Lesson 1: Make A Schedule

16 Mar Lesson 1: Make A Schedule

Hi All!

I know I promised video for this one, but like all of you, I am trying to calibrate working and having a kid at home. It’s … going.

With no further ado,

Skills this lesson addresses:

Literacy: stretching and writing words, spelling

Math: time, order, addition/subtraction

Bigger ideas: organization, flexibility, independentce

For ages: All ages

Materials:

index cards

pen, marker, pencil,

timer

Process:

1. Tell your child, “We are going to be working together at home. We will make a schedule for home, just like you make at school.”
2. Say, “Let’s think about all the choices we might have. You will have some choices, and I will have some grown up choices.”
3. Do: Brainstorm choices. These could be: indoor play, outdoor play, lunch, snack, read books, make books, screen time, work choice
4. Write on thing on each index card. DO NOT say each letter and have your child write it, instead, say, “what sounds do you hear? What letter/s could it be? Does that look right?”  Bonus points: On the back of the index card, write the word “Done” or “Done for today”
5. Ask, “How many minutes should we give ____?” Have your child write the minutes for each part
6. Ask, “What order should we put them in for today?” (try to switch between intense and less intense. If your child has packets, then make sure those are buffered with legos or time to play some video games) BONUS BONUS: Remind yourself that medical experts are using gamers to help work on understanding the coronavirus and surgeons that play video games are more successful- video games- not your enemy.
7. Set the timer for your first job, and go at it!

A few things to hold in mind:

• You have to work and live, feel okay on getting your kid started on X or Y and then walking away. This is truly about getting your kid feeling safe and structured, and also creating a system where you can do what you need to do.
• We will refine some of these things over time, but for today, just try to transition them through the schedule.
• Choice is important. If they want to read graphic novels, great. If they want to make books about hand washing, great. All you care about is that they are engaged in things that seem interesting
• Many authors and illustrator are holding free online sessions for kids- drawing classes, reading books, etc. Kate Messner is  great source. You can find her at Katemessner.com
• You might consider making an open/closed sign for yourself.
• Work choice means: ANYTHING your kid wonders about. How to make airplanes, how to code, how to do a cartwheel. I will write more about this in a bit, but you can use the 10 day plan in my previous post to support this.

That’s it. 15 minutes and you are done with teaching for the day. Now, you and your child/ren try to make it work as co-workers. Currently, might is the type of co-worker who tries to have a sustained conversation about diggers when you are trying to get something done. We are working on it.

A note:

Myself, and lots of others like me, are out of work for the time being. As in, we have no income- we are gig workers too. I am more than happy to make what I know available for free because that is how we make this all work. However, should you want to support me (And others like me) buy our books! Contact me for an online PD or for virtual tutoring for your kid.