We are blessed with food from school and our own food.  No hungry bellies!  Our zipcode/region of our county has a low case count of Covid 19 positive cases.  Our family has a beautiful yard and neighborhood to explore.  

I am not trying to brag or boast, but it is my current reality.  I am trying to envision families with any different reality.  I wish that I had a magic wand or potion to fix everything.  

As a teacher, the expectations and platforms are changing minute by minute.  Teachers are learning on the go.  I never knew how to make PDF pictures.  Now I do.  Each of us is sitting at a computer deciding what to cover in our curriculum, how to modify it for a variety of learners, etc...  The questions are endless!!!

Our district has gone through three phases during this time period.  First, was the 2 week shut down and "wait and see."  Second phase was the online enrichment/packets.   Currently, we are preparing for phase 3...online LEARNING on May 4th.

Wow...I feel like I could spend all day researching and preparing and fixing and creating.  I am using something new to me called BUNCEE.  It is great tool and has so many cool options.  I hope that the students like the activities.  One platform and one link sounded more manageable for families than a series of random links and PDFs.  Maybe I am over thinking this, but I do not know.  I just need to follow the advise in this article!  Keep Your Eyes on Your Own Paper

In addition, I am a mother of six children who are now doing online enrichment and preparing for online learning.  I will fully admit to not being too strict or scheduled for this online enrichment.  I spoke to this a few weeks on my blog.  

This week, we created a schedule and discussed this change from online enrichment to online learning.  Today is house cleaning day.  I know that it is Sunday, but yesterday was too nice to stay in and clean.  Tomorrow, I want to give our new schedule a "TRIAL RUN" and not be worried about cleaning.  

What do you think education will look like next school year?  Did you see this article from NPR about the future of education?  9 Ways Schools Will Look Different  

Here are a few images that I have captured of "HOME LEARNING":

Workbook/fine motor practice

After game night picture

Mask making (for dolls)

Pizza making fun

Reality vs fantasy

The last 3 weeks have been amazing, surreal, and stressful intermittently throughout this time period.  I know that this sounds crazy, but it is true!

Today, I found a video from Gerry Brooks that sums up how I feel very well.  

Here is the link.  He is a principal in Kentucky and is really well educated..

Being An Educator 

Facebook version

How is it going with home learning at my own house?

Each child has strengths and weaknesses:

Here is the REALITY:

Alayna (age 21) is managing but college classes and tests with five younger siblings is interesting.  Many of her professors are swimming uncharted waters for advanced genetics and immunology classes.  

Ben (age 12) is working through the Pennsylvania Hunter Safety Course as well as his occupational therapy activities.  Not much school related activities, but he is doing his fluency.

Bella (age 10) is struggling to find enrichment for herself.  She is doing awesome working with siblings, playing computer and board games with them, but is not stretching herself academically.  

She is enjoying making small crafts to include in family letters.  Bella is writing a letter each day to different family and friends.  In addition, she is reading aloud to my students every night.

TJ (age 7) is working hard, but is super distractable.  He has read books, completed math activities, met on Zoom with his teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, worked on his teacher's enrichment activities, and even writes a letter every day.  This is a challenging activity for him, but he is doing it!

Lucas (age 4) is just existing and learning through osmosis mostly.  He loves ABC Mouse and Prodigy math games on the computer.  We try to do Go Noodle as well.  He is counting and working on writing his name.  He is often reluctant to color a picture, but will make one out of stickers.  Letters are my goal for him over the next 2 months.

Cadia (age 2) is just working on her speech therapy goals.  Play and listening and reading are the main ways that she is learning.

Here is my FANTASY:

I want the picture perfect imagine of everyone sitting at the table working or everyone curled up on the couch each with our own book.  NOPE not happening.  I am just focusing on sanity and real life moments not TEACHING.  

It is a huge shift...it feels weird...I still want/need a schedule.  I am guessing that this will come over the next few weeks.  

What are your successes and challenges?

Pictures...

Watching the International Space Station

 

Scavenger hunt from Girl Scouts

College Latin class

Bella painting 

PBS Kids

Zearn Math