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Life in the time of COVID – 19
Stuck indoors this is the new thing,
Not going anywhere because of COVID – 19.
Following rules and listening to Boris Johnson,
Trying so hard to support the nation.Home schooling
Since March life has completely turned around,
Working from home and getting home school of the ground.
Never I thought that I would teach about the Anglo Saxons,
The Vikings, St George, world’s oceans and plastic pollution.Discovering how poor I really am at Mathematics,
Fractions and decimals, time tables causes me dramatics.
Learning online with Oak National Academy,
This time we won’t forget and it’s effects on our mentality.Never before have we had a time like this,
Home schooling and working for the NHS.
Evenings for me used to be time to relax,
Now I often feel tired, anxious and stressed.Reading through Face book the latest virus news,
The high amount of deaths and different people’s views.
Should children return to school now or in September?
Or ignore your fears and send them as an NHS Keyworker?Conflicts
Different people voicing conflicting opinions,
Fuelling our fears and our nervous decisions.
For me, my shopping is now primarily on line,
But for some the high street continues to be fine.For some they booked leave to go to Primark,
Me I’m happy at home, not interested in that lark.
COVID -19 has brought a new normal,
We now have to live with it, worry and all.Working from home, I love Microsoft Teams,
Team meetings are easy, sharing info a dream.
I can now attend comfy in slippers and pyjamas,
This morning I wondered who else was dressed like this.The world is enjoying the lower pollution,
We need to consider this as we reset the nation.
As we wait for a vaccine and watch the R rate,
We need to work together to help our world and bring the virus’s fate.For more see, Home schooling during the COVID – 19 pandemic
My other blog, Life in the time of a pandemic and writing
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Holiday and loneliness in the New Forest
Loneliness
She carefully walked down the pathway, why had Ruby suggested this holiday? It had been many months since she had joined her in the New Forest. She was normally too loved up with Mark to ask her to join her.
As Freda caught her arm on a branch, she knew that this was a holiday that she needed. The stress of the last few years and the loneliness she now felt, she desperately needed Ruby.
Checking her arm for scratches, she winced. She loved the country, she loved woodland but her mind was focused on her own situation.
Ruby
“Do you really think they will like each other?” Mark looked at me and shrugged.
Freda had been gloomy since we had arrived. She was either going to thank me, or react badly. I am starting to worry, this has to work. If it doesn’t I don’t know what I’m going to do. I want Mark and us to work but I cant leave Freda wallowing in her own loneliness.
Freda
As she came out of the wood, she was struck by the sunlight as it fell across the shadows. Hearing a whine, she was woken from her stupor. Looking down she saw Rex’s adoring eyes looking up at her. Patting the Labrador, Freda knew it was time to get back to Ruby.
Needing time away from the claustrophobic cosiness of coupledom, she had made an excuse to walk Rex. Regretting coming, she longed for the loneliness of the pub back home. Longing for normality. Why had Ruby invited her?
Returning to Mark’s small bungalow, she could smell chilli. Her heart sank further, she didn’t want to cause a scene.
“Hey, Freda, it’s Mark’s famous curry, want some?”
“I guess so, errr small portion please.”Mark smiled as he got up and walked to the kitchen.
“Take a seat Freda, I’ll get something for Rex as well.”“There’s a can on the side for him”.
Freda thought of the tin of rabbit and wondered if that would taste better than the curry. Struggling to be polite, she accepted the plate from Mark, aware that Ruby was staring at her. Asking herself why Ruby had offered it to her, she sensed her laughing at her.
Holding back tears, Freda started to eat the hot burning food. As her stomach became warm, she realised how hungry she is. Despite the stinging heat, she started to feel comforted. It was now the tears started, hot and wet, everything has become too much.
Ruby
I looked at her anxiously,
“What’s wrong Freda? Why are you so upset?”
“I can’t do this Ruby, you are so happy. I need to go home and shouldn’t be here. I’m in the way.”
I took her hand, “You’re not in the way. We want you here”.Looking into her eyes, I could see that she didn’t believe me. I felt sick now, we would have to tell her about the date. There was going to be repercussions.
“Freda, we want you here, and we are off to the pub tonight. Come on, please relax, let your hair down.”
If looks could kill, Mark would be lying on the floor right now. Instead he just stood staring at her. I knew that his words were not want Freda had wanted to hear.
“Why would I want to go to the pub with you two? You don’t want me there, not really.”Knowing that I had to be truthful with her, I said,
“Look Freda, err, we need to tell you something”
Knowing I was going to break and potentially ruin everything, Mark now spoke again.
“Come out tonight, if you want to go tomorrow then go then. Tonight you need to rest Freda, I’m buying.” Ignoring Mark, she said,
“What did you need to tell me?”
“That doesn’t matter, come out tonight and it you still want to go home tomorrow I’ll drive you.” I didn’t want to leave Mark, and as I said the words, I knew it was highly likely we will be going home.Freda
It was a few hours later that they arrived at the pub. Freda was wearing her new blue sweater and had tied her hair back in a pony tail. Feeling apprehensive she was expecting nothing. Looking around the pub, she felt that she needed to make up for being pathetic earlier. Mark and Ruby had given her food and she had cried over it. Knowing she needed to paint on a smile, now doing her best to look happy even if she didn’t feel it.
It was now she saw it. As a tall man with messy hair, a tank top and blazer approached, everything fell into place. The reason her friend had bought her here. Why Mark was so insistent that she came. No, no one was setting her up. This man was certainly not right for her. Okay one drink, she thought, then I’m making my excuses and leaving. Longing for her own loneliness, she didn’t need to be set up with a messy wierdo in a blazer.
Written for Grammys Grid – First sentence prompt – ‘She carefully walked down the pathway’
For more see, Decisions. Freda and a plan – part 11, this is part 12
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Home Schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic
Home schooling
Over the last few months, due to COVID-19, I’ve built a little experience with home schooling. I’ve had the children crying, refusing to work. I’ve cried as a bad mother unable to get them to work and I’ve stood back and reflected, this is temporary it will be okay. Their teachers will sort it when they are back in school. Then I start my cycle again, I’m mum, they need to work, we need to do this together.
As a working mum with two wonderful children I am grateful to their teachers for the timetables and worksheets. Every day I try and get my eight year old to do Maths and English. They are subjects that with worksheets from White Rose Maths and Oak National Academy he can do without my help. Though, there are things that he will still be confused with and this is okay, we try and discuss it later. Tuesday’s and Fridays are my days off, so I try and schedule the learning that he will need more of my attention, on these days.
My daughter age six is working with daddy. but will often refuse. So, Saturday’s she is working with me. Hence, I now work a six-day week. This last Saturday she reduced me to tears as refused to write about a beach. To me it was interesting, to her she just wanted to play. I’m hoping it is because it was still technically school holidays. Though she has Monday’s off, so it was a fair deal.
Last weekend we had a lovely lesson learning about soil. With the help of You Tube videos and then getting muddy in the garden, my daughter enjoyed it.
Reduced to tears
So, who else has been reduced to tears by a child or children refusing to co-operate with home schooling? The feeling of not being good enough. I’m not a qualified teacher but I’m working my hardest to support them. One problem though is I’m enjoying it too much. Yes, mum needs to get the balance right and step back from doing things for them. They need to make mistakes and it’s not a competition.
The frustration of having learnt something but the child can’t remember it. Or the need to write poetry but the child refuses. If you have read my blog you will know that I have a passion for poetry. So, when my child refuses to write words that rhyme I get upset. Helicopter parent steps in, and I know this is not good. I’ve told my children that we need to work on their poetry together. I’ve always enjoyed making words rhyme.
If you are a parent feeling overwhelmed by it all, maybe look at what the school have set and then print off the timetable or create one. After that set yourself realistic goals. For example, I know my son is still playing on the IPad between 9.00 and 10.00, so it’s after 10.00 that I will mention school to him. I’m sorry but we have not done any Joe Wicks.
The children doing circuits around the garden on their bikes, playing football and climbing the garden fence is PE.
Our schedule
Here is our schedule. It is set more by the children than myself, and it is flexible.
10.00 – 10.30 – start home school – Maths and English
11.30 ish morning break – toast and a drink
12.00 – home school
13.15 – lunch time
14.15 – home school – Science, Geography, History – Subject work set
15.15 – 16.00 – finish schoolI try and get English and maths completed in the morning. Then the more interesting work in the afternoon. Today we were learning about oceans and he coloured in a worksheet. He was happy with this plan.
Useful websites – some you may need to subscribe to.
Twinkl – I created a free account to download worksheets
White Rose MathsTime Table Rock Stars – I purchased a family account, which is currently £6.00 annually. We have this through school, but on the family account I can adjust the tables that are asked. Their teacher changes the tables asked on the school account. On my daughter’s school account the questions are very limited. On the family account I’ve changed it to focus on the two times, five times and ten times tables.
Numbots – appears to only be available through your school at present.
You Tube – many educational videos.
BBC Bitesize
Pinterest for design technology ideas – art and craftPurple Mash – we have it through school
I’m sure there are many more that I’m not aware of. Please add others that you recommend in the comments.
To help consolidate work I have made videos of my children presenting their work with my tablet. I can recommend video merge app and Video panda compression app these are essential if you intend to email them to school or / and family. Video panda in my opinion is amazing. Video merge I’ve had a few issues, but have managed to join video in the end. The compression (and joining if necessary) might take a few hours but incredible results. For example, over 600mb reduced to under 20mb and still acceptable quality, (this is just my personal opinion).
Home learning essentials
(Please note the following contains affiliate links. Anything purchased will earn me a small amount of commission which will help to pay for my blogs)
My son needed more exercise books, and we needed more paper for the printer. We then needed Pritt Stick and more pens.
A few months ago I purchased two Amazon Kindle kids, They have been worth every penny as both children will read them. My son is unlikely to read a paperback book, but with the Kindle he can not see how long it is. He is now reading his way through the works of David Walliams.
If you are needing a new printer I can recommend a Mono laser printer. They work out less expensive as they do not need a colour cartridge. Mine is connected wirelessly across WIFI to my tablet.
Reflection
To all COVID- 19 home schoolers – Remember the time now with our children is precious. If you feel you are failing at home schooling then don’t beat yourself up. Your children are possibly learning other skills. Is your child reading more? Whether it’s a magazine’s or their kindle. Are they Lego building and problem solving? Maybe, playing in the garden or helping around the house?
My daughter is creative. She refused to do her writing on Saturday but here is her cardboard box dolls house. She is learning in her own way.
Try and stay positive, try and not get angry and cry like I did last Saturday, it really isn’t worth it. I’m sure however successful we are with home schooling, we are all trying our best. All living with different situations and different stress. I hope this post has been in some way useful.
For more see Quarantine poetry, looking back on today
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