Home Learning - Week 7

4/27

The kids arrived at 9:00 this morning after the weekend with dad. It was so so so wonderful to see each of them again and give them big hugs. We had a family meeting to talk about the day and figure out out priorities and to do list. Once that was in place, we got downt to business. Reed had his Monday Zoom call with his teacher and classmates. They invite parents to join at the end, so that was fun. I think the kids oddly enjoy home learning as they just jumped right back into our routines. I am back at work after spring break and had our district equity lead meeting today. Other things of note - we worked in the front yard: Charlotte raked, I trimmed the hedges, Edison made a cobblestone border. We did exercise by doing giant laps around the lowland roads near the Town Center. Reed helped make dinner tonight - Gnocci and “chicken-less” chicken nuggets. Yum. We went on a post-dinner walk/ride which always feels so good. The kids played outside while I sanded the patio table to prep it for a new coat of stain this week. It was a solid day, but definitely not glamorous or photogenic.

4/28

Pattern: home learning in the morning. Play in the afternoon. On Tuesdays (today) the kids go to Nana’s and eat a picnic lunch outside, ride bikes, and help her with jobs in the garden or washing her car, etc. I am trying to manage working from home in the middle of all of this. Charlotte had a social zoom with her friends this afternoon. We worked in the garden beating back the ivy late afternoon and kids played in the trees on the hanging webbing. That was probably the highlight of my day as I got to eavesdrop on their play (they had games about knights, training, etc.). After a dinner featuring Edison’s amazing macaroni and cheese, we went on a walk/ride through the neighborhood which is full of blooms and flowers right now. It was a solid day.

 4/29

Worked hard this morning: my class zoomed online and I had a zoom staff meeting featuring the new grading policy aligned to OSPI standards. It was fun to watch the kids learn and I tried to take some pictures of that. Charlotte got invited to participate in a virtual Math is Cool competition and her coach is organizing two 90-minute practice sessions a week plus she has to prepare ahead of time by doing old tests - so she was up to her eyeballs in that today, but loving being on a zoom with her coach and teammates. Reed had a PJ party zoom with his class - his teacher is always bringing the great ideas! I started a google calendar for Edison so he can keep track of all of his zooms, meetings, etc. that seems to be going well. We headed to Hamlin for exercise today. It ends up being a five-mile loop from our house. The kids ride their bikes and I run. They do enjoy riding on the trails through the woods. I saw 2018 senior senators - Shelby and Eddie in the park, so fun to catch up! 

4/30

Morning work is going well. Edison had a class zoom and Charlotte had her math team zoom. Reed is getting more confident at reading and decoding words. The kids all helped out - Reed by organizing his room and Edison and Charlotte by putting more tree prunings into the yard waste bin. After lunch we went on a four-mile hike at Carkeek Park. We all liked being ensconced by trees, leaves, growing things, greenery, and the whisper that comes from the breeze blowing through that type of environment. The beach itself was really windy and not much fun today. Luckily the hike was awesome in-and-of itself. Edison and Charlotte had their weekly Swim Team Zoom with Coach Pete. Love that he is doing that!