Don't panic! How to conduct home learning

These are uncertain times. No one has any idea how long self isolating and social distancing will be necessary. Some say weeks, others months.

The important thing to note is that we need to encourage home learning, not begin home schooling. We should be supporting our children with their learning, not trying to teach them. There is a huge home schooling network which will be partially shut down: families often link up for social interaction and learning but this will also be put on hold at present.

Our task as parents at the moment is to maintain children’s interest in knowledge. We have the opportunity to teach them life skills such as cooking, tying shoe laces but I do NOT think we should be attempting to teach them academic subjects, merely reinforcing and maintaining current levels. Simple school activities such as spellings, handwriting and timetables are fine, skills that are transferable and will be useful in later life.

I have planned a project based learning schedule. There are time guidelines but this will not be definitive. I am not a teacher so I will not be teaching: I will be encouraging a love of knowledge. I have chosen projects that will interest all three children and the tasks can be differentiated to suit their different age groups.

Here is what I have planned for the coming week:

MONDAY	23.03.2020

9.15-10.00	English: handwriting, spellings, rhyming words
10.00-10.15	Break
10.15-11.00	Maths: Mathletics, Times Table Rockstars
11-1	Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3	Project 1: space: build a Lego space station and a space rocket, listen to music with space in title (similarities, differences, genre), paint picture of Earth, history of space travel, design and make an alien’s house, watch a film about aliens or space and write a review, create a cartoon about an alien visiting Earth for the first time, write a newspaper report about an alien invasion
3-4	PE with Joe/ walk

TUESDAY	24.03.2020

9.15-10	English: project 1: write a story about space
10-10.15	Break
10.15-11	Maths/Science: project 1: gravity and weight on other planets, planet size comparison
11-1	Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3	Project1: space (see Monday)
3-4	7 minute workout/races in garden

WEDNESDAY	25.03.2020

9.15-10	English: project 1: write a letter to an alien to explain how life has changed due to coronavirus
10-10.15	Break
10.15-11	Maths: fractions and percentages
11-1	Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3	Project 1: space (see Monday)
3-4	PE with Joe/ chase bubbles in the garden

THURSDAY	26.03.2020

9.15-10	English: synonyms and antonyms, handwriting
10-10.15	Break
10.15-11	Maths: Mathletics, time tables
11-1	Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3	Project 2: restaurant: plan your own restaurant or cafe, design a menu/advert/poster, write a meal review for a newspaper, learn how to fold napkins, research kitchen hygiene (poster/leaflet for staff), cook items from the menu
3-4	7 minute workout/ throw and catch

FRIDAY	27.03.2020

9.15-10	English: project 2: menu (adjectives to describe food)
10-10.15	Break
10.15-11	Maths: project 2: prices and costings, discounts and special offers
11-1	Meal prep, lunch and relax
1-3	Project 2: restaurant (see Thursday)
3-4	Walk/ throw and catch