I just want to get you thinking, give you a bit of picture of an alternative path-
if you're burned out on workbooks and paperwork,
if your mantra has become “this isn’t working,”
if you have time to learn together but aren’t sure how to do it.
So. Relax. Reheat your coffee one more time.
Here we go.
Love to cook?
Top notch organizer?
Nature buff?
Exercise guru?
Read aloud aficionado?
Sports skill specialist?
Hunter? Trapper? Fisherman?
Medical knowledge?
Super tech?
Best mechanic in the neighborhood?
Lover of handwork - knit, crochet, sew?
Hobby woodworker?
Word smith?
Keep thinking. What do you have to offer your kids – like a little mini course – during your COVID-19 days?
And what does your child really love? What lights their learning fire?
Start talking about insects, and he’ll go on all day.
Ask about new dance moves, and she's practicing.
Pets?
Reading?
Favorite sport?
Craft?
That computer game that makes no sense to you?
Between these two lists, you can learn a lot together. It doesn’t have to look like school, it just needs to feel like learning. Fortunately, social distancing doesn’t keep you from your own books and from the internet, so use the resources you have to learn together.
Copying the recipe helps develop good handwriting, and then Grandma’s recipe becomes their very own recipe.
Cooking is a great time to apply“real math”skills. Depending on the age of the cook, you can ask them to double the recipe for fractions practice.
Have the learners take photos of the project and write notes to their teacher or someone else about what they are learning/doing.
Or have them call, email, or write a letter requesting a favorite recipe from a friend or relative.
Creating a drawing of “cooking with Dad” is a great way for younger children to record their work.
This sample of Covid-19 learning included math, handwriting, art, home economics, and writing.
It doesn’t have to be this complicated for the younger set; just let them help to "dump and stir"and then create a drawing with markers or colored pencils with a neatly written title or caption that they choose. Older students can move out in other directions, researching online recipes from other cultures and creating a meal or studying various types of bread from different regions of the world. All this is just an example of a little cooking rabbit trail where everyone can learn something (and usually the parent as well.)
I’m tempted to copy and paste the first paragraph again, just to be sure you get it that I’m not saying you should do this and this and this. I’m just offering some ideas for a journey none of us has really walked before, Quarantine Learning. If you want to talk further, feel free to message me. I’m glad to walk with you on this road less traveled. It’s not a clear path, and it might be rocky, but it’s always better not to walk alone. (Six feet apart of course.)
Just for fun, here's a recipe you might want to try since Easter is approaching, pandemic or not.
The tomb is still empty, for He is risen.
This Easter why not try making these sweet empty tomb rolls?
The marshmallow melts down to a sweet sauce, and the tomb is empty!
INGREDIENTS
- 12 Crescent rolls or Homemade Dough, enough for 12 rolls.
- 12 Marshmallows
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 Cup Butter, melted
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13" baking dish.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. (the spices to anoint the body.)
- Press the dough out into a circle. Roll a marshmallow in the butter and then the cinnamon sugar and place on the dough. (You’re covering the body in spices.)
- Pinch the circle closed around the marshmallow and roll the dough in the butter and cinnamon sugar. (The body is sealed in the tomb.)
- Place in the baking dish.
- Repeat until you've used all the dough.
- Let rest 15 minutes and then bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Serve immediately.
- The tomb is empty! Only a faint white hint of the grave clothes may remain.
Questions? Post them in the comments, or message me.
Ideas? Same place. Please share them!
Until then, HumminB