For many us tomorrow is the first day of our children at home.  For how long none of us yet know.   It’s a bit daunting, everything is up in the air thanks to Coronavirus. My husband is a keyworker for the NHS, so he has some long gruelling days ahead of him.  But as I can be at home, the boys will be with me.  I have already started looking for learning resources for home-schooling my eldest.

My youngest had a wonderful pack from the primary school.  Even so home-schooling is going to take some getting used to.  But seeing as I qualified as a secondary school teacher many moons ago, let’s hope some of those techniques come back!

Get Help

You don’t have to do it alone.  Consider using a platform like Tutor House so you can find a tutor near you!  Many tutors are willing work with you remotely, using Skype and a virtual whiteboard.  So, you don’t have to worry about face to face contact.

Be Realistic

You do not have to provide a full day’s education for your child.  Working on a one to one basis you can aim for two hours for primary school children and three hours for secondary school children.  That made me feel much more positive about what we had ahead of us.  As I was worried how I would juggle both their educational needs.

Be Prepared

We have cleared a space to dedicate to home-schooling and made a timetable.  So, they know what to expect.  I have stocked up with paper for the printer and ordered some new folders, a stapler and plastic pockets.  Being organised helps me feel they I can do this!

I signed up for a free month with Twinkl using the code CVDTWINKLHELPS and it’s been a real asset so far.  I have printed lots of worksheets for my eldest.  It’s probably best to prep ahead, so you have plenty of activities to keep then occupied.  There has been a long list of resources circulating around lately.  I will list a couple of them below.

World Geography Games – this has lots of geography themed quizzes.  It kept my eldest amused and happily learning for a while.

DuoLingo – this is good as my eldest needs to learn French now but start at the beginning.  They have quizzes which are helpful because you can also hear the pronunciation of the words!

Spelling Shed – This game will help your children brush up on their spelling.  It gives the letters and they then put them in the right order.  Currently you can have a 14-day free trial or spend £30 for a yearly individual membership.

Plus, don’t forget Alexa if you have one.  There are lots of quizzes, stories and facts you can keep the children busy with!

Take A Step Back

Give them independent work and free reading time.  This will give you a chance to catch your breath during the day!  Put the kettle on and take five.

Bring Learning To Life

Use different media to bring learning to life.  If you have a VR headset there are some educational apps available that you can download for free.  One quite moving one is an opportunity to explore the hiding place of Anne Frank.  When you cover geography as a topic, allowing your child a little time to explore Google Earth would fit in quite well.  We have a session planned on urbanisation so am sure that would work!

Be Flexible

Children are dealing with a lot right now, if you don’t manage everything you planned during each day of home-schooling don’t panic.  Give them time to relax and unwind too.  We all have a lot on our minds.  Mental health is more important than academic achievement.  Take your child’s lead.  Make sure they get some fresh air each day too.  Hopefully you have a garden they can burn off some energy!