Week three of homeschool

Hey Thinking out loud here xx :D

This week is a long post so grabs drink and a snack find a comfy seat, sit back and take some time our for you and the new busy that you are navigating around, I hope everyone who like me is homeschooling is doing good, we are all in this together, no one is alone or should feel like they are, we have this and we are doing everything we can to help our little learners alongside with what their teachers are planning for them.

We have now ended the school holidays here in Australia, and we are back into homeschooling for the third week but second full week. This is also what it's going to be like now for the next five weeks or so, as like every country we battle this virus. It's been made easier by schooling now being done online, though it seems to not be working at the moment, we are taking this first week as the settling in stage and everyone learning this new way of schooling. Though I am thankful for this as my little cousin will benefit and thrive more from her teacher giving her work to do, the websites we used had been helpful, but I know they wouldn't have been any good in the long run.

As we get closer to the end of the week the system that the school is using is starting to settle down, it's still not working correctly, but it is beginning to work, we though for this week have been using previous websites, I can tell my little cousin is starting to get bored of the same learning games and activities. Still, we are both doing what we can do, I am beginning to see just how long these five weeks are going to be, but I know we have got this, and we will learn as the days go on. I have split the online learning up with baking and crafting something that we both enjoy and the baking can, of course, be shared with the rest of our family wh are essential workers so its a nice treat for when they get home. Today we made banana bread our second batch as last weeks went down pretty well, I think next week we will have to bake some cookies as my little cousin can not wait to bake some cookies.

For craft, we have been using a box that my cousin got for Christmas it has been fantastic to use so many different things to create. We do though need to get on to doing some more p.e. Hoping to incorporate that into next week as we find our feet more. I, of course, know that I am not replacing her teacher and I know I never could, but hoping to keep her somewhat on track of where she would be were she at school, I think when my cousin can, she is going to go to school but for the time being it's all a bit of a not knowing whats going on with other children and what the school has in place for more students than its already two hundred pupils it has attending.

Five weeks is a long time for any child to not be at school especially one who loves to learn, gets a buzz from being around people her own age and thrives off being given something to do, I know there are a lot of children in the same boat, some might be finding it more comfortable than others, I know for us adults it's hard at times to comprehend what's happening and how vast things are changing around us. I hope that this in some way teaches the younger generations to be kind, to not only people but to nature, to our planet and that what we do ultimately affects everything from people to animals, to plants trees and the greater planet. What we add to the earth and what we take away affects every ecosystem, I hope through homeschooling and on the return to going to school, they learn the different effects of what being at home did to how they travel to and from school.

If anyone has any tips for homeschooling maybe for when the internet is down, and we aren't able to use websites, please od let me know, I have some ideas, but some more ideas would be greatly taken, I have a friend who was a teacher who is sending me links daily, and it is so helpful and hoping ot in the coming weeks incorporate them into our school day, even if we are ending an hour before what the actual school day is but hey we're at home so why not aye. But please do send me links on what you have found useful if you are also homeschooling or even if you are a teacher and have some ideas.

Thank you again to every essential worker today lets thank the banks, and to the fantastic people who are keeping money flowing and making us able to still spend money and buy the essentials that we still need to maintain day to day life as normal as it can be, you are all appreciated so Thank You

As always thank you for taking the time to read this weeks post.

Love always Thinking out loud xx :D

World War 3

By Freya Anastasia Hatfield

 Its World War 3, no weapons have been used,

no bombs being dropped,

no armies going off to fight for their land, their country and their loved ones.

Instead, it’s a virus that spreads silently as we walk past strangers in the street,

it’s doctors, nurses and health staff on the front line risking their lives and their loved ones when they eventually return home from a shift.

We’re no longer scared of planes flying over with bombs dropping, its don’t stand so close to me, don’t touch me, you could be a career.

It’s protecting your face, washing your hands, keeping things clean, as they should be, it’s social distancing and staying indoors, only essential workers allowed to leave.

Lockdowns that last for weeks on end, more time on hand but still no ambition to do the things you put off and kept saying “I’ll do that when I have the time.”

It affects not only the old but the young alike, those with compromised immune systems don’t go out, those who don’t have health problems shouldn’t go out, but some still do.

It takes no prisoners, it holds no boundaries, anyone it sees it will attach itself to them.

It fills your lungs with liquid, it gives you a dry cough,

it makes you want to touch your face, it says it’s ok I won’t get you,

you’ll be the exception, don’t trust it, don’t leave it to chance,

you risk your life you risk the lives of many more.

It’s COVID-19 they say, who they are I don’t know,

but it seems like World War 3, it’s been around for a while now since November 2019, we didn’t realise at the time how big it would be, it’s taken over the world quicker than it takes the earth to spin in a year.

It’s a war with no weapons just a virus spreading,

we always said the next world war wouldn’t be violence, it’s still fighting only different.

It’s fighting for your life, fighting to stay healthy,

fighting to protect those you love against a virus that can’t be seen.

This is World War 3, staying indoors, countries on lockdown, no one going out, homeschooling children, working from home.

This is World War 3 a pandemic that’s taken over, it knows no age welcome to World War 3 aka COVID-19.

Endnote

I hope everyone is still keeping safe, and making sure you are all still distancing from people you aren’t isolating with. It’s hard I know it seems like it’s going to last forever, but it isn’t this is just for the next little while but this I hope shows us how we aren’t untouchable, how much we all are vulnerable, so please for your loved ones keep safe, stay at home if you can. A massive Thank You again to all health staff the world over and essential workers you all are doing a fantastic job, I hope this soon is over so you can go back to less busy times, thank you again for risking your lives to save us.

Kia Kaha, Kia Maia, Kia Manawa, me te Aroha. Be strong, Be brave, Be steadfast, with love.

Love always Thinking out loud xx :D