Distance Learning

Due to COVID-19, all schools are doing Distance Learning which means all parents are home schooling with guidance from the distance teachers.  Our children's schools have provided plenty of guidance regarding at-home lessons.  We are able to do some of what they recommend.

About two weeks ago, I finally had to declare myself gate keeper of our home and admit that we cannot do ALL that the schools are sending home.  We can do some, and I would be the one deciding what we are able to do to support the learning of our five children, while working two jobs from home, and meeting everyone's basics needs including feeding, rest, love, sanity, and basic kindness.

The decision that I came to is that Tracey, Howard, and Caroline would each work in a math workbook, and reading workbook once a day.  Depending on what the lessons are, they each do between 2-4 pages each day in both math and reading/phonics.

In addition, Tracey works 30 minutes/day on her school online reading website, and 30 minutes/day on her school online math website.

Furthermore, I encourage Tracey to get her online reading work done first thing in the morning -- sometimes she will do it, sometimes she puts it off.  Usually Tracey, Howard, and Caroline do their workbooks at the same time, and then I have put Daddy in charge of online math with Tracey.  It helps to have both of us involved in her schooling and helps to motivate her that it is not just me constantly asking her to get her work done -- for math, it is Daddy.  Also, math is Tracey's strongest subject, and so it is great for her to show off for Daddy, and for her to help guide her learning as she advances.

On days when everyone is working well together, it is not uncommon for Lee Lee to bring her own workbook over to the table with the big kids and do her own coloring and tracing while they are working.

A few days ago, Caroline and Lee Lee made sure that Hunter had a spot at the table during school time, and it was the most adorable scene of them all working together.

IT DOES NOT HAPPEN LIKE THIS EVERY DAY!

-- which is why, when this does happen, I snap a picture so I will remember that amidst COVID-19, homeschool, chaos, and sibling squabbles, every day had some very sweet moments.