Now We Limbo... Bringing Education Home

The kids are home from school. Indefinitely. They likely won’t be back in the classroom (at school) until September.

Gasp… Scream… Sigh.

Boy, is their education about to take a weird turn. LOL.

The Corner Table Trio (aka Princess, Gamer Boy and Angel Face) haven’t received their home study information from their teachers yet. But we live in a marvellous age of technology which allows the kids to keep learning – even when they don’t really realize that’s what they’re doing. Being home all day with (basically) nowhere to go and not a lot to do, we’re giving them responsibilities they’ve never fully been given before, and what supervision is required for these new tasks. And for the most part, I think, we’re just like everyone else, in that we are trying to stay as positive as we can during this time.

Here are three things that we’ve already begun doing 

at the Corner Table House:

1. Everybody Cooks

We’ve encouraged the kids to take Foods classes at school from the first opportunity. Princess and Gamer Boy have both learned the basics of baking and how to cook simple meals. At home, all three of the Trio are called upon to act as sous chefs for me while I put together our evening meals, and they are all fully capable of putting together a meal for themselves when we have “Fend For Yourself” meal nights. Now we’re ramping things up. 

Each of us – except Little Prince, of course – will be responsible for preparing and putting meals on the table a couple times a week. I’ll be in the kitchen to help the kids out however they may need it, but they have to plan, prepare, cook and serve their assigned meals throughout the week.

I’ll be sure to share some of our Corner Table Kitchen Adventures during the coming months.

2. Taking Advantage of Technology

Starting in elementary, the kids started learning French at school. It becomes an option course in Jr. High – one we insist they take – and in high school other options for second languages become available. I’ve always thought it important the kids have, at the very least, a basic understanding of a second language. So far, they’ve been pretty happy to accommodate me.

When we knew school was going to be cancelled, we discussed things the kids could do online to continue learning. Languages was one thing we discussed. I suggested they take a look at Duolingo – the app I used for a French refresher before going to Quebec with Princess and her French classmates last April. A couple days later and between the three kids there are currently 4 different languages (French, Spanish, Latin and Dutch) now being learned in this house.

And that’s just one way we’re embracing technology in this home study, home schooling situation we’ve suddenly found ourselves in.

3. Family Time

I know you’re probably sitting there reading this and thinking, “What? How is family time educational?” If you know us, you know that as parents, Heli Dad and I have always been pretty insistent about ensuring we spend time together doing something as a family each week. Sometimes that would be watching a movie, going to a hockey game, or playing a game after dinner. And even though we’re about to be experiencing pretty much non-stop family time for the next few months, setting aside part of each day to do something together is still important.

We played Trivial Pursuit 2000’s Edition the other afternoon. None of really knew any of the answers, except for a random one here or there, but you know what? Those random bits of historical, cultural, political, technological, and etc. trivia taught all of us (Heli Dad and I included) a few things we didn’t know before. Sure, some of it is information we will probably never use, but we learned something new while playing a game together as a family.

And when we dumped a 1000-piece puzzle on the table two nights ago for something to do, when the kids sat down to help for a while, they had to engage the parts of the brain responsible for problem solving and exercise their ability to build a single image from a mass of broken pieces. If you’ve ever sat down with a 1000-piece puzzle, you know that shit isn’t easy.

In the coming days, weeks and months, we’ll do more and other things together as a whole family or in segments. Believe when I say – if only for my own sanity, I will definitely make sure to keep you posted on some of the activities and hijinks we may get up to.

Now I know you’ve got your own day to get back to, but I’d love if you take a minute and share something you and your family has already begun to do in an effort to facilitate this homeschooling adventure so many of us have suddenly found ourselves on?

And just in case you're wondering... Yes! We finished the puzzle!!