Our Space

This is our space, the space I will be using as a home base for teaching my kids the rest of their curriculum for the year.  We are heading into week 3 of our social distance, so our space is already decorated with some of the kids artwork.

Our daily schedule is more of a guideline, but I try to maintain at least the first half of the day.  We have been doing our morning exercises every day during the week.  We have been spending 2-3 days in our garage where we listen to Kids Bop warmups and follow along, I lift weights, and all of us take turns using the treadmill.

Other days, we have spent walking, scootering or riding our bikes at the beach or at a local park (all while maintaining social distance, I should add).  We have really enjoyed the fresh air and wide open space, however, this Saturday our beaches, walkways, esplanade parking, beach access points and park sites are closed until further notice.  I am really bummed out about the closures but I can't say that I didn't expect it and also that I don't understand why these closures are important.

By 9:30 we are doing school work.  Gavin starts his day with a "morning starter" courtesy of an awesome 1st grade review book from the Dollar Tree.  Harper starts her day with a puzzle, I bought about 15 puzzles from the Dollar Tree - all different levels of difficulty.   I'm lucky the Dollar Tree is only a few blocks away LOL (also that I starting hording craft materials before hording was actually a thing that people "have" to do).

I have separate folders for Gavin's reading, writing, and math.  He flies though the work I give him.  He is doing all of the suggested review that our teacher gave to us when all of this started and also a few additional items.  I'm so lucky because he actually enjoys "Mom School."

Harper is working on spelling her name, writing and recognizing her letters.  She starts by writing her name on a worksheet that I created for her.  She then has a section in her folder for letter recognition, we do 1 letter per day, I believe she is on "F for fish."  The last section in her folder is also letter recognition, she has to pick out specific letters from a group.

Both of them have electronic breaks.   We have GoNoodle breaks, and videos/quizzes from Brain Pop (we are doing American History right now) - these are things that both of the kids participate in.  Harper will generally do Khan Acadamy Kids and Gavin has a few aps to choose from - Zearn, Raz Kids or Reading Eggs. 

After lunch we get outside briefly and then we do chores.  This is the best time of the day (for me anyways).  The kids pick something from this list.

Surprisingly, they are usually just as happy as I am about doing chores.  I think it gives them a sense of accomplishment, I also typically give them some sort of privilege after their chores.  Gavin is really into using Alexa to play music these days so after he is finished with his chores I might give him 20 minutes to play music.  I let Harper play with her tablet after chores.

Quiet time is pretty loose... for Harper I actually tell her that she needs to try to read books in her room, which typically leads to her falling asleep.  For Gavin, I tell him to go into his room and I let him play on his tablet.  He has a 1 hour limit for tablet time during the week.  When everyone is occupied it seems like everyone is happy with this arrangement.

2:30-4:00 is still a time that we are working out.  If Harper is sleeping, I let her sleep as long as she wants/needs to.  For Gavin usually I use this time for more educational aps, crafting or cooking together.  If Harper is awake I let her do the same as Gavin.  Harper has a really cute Princess Cookbook that we have been using a lot lately.  Basically anything to break up that time!

4:00 we try to get outside and go for a walk/scooter ride around the neighborhood.  Everybody needs some fresh air!

Then it's dinner, bath and bed time.  AND THEN WE DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!

I would be lying if I said I'm not exhausted.  It's hard work, I am lucky enough to say it's the 1 thing I have to focus on.  If I had a job that I was trying to do remotely, as well as homeschooling my kids, I think it would be much more challenging!  I think about how difficult this change is for everyone and I try to be thankful for the cards that I have been dealt.

I NEVER watch the news in front of the kids.  I'm not sheltering them from it, we have had conversations about Covid-19, what it is and how we can protect ourselves from it, I just believe that neither the kids nor I need the stress of thinking about this pandemic every waking moment - it's just not healthy or helpful.  The kids know the basics and that's all I feel like they need to know.  Simplicity is the key to my happiness.  I'm trying to make my world as stress-reduced as possible.

And with that, I'll say goodnight.  Wishing everyone who reads this health, wealth and happiness!  I hope you all find your space in this crazy place we are in right now!