Half Term

We finally finished school work around 5pm on Friday - such a relief.  Immediately I evicted all of Tom's school books, pens, pads etc etc from the kitchen, he was under strict orders not to do anything to do with school over the next week - that from me.  We are both so sick of it.  It felt a huge relief to get it all done.  We celebrated with pizza from Elaine's - that has become a 'thing' now, every Friday we get pizzas from Elaine's.  It means I don't have to cook and we are supporting a local business - win win all round.

Saturday and Sunday were atrocious weatherwise.  It was freezing and very very windy - meaning if we went out we got numb from the cold almost immediately, the furthest we got was a quick walk around the village.  We spent out time watching films (Oliver and Night at the Museum) and got to grips with one of our new board games - Mexican Train, a domino based game, which we played at the Fosters probably a year ago!

Monday we woke to sunshine and no wind - it was 10 degrees warmer as well. We got out for a walk as it was sunny and found a new one across to Bentham and back again through fields, but different fields to those we have walked before.  We stopped off at Seasons to buy some pasties for lunch and then spent the afternoon playing Mexican Train and the boys did some more lego.

Tuesday, Tom wanted to give himself a challenge on his new bike, so the boys headed off to Tow Scar Lane above Edith's Wood - a steep, rubbly lane.  I didn't want to do that (mainly because I'm not capable) so I went for a run instead.  Managed to shave a whole 20  seconds off my fastest this year (unfortunately still very slow compared to times at the start of last year - something to do with extra weight, lack of exercise during Tom's isolations and inability to get out whilst home schooling!)  The boys got home about 40 mins after me.

We then had lunch and spent the afternoon watching Big which was a blast from the past for us - Tom seemed to enjoy it too.  Then a couple of games of Mexican Train.  Tom then disappeared to play with his model railway - he has finally realised that we won't bother him if he is playing with his model railway, however, we will bother him with chores etc if he hangs around us looking lost.  It's only taken 12 years for the penny to drop!!!!!  We made savoury waffles for tea with bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and onions - our take on pancake day really good they were too!

Wednesday, another dry warm day - yay!  After morning chores (abstracts for Matt, curry paste to make for Tom and casserole to make for me) we headed out for a walk.  Tom has been writing his thank you cards, one was for the Fosters who live in Cold Coates.  We decided to hand deliver it today, so we set off down to the A65, then walked through the caravan park (new for Matt - Steph showed me the way last week) to Green Lane and across some fields to Cold Coates.  We delivered the card, had a chat as the Fosters were in, then we set across more fields up to the Clapham Old Road, then up to Slatenber and Fell Lane.

A sit on our favourite benches at Crina Bottom (lunch today was a pack of jam donuts which we picked up from the co-op as we walked past) and then back home via Storrs Common.   

Turned out to be 7.5 miles so a decent walk with plenty of ups and downs.  I did the whole thing without a coat on - that's how warm it has got (around 9 degrees at the mo).  Got home tired but happy.  

Tom was straight on with a video call with Florrie - so Matt and I had showers and then collapsed.  A good walk, but think I need a bit of a calmer day exercise wise tomorrow!  Tell you what though, I am appreciating this half term so much more than others.  I really wish we were having a 2 week half term this time round it - think parents, teachers and children could all do with an extra week to recover!

Thursday - not the most exciting day, but still relaxing and stressfree which is all we ask these days.  Tom had a walk lined up with Caitlin in the morning, so he toddled off at 10 and wasn't back until 12.  This gave me and Matt a chance to catch up with some work stuff.  I tempered some chocolate, it's only been about a week since the last lot I did, but already I had lost the knack and the temper didn't work!  Oh hum, I had to wash everything down, and start again.  Luckily the second temper did work.  After lunch, we all headed out to do a quick lap of Storrs Common - Tom went on his bike as he was keen to know if he could get up the hill without standing on his pedals - he could.  Then back home, some lego and then at 5pm we had a FB video call with Jude and Craig and spent a very pleasant 1.5 hours making curry together.  Tom got a Hairy Bikers curry book for his birthday - one that they have too.  So Tom chose a recipe (Chicken pilauf) and then we did a video call where we made the meal together and then sat down and ate it together.  Was a fun thing to do, both curries were ready at the same time, it was very tasty. 

Friday wasn't the nicest day, but we decided to head out for a walk anyway.  We did the circular walk to Edith's Wood in the hope to see some deer.  Matt also managed to find a slightly different path for some of it to add a bit of variety.  It has got cold again, the wind was strong and cold.  We didn't find any deer, but we did bump into some friends which is always good.  We got home, had showers and lunch and decided to stay in for the rest of the day.  We played Cluedo in the afternoon - I bought this for Tom  because his powers of deduction are pretty weak.  Needless to say, he struggled and really didn't have a clue.  He didn't really enjoy it, but I think it will be good brain training for him, so I'll suggest it from time to time to try to help him think laterally.  After that, he had a video call with Rebecca, so an hour of train chit chat, before some more lego, and then (of course) take away pizza from Elaine's - it was Friday after all!

Saturday was a really horrible day - it rained all day!  Not to worry, we had a plan...Tom has been wanting to make apple strudel for a while.  We very rarely eat pudding - mainly because we eat too much main course and are then unable to eat pudding on top.  So, I decided that instead of lunch on Saturday we would have just pudding.  Tom spent a happy morning making the strudel and very good it was too - a perfect balance of apples, cinnamon and citrus.  We had very happy full bellies.  We then watched a film - Tom's choice, he opted for Inside Out which is a film he watched at school for PD (Personal Development)  I think it is quite sad, but he likes it.  Once that was over, we did a quick lap of the village, came back, a bit of lego, tea (haggis sausages) and some rounds of Mexican train before bed.  Once again, not a thrilling day, but nice and relaxing.

Sunday dawned beautiful - warm spring day, blue sky and sunshine.  We enjoyed our last lie-in for sometime, then Tom and Matt did some lego whilst I prepared tea - ham hock and red cabbage stew from a new cookbook, then lunch.  The afternoon was spent exercising:  Tom and Matt on their bikes and me running.  I did my usual 5km run (when I say run, I mean run and walk).  I was determined to get under 40 mins today - especially as the conditions were so good (warm and no wind).  I put my head down and made it: 39 mins and 34 seconds, I was very pleased with that.  The boys decided to cycle up to Blea Moor - Tom has gelled well with his new bike, so much so that Matt says that he doesn't have to slow down or wait anywhere for him - they cycle at the same speed now.  This is great - but what happens when Tom develops adult muscles?  They were out for 3 hours, did 19 miles which included 1600ft of elevation!  I couldn't do it.  They came back tired but happy.  Tom was straight in the bath for 2 hours!  Once I had recovered from my run, I spent the afternoon doing some chocolate work - Easter is coming up and I need to have some new products ready for my website and for Gingerbugs website which are postable - eggs and bunnies won't do this year, unless the shops re-open.

And that was half term.  Was a lovely relaxing, stress free time.  Very much needed. 

Now, deep breath and get ready for tomorrow... I can't bring myself to go into the school system yet to see what delights await us...

Twelve!

   So, Wednesday arrived - Tom's birthday.  Not the best time for a birthday during full lockdown, but hey the kids are all used to it now!  Although Tom said he wasn't that bothered by his birthday, he spent most of Tuesday night in bed in tears - he couldn't get to sleep.  He wasn't excited about his birthday, but he couldn't sleep - it got to the stage where he was way too stressed to get to sleep.  It was after midnight until he finally got off.  Then of course, neither me nor Matt could sleep because we were worried that he would start crying again.  Oh hum.  He might be growing up, but he is still quite young really.

He came bouncing into our room at 7.45 for present opening.  Considering it is lockdown and therefore no presents from friends, he did really really well.  There was certainly a couple of themes: 1) curry - he got a curry chef apron, a spice caddy with a host of spices to put in it and a book of curries 2) cricket: an  England Cricket top which he has been wanting for ages, a cricket rebounder net and a cricket ball birthday cake 3) biking: a new bike and biking top.  We also got him some new board games, just because half term is next week and we need something new to do.  Oh, almost forgot, as usual Martin over did it and got Tom an enormous lego kit of a dumper truck with a proper motor which can be controlled by his phone!  Anyway, thanks everybody, he's a lucky boy!

  

We had sort of hidden his new bike downstairs, behind the island unit, but it was too big and he spotted it instantly.  He thought he had got everything, so was quite surprised but happy to get it.  Every time he finished a lesson early he was across in the car park testing it out.  He has tested every bike over there!  This time he was bouncing it up and down as it has suspension.  

We had breakfast and then it was on to home school - oh joy!  To be fair it wasn't too bad.  He had a live form time, a live check in for English and a live music lesson which was last period and a check up to see how people found the work.  After 15 mins the teacher told the kids to finish early unless they needed to catch up.  Tom had done everything so he finished early yahooo.  He and Matt immediately went on a bike ride to try out the new bike - Tom was very happy with it, it has suspension and 27 gears.  It was a beautiful day - clear and blue skies but very very cold.  

We hadn't told anyone it was Tom's birthday, but still a number of people knew and came for a socially distanced chat and to drop of pressies.  We had visits from the Bickerstaffs, Fosters, Grannie and Grandpa, the Wilkinsons and Mannings.  We also had zoom calls with Jude and Craig and Granma and Pop Pop.  Not bad and just as well some of Tom's lessons finished early. The only one we got behind with was English, and as he has 2 more lessons, we figured we would catch up on it later in the week.  It was a seriously social day - lovely for all of us.

Tom wanted to cook for his birthday tea - yay!  Japanese curry was on the menu - perfect as he had his new Curry Chef apron.  We made it together as with all the social calls we had got behind.  We had teas on knees in front of the first episode of Blue Planet, which Tom had got on DVD.

It wasn't the most thrilling or fun filled day, but I think he was happy enough.  Expectations for fun have lowered over the past year!  

Home School!

So we are now in week 6 of home school.  Initially we were told it would be until February half term but it is looking more and more likely that it will be until mid March / Easter.  It has been a rollercoaster ride.  We have had a lot of tears, some from me, mostly from Tom and A LOT of frustration.  I have had to learn to count to 3 before getting short / frustrated / stressed with Tom, because as soon as he picks up on my frustration, he gets stressed and seconds later we have tears, which doesn't help either of us.  He does make it difficult sometimes though as he can be quite stubborn and 'refuse' to understand a concept no matter how many times you go over it with him, or he thinks everything is a trick question and therefore chooses the wrong option every time not using any logic to realise his answer has to be wrong or he will put down an answer without reading the question properly.  He keeps saying he hasn't got a functioning brain, to which I say he has, he just hasn't learnt to use it properly yet!  One subject he does enjoy is French and he does seem to be getting better at it.  His accent is better than mine already and the lessons are so well planned and so well explained it is impossible not to understand.  I have learnt loads of new phrases already, my accent hasn't improved though!  We have started using French words in our day to day speech.

Some subjects have been great (French, Geography, History, Theatre Studies, Textiles, IT), some ok (English, Maths, Music, Chemistry, Art, DT, PD ) and some really awful (Biology, Physics, Food Tech).  The awful ones have caused so much frustration and stress, mainly due to bad teaching, lack of explanations and then assessments that bear no relation to the work they have been given! I have chased English and given feedback which to be fair they have acted upon, but I have sort of lost the will now with it all.  Plus we keep getting told that teachers are super stressed - you don't know what is going on in their personal lives, so don't want to complain too much.

However, having said that, Physics and Biology have sent me over the edge!  I have ended up buying a course guide for science and that has made it better.  Basically we get a topic, do the lesson, then get out the course guide and make notes from that in the hope that Tom gets some understanding.  The teachers send through a powerpoint with no explanation of the slides or just tell us to watch a video and make notes they certainly aren't able to follow a powerpoint with no explanation (eg today I spent an hour fathoming out 2 pictures of electrons and a cloth, trying to work out why they were different, eventually I worked out that the 'rod' in each picture must be made of a different material - how would an 11 year old be able to work that out or understand it?).  Also, an 11 year old is not capable of making notes, they need some guidance on what is important etc etc.  I have ended up sitting down with him for all science lessons now, hoping that I can unravel it for him and teach him what he needs to know.  I think it is very lazy, the other subjects seem to be able to put together some useful lessons, you wonder why the science dept can't?!  This week, Tom got given the hardest crossword on electro-static forces as his homework.  Initially all three of us poured over it, but couldn't answer it, then we got google out, still no luck.  This morning, I was determined to get it done so spent an hour or so on physics websites from universities around the world until I found the answers.  I saw it as a personal challenge in the end and was determined to see it to the end, but really, how is an 11 year old meant to do that?  Biology is easier - I did A level and first year of uni, so have a decent understanding of it, I didn't do physics at exam level - I never 'got' it, I might be 'acquiring' it now!

Oh and guess what - we got an email from school saying they aren't doing the puberty chat with the kids now, that we would have to do it in their place instead - oh joy!  There was then confusion regarding sending teaching materials to us and then in the end they just put up a powerpoint with audio and a teacher going through it all.  It was fine, she spent a while doing male organs and glossed over female organs, so I went back to explain that and a girls period - what it is and why etc.  Didn't want him not knowing, especially as some of his friends have started already.

Quite often Tom is working until 5pm trying to get all the work done.  By which time he is shattered and I can't expect him to continue.  It has got better recently, it just seems to be English and the sciences that take up so much time.  The school last week, decided that as it was Young Person's Mental Health Week that they would give the kids a challenge to do every day - on top of their school work...WHAT?!!!  We, of course, didn't have time to do them - most of them were art ones anyway, anything art causes conflict in our house.  The kids who did them then got emails of commendation saying how wonderfully they are engaging in the work...NO! The reason they were able to do them is because they AREN'T engaging properly and therefore AREN'T doing all the set work and so have time to do them.  Talk about how to crush the kids who are working properly! Completely didn't help their mental health, in fact it made it worse!  

Of course the school won't know until the kids go back who has been doing all the work properly and who hasn't, as the school hasn't asked for any evidence of the work to be sent their way other than the odd assignment and quiz - most of which you could do without doing the work as they are multiple choice click bait.   I know some mums have told me that their kids are finished every day by lunchtime, I just have no understanding how that can be, other than they look at the lesson, go straight to the quiz or assignment, do that and that's it - ie do none of the work leading up to the quiz or assignment?  When I ask about specific bits, the mums have no idea as they haven't been monitoring their kids, so I am thinking their children can't be doing it properly.  I know other mums who are monitoring their kids and they are all working late and getting stressed trying to get it all done - I'm certainly not alone, but think I am one of the more conscientious parents - hopefully it will pay off on Tom when he returns and the teachers see that he does have understanding of the home schooling lessons.  I hope so anyway otherwise all the stress wouldn't have been worth anything!

In the last 2 weeks, the school have been doing more live check-ins for the children.  They are supposed to have 2 live form sessions a week (that has never happened for Tom) and then the odd live lesson - with mixed success: Chemistry and Textiles have done live lessons really well, Geography, Maths, Biology and History each tried to do a live lesson but failed miserably and gave up - mainly due to technical reasons and others just haven't tried.  Some subjects are now doing a live check in at the start of the lesson, to see who is checking in, check they understand where the work is and ask if any have any questions.  Mainly this is to take the option of 'I didn't know Miss' away from the kids!  No teaching really takes place, but I think maybe if the teachers start with that they might get their confidence up to do a proper live lesson.

We've been told that the earliest schools will return is 8th March, but of course they need to do mass testing before anyone can go back - not sure how long that will take?  Year 7 is the least important year, so they will be last to get back, probably just in time for the Easter holidays!  Infection rates are going down, but Covid is still quite well spread and hospitals are still rammed with patients, and as soon as the kids go back, infection rates will rise again, although they will have testing so they won't have to send huge numbers home every time there is a positive case like last time.  If you are in the same class as a positive case, you have to take a test everyday for 10 days and as long as you are negative you can be in school - will be so much better, means kids can stay in school, and hopefully asymptomatic cases will be picked up as well, which will help stop the spread.

Anyway, can't wait for half term and no home school - all evidence of home school is going to be removed from the kitchen and we are going to relax and do other stuff.