Welcome back to my blog!
Because of the Corona Virus, my kids, like many around the world, are off school for a few weeks starting this Monday.
I am calling the next two weeks Operation: Stay Home, Stay Healthy, or #SHSH2020.
Ever the aspiring at-home early education enthusiast, I have started a new schedule for the kids during this time, so we all don't lose our minds. I modified it from the one that was going around Facebook yesterday, seen here:
Our daily schedule until at least March 29 is as follows:
______________________________________________________________________
Daily Schedule:
7-9 am: (IT MUST BE LIGHT OUT FOR KIDS TO BE OUT OF BED. I could not stress this enough to Alan- 10 years old, the past few days) Wake up, get dressed (Nora-age 3, disposes of pull up), breakfast, AND another thing I saw on Facebook: mark hands with stamp or washable marker. I told them if those marks are gone or mostly gone by the end of the day, they are allowed to stay up until 9:00. Otherwise, bedtime is 8:30.
TL/DR version: 7-9: wake up, get dressed, breakfast
9-10 am: Observe weather from the window. What color is the sky? Are there clouds? Other weather elements such as wind, rain, snow, sunshine? Also look up current outside temperature, and the high for the day and discuss. Is it going to be warm, cold, or in the middle today? Also during this time on weekdays, the kids will be doing some simple activities. Nora will continue working on tracing and writing her name like she was in preschool, and Alan will be working with some quotes (will explain this more on Monday, when it starts.) THEN, we will use our knowledge of what we observed from the window to decide our footwear, and if a jacket is needed, etc. I am letting them make these decisions completely by themselves. AFTER THAT, we find ourselves outside, where I have a loose lesson planned for each day (more on that below) and when that is completed, they can have free time outside for as long as they want. ONCE BACK INSIDE, hand washing, snack time, and discuss National Days (more on this later as well).
TL/DR version: 9-10 am: weather discussion, writing on week days, then outside time, snack, and national day observation.
10 (ish)-12: academic time. Thurdays: Nora to gymnastics at 11:15, as long as it remains open. Saturday and Sunday: screen/free time
12:00 pm: lunch
12:45 pm: chores. I can post a chore chart for each person if this is of interest, but basically, we all have a different chore to perform each day. Chore completion determines whether more screen time will be allowed.
1-2:00 pm: MWF (week one): art time on Facebook (I can post more on this Monday)
T, TH, Sa, Su: family together time (kids will pick an activity for us to do together)
2-6:00 pm: free time/screen time (as long as chores have been completed). 4-6 pm will be QUIET TIME (basically this is the time where I tell them not to bug me or be loud unless an emergency occurs. I am also cooking dinner during this time)
6:30 pm: dinner
7:00-8:00 pm: no screen playtime. screen time may be earned for 45 minutes of this time if the schedule was observed without complaints.
8:00 pm: bath and bedtime routine.
8:30 or 9:00 pm: sleep
________________________________________
So either you have left already because you think I'm a crazy person (don't worry, I know I am), or you're still here! Yay! Of course I know every day won't go smoothly, and I'm planning on certain activities going over time or having to switch some things around, but this is where I'm starting. My kids and I like structure and routine, so that is why I have made this. It is totally okay with me if you think I'm crazy. You don't have to do what I do. You can give your kids screen time all day, or send them outside, or make them read until bedtime, or send them to their grandparents' house for two weeks. Those are all great! Do what you have to do to keep your family sane, happy, and healthy during this crazy time. You're doing a great job!
Anyway, I know you read some things in that schedule and are probably wondering, "what does that mean?" I am here to explain it to you. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first thing I wanted to talk about today was our outside time. Upon observing out the window, Nora said, "The sky is blue, and I see sunshine and wind." So when we went outside, we could feel the sunshine, and I am so excited for more springlike weather! Today, our outside explore lesson focused on a sight scavenger hunt.
The kids went around the yard and found something that is... (I will post their answers here. I have made a clean copy of this in image form for your use)
-red (Nora's slide)
-yellow (daffodil)
-green (leaves)
-purple (periwinkle)
-brown (stick)
-wet (grass)
-dry (driveway)
-shiny (The reflected sun on the driveway)
-pretty (a daffodil)
-smooth (Alan's skin)
-rough (rock)
-tiny (white flower)
-big (tree)
-blows in the wind (leaves, wind chime)
-living (flowers)
-not living (brown leaves, and sticks on the ground)
Until tomorrow, stay healthy, happy, and safe! -Andrea
No comments:
Post a Comment