Hello families and students. First of all I want to check in. I hope you are staying healthy and sane! Please know that I am thinking about each and everyone of you and your loved ones. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay SANE! We are in this together and I have no more information than you do…we are being informed of changes in real time… just like you are. We will get through this.

A little bit about myself...for those of you who do not know, I am blessed to be the mother of three children ages: 13, 11 and 8 (grades 7, 5 and 3). I am fortunate to be off with them right now, as my husband still needs to go into his workplace (not allowed to work from home yet..). Hats off to all of you who still need to go into work and/or are trying your best to work from home with your kiddos present...NO EASY TASK I CAN ASSURE YOU! For all that you are doing to keep your community, humanity and family safe...Thank you!

This blog will be a little different….First of all I want to assure you that all that you are doing and are attempting to do is more than enough! The March Package I sent home on Friday is a suggestion and by no means mandatory! After reflecting on a quite different than anticipated March Break with my kiddos (practising safe social distancing) this is what I have learned...I am teaching my children in real and authentic ways everyday! It is not through hours of seat work at the kitchen table, or mandated math time, computer time etc...it is through authentic conversations and experiences. Here is what I realized after a mostly unstructured week at home with my three kids.

1)We needed to set some routine… My kids must eat breakfast within an hour of getting up and then brush their teeth. Lunch has to be eaten around 12 - 1 or else they will not eat ANYTHING for dinner, but complain that they are STARVING at bedtime.

2)We are trying to keep a fairly consistent bedtime (yes it is later than usual...but still consistent).

3) Figuring out and trying to start/finish one “big job” a day is more than enough. This week our big jobs were - organize and transplant house plants, tidy and purge the garage, start going through closets, purging/switching over sizes, winter to spring/summer clothing, etc., plant spring seeds (early start veggies and flowers) indoors, do the laundry, tidy bathrooms, vacuum, etc.

4)I also realized that I can rationalise that everything (well almost everything) I did with my kids this week has some educational value.

Let me explain my rational about what I “taught” this week:

Conflict resolution- five of us in one house for prolonged periods of time...naturally leads to this:)

Compromise - you can have more electronic time, tv time, etc. if...you help me with the one big job a day, go for a walk outside without complaining when I ask, etc.

Resiliency - Yes this is not how we expected to spend our March Break, but what can we do that we enjoy instead. If you or your children are feeling anxious, as I know at times my children are… teach them skills to help them cope. Go for a walk outdoors, go into your backyard, open your windows, listen for sounds of life returning in the spring, acknowledge and discuss fears and anxiety, find an app that works for them… Calm App is what I use for me and my children (limited access is free). CHEO Mindmasters has online resources and tools that work as well.

Compassion and Empathy - No we cannot go visit great grandma and grandpa (in a locked down retirement home) or grandma (in a locked down rehabilitation hospital) like we intended. You are sad about this, they are sad about this...what can we do? Call them on the telephone, draw and create pictures and cards that we can (hopefully) mail to them, etc. We are socially distancing and isolating so that others (with compromised immune systems, transplant patients, medical conditions) can stay safe and healthy.

Collaboration - Playing multiplayer video games, board and card games.

Questioning and Curiousity - My 8 year old NEVER stops asking questions. Here is how I handle it..admit you do not know all the answers and research them together (a mere sampling of this week’s questions… How were the pyramids made? (social studies - I will look for a documentary and we can watch it together). Why do pregnant people get a purple belly? (I think we have some misconceptions…. a family life lesson perhaps:) ). How did the first people get on Earth? (religious and scientific discussions needed), and many, many, many more! My 11 year old wants to learn guitar (online music lessons here we come) and my oldest decided he wants to plant bonsai trees (Did you know you can order kits on Amazon)? That is what I call motivated and engaged learning!

Social Awareness - World Down Syndrome Day was March 21, National Epilepsy Day is March 26. My cousin’s young children are affected with both, so my children are aware of both causes. We did research and put posters on our door and in our window. FYI - Autism Awareness Day April 2. We are already making plans about what to do.

Media Literacy - Creating posters, watching movies and videos that remind mom and dad of their childhood...What do you mean we have never showed you….? Watching larger trilogy movies (my oldest daughter and I watched all the Marvel movies in order from date of release (over the course of a month or so… not all this week), The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogies are what we are starting now.

Language- My children are reading everyday, not because I force them, but because they want to. It may not be what I consider an “educational” book, but they are reading daily comics, instructions for games, recipes, etc. They are reading procedural texts...recipes...my older kids are enjoying baking and cooking new creations (They are learning that you need to read instructions CAREFULLY and FOLLOW THEM IN ORDER...or you may have an epic fail!)

Math –The value of money...Try going grocery shopping with your child.. they want to buy every “treat” they see. Teach them the value of money! Time - you must limit your screen time to one hour...what time is it now? When do you need to get off the screen? Measurement - when following recipes and baking, temperature - what do we need to wear when we go outside today, what is the weather like, why is the snow melting on the deck and around trees, but not beside our garage (yet another 8 year old question!). Counting and Numeracy skills when playing family card and board games.

Science - We are planting seeds, watching for signs of spring ( I can not tell you how many robins we have counted on our walks lately), we are watching our flower beds come back to life. My children convinced us to get more fish for our fish tank (living things unit:) )... I have heard they are vying for a dog next:)

Physical Education and Health – We are focussing on HAND WASHING and SOCIAL DISTANCING! We are being active skipping outdoors, riding bikes and discovering all the spring toys that were stored in the shed for the winter. When we are stuck indoors GO Noodle, Cosmic Yoga for kids and more active video games.. Just Dance, Wii Fit, Wii Sports, etc are helping us burn some energy!

Religion and Family Life- We have been praying for family and friends who are self isolated, going through a hard time, etc. Family Life...looks like Unit 3 is up next for my 8 year old!

I hope you have a great week, stay healthy, calm and sane and know that you are doing more than enough! How we deal with this situation has an impact on our children. How we react and cope is what they will remember.