Helen’s Fostering Blog
Adjusting to home schooling and being at home.
As a family we are now on day 10 of self-isolating due to the Coronavirus. We continue to keep our days well structured and busy. We are enjoying the benefits of structuring our week as it means we still look forward to the downtime at the weekend.
On Monday we started doing the Joe Wicks morning exercise on YouTube. The first day was a learning curve for us all, as Harry found out that wearing skinny jeans wasn’t particularly appropriate clothing as he was unable to bend his knees. It was a lot of fun but scary to see how unfit both Beth and Harry actually are. At the end of the first session they were both laid out on the floor exhausted, what is inspiring is to see that for everyday that we do it they are finding it much easier.
We are constantly reviewing our curriculum timetable for Beth and Harry. What we are finding is whist Harry is younger he is coping much better with his learning than Beth. We are doing a balancing act between making it achievable for them both at their individual level and keeping it fun and interesting.
When we notice that their level of interests depletes, we need to respond to this by putting in something educational but more fun. For instance, this week we watched an episode of the Blue Planet and then just asked them some questions about it afterwards.
When we hear the groans after explaining that we would be doing some science after lunch we sometimes swap it for baking. What we really want to avoid is home schooling to become a real chore for them. We are putting in rewards for their effort, such as finishing early on Friday and us all watching a movie together and ordering a new game for their PlayStation.
We are still having a lot of fun with our school days, each day starts with a new School Head, the day it was my turn, I borrowed one of the children’s bike helmet and run in pretending to be out of breath as I had just cycled to school. I explained my name was Mrs Penelope Plum and I was a lot of fun, but unfortunately sometimes have a smelly bum. I also introduced my husband as our supply PE teacher and gave him the name of Mr Pickle Pants. Beth and Harry love all this, so it starts the day with a lot of laughter.
This week we had our Values Lesson, whereby we watched a YouTube video of a 9-year-old boy asking expert questions about the Coronavirus. This allowed us to have an open conversation about their concerns and worries.
I also read them a poem about the Coronavirus which I have copied below. All of these things are helping them understand this new and strange world we have currently found ourselves living in.
The Time We Spring -Cleaned the World
The world it got so busy,
There were people all around.
They left their germs behind them,
In the air and on the ground
These germs grew bigger and stronger.
They wanted to come and stay.
They didn’t want to hurt anyone
They just really wanted to play
Sometimes they tried to hold your hand,
Or tickled your throat or your nose.
They could make you cough and sneeze
And make your face as red as a red.
And so, these germs took over.
They started to make people ill,
And with every cough we coughed
More and more germs would spill.
All the queens and kings had a meeting.
Its time to clean the world up, they said
And so, they had to close lots of fun stuff,
Just so these germs couldn’t spread.
We couldn’t go to cinemas
Or restaurants for out tea.
There was no football and parties
The world got as quiet as can be.
The kids stopped going to school,
The mums and dads went to work less.
Then a great, big, giant scrubbing brush
Cleaned the sky and the sea and the mess.
Dads started teaching the sums,
Big brothers played with us more,
Mums were in charge of homework
And we read and played jigsaws galore.
The whole world was washing their hands
And building super toilet roll forts
Outside was quiet and peaceful,
Now home was the place for all sports.
So, we played in the world that was home
And our days filled up with fun and love,
And the germs they grew smaller and smaller
And the sun watched from up above.
Then one morning the sun woke up early,
She smiled and stretched her beams wide.
The world had been fully spring cleaned,
It was time to go back outside.
We opened our doors oh so slowly
And breathed in the clean and fresh air.
We promised that forever and always
Of this beautiful world we’d take care.
Helen – A Blogging Foster Carer.
