Kid's at home? You're not alone!
So, this is it! School's out... for who knows how long?
I've worked in schools and I've brought up young children at home. I know that the day can seem endless and the responsibility daunting. So what can you do?
Well, first - don't panic. And don't feel you've got to suddenly start ringing bells and moving the kids from one 'lesson' to another. Home isn't school; kids are learning all the time and they'll continue to learn and learn well with just a little encouragement from you.
And you're not on your own. I've been making some of my own resources available for free and I'm hoping that more will follow. For now, my sixth-form guide to Homer's Iliad is free to download. There'll be more to come. Watch this space.
For GCSE subjects you really can't beat BBC Bitesize. It covers everything, integrates audio-visual material and includes interactive assessments so that kids can measure their progress.
Use YouTube with care as there can be some unsuitable (and, frankly, barmy) material but if you run a search of some of the things you're kids are studying you'll soon be able to build a list of safe (and accurate) channels.
And lots of online learning sites are offering free access for a limited period to help out. Twinkl has both primary and secondary resources and a handy parent portal too, so you can keep tabs on what the kids are up to.
You can even use your (or your children's) phones as a learning tool. Apps like EdPlus (which I've personally reviewed here:https://www.bringingupcharlie.co.uk/2019/08/beat-summer-learning-loss-with-edplus.html ) aren't free but aren't expensive either. They make learning fun and again give parents vital feedback on their child's progress.
Finally, don't feel you've got to manage every minute. Let them run off some steam in the back garden - fresh air and exercise is just as important. Boredom is a great motivator, too, and with a little support children can become their own best teacher... just don't let them on the Xbox for too long!
I've worked in schools and I've brought up young children at home. I know that the day can seem endless and the responsibility daunting. So what can you do?
Well, first - don't panic. And don't feel you've got to suddenly start ringing bells and moving the kids from one 'lesson' to another. Home isn't school; kids are learning all the time and they'll continue to learn and learn well with just a little encouragement from you.
And you're not on your own. I've been making some of my own resources available for free and I'm hoping that more will follow. For now, my sixth-form guide to Homer's Iliad is free to download. There'll be more to come. Watch this space.
For GCSE subjects you really can't beat BBC Bitesize. It covers everything, integrates audio-visual material and includes interactive assessments so that kids can measure their progress.
Use YouTube with care as there can be some unsuitable (and, frankly, barmy) material but if you run a search of some of the things you're kids are studying you'll soon be able to build a list of safe (and accurate) channels.
And lots of online learning sites are offering free access for a limited period to help out. Twinkl has both primary and secondary resources and a handy parent portal too, so you can keep tabs on what the kids are up to.
You can even use your (or your children's) phones as a learning tool. Apps like EdPlus (which I've personally reviewed here:https://www.bringingupcharlie.co.uk/2019/08/beat-summer-learning-loss-with-edplus.html ) aren't free but aren't expensive either. They make learning fun and again give parents vital feedback on their child's progress.
Finally, don't feel you've got to manage every minute. Let them run off some steam in the back garden - fresh air and exercise is just as important. Boredom is a great motivator, too, and with a little support children can become their own best teacher... just don't let them on the Xbox for too long!
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