Stay-at-Home - Week 2

Week 2 of our extended spring break began with church in the living room.  2 Weeks ago I hadn't even heard of "Zoom," and now it seems that's how everyone is communicating - even our church family.  What fun to see so many faces during a church discussion.  We also watched the worship service the pastors videoed.

Next week, the other computer will be charged so we can hook it up to the TV!

 I am trying to take 2-3 walks each day, and I'm encouraging the kids to join.  So far, Cambry, and sometimes Delaney, have taken me up on it.  This is my track for the next few weeks - if it's dry, I also walk on good ol' 160th!  I am reminded of the generous space we have out here, and I am completely grateful!

On Monday, reality hit!  School was supposed to be starting back up, as well as spring activities - golf for Caiden.  Instead, I attended a JH staff meeting to find out how we were to proceed with teaching during these next 7 weeks at home.  Mr. Fast told us to cut our plans down by about 75%!  All week long, I went back and forth in my head about what to keep, what to throw out, which lessons were manageable enough for students at home without a lot of support, and which lessons could I adapt to digital form so they could be posted on the Google Classroom. Thank goodness I have been using Google Classroom for a few years!  We also had to get supplies ready for students to pick up by Wednesday.  For me, that meant gathering their notebooks and graded papers from spring break and putting those in their lockers.  My classroom and the hallways just felt so empty when they should have been bustling with students - it was an eerie feeling, and I think most of the teachers would agree!

Gathering materials for lockers

By the end of the week, I had my plans pretty well laid out in my head, so I began posting them on my students' classroom pages.  This also meant I had to figure out how to video myself either giving instructions or attempting a lesson.  What an awkward thing!  I made a little 'video corner' in our living room (Delaney helped me make the backdrop).  Remarkably, I've only had to restart on one of my videos!  I just hope the students can open them okay, and I hope that they are helpful (and that's if their internet is good.  I have at least one student whose internet access is almost none . . .).

My corner - not sure why I set it up here,
but it works!

At home, there was a surprising amount of activity!  Cambry taught Delaney how to use her email, and that turned into teaching her how to set up a Google Meeting (what I learned this week too), so she could talk with her friends face-to-face.  We may have created a monster!  She talked with 3 friends from school this week, and she and Cambry talked with Finn and Boden as well - all the way from California!

We enjoyed 3 suppers in a row outside!

Caiden and Cambry continued work on their projects:  Cambry's porch swing and Caiden's bale feeder, which was going to be his advanced ag. mech. project this quarter.  He's almost done with it!

Delaney learned how to draw Elephant and Piggy from Mo Willems.  He is hosting a video series on Youtube called "Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems."  So many neat programs are being offered for kids right now!  Delaney also experimented with Caiden's trumpet.  Since school won't be back in session at the school building, Delaney will not get to pick her instrument as soon as she would like.  She seems to like the trumpet.  Alas, I may not have any other flute players in the family.

Outdoors, I got our spring garden planted, minus the onions.  The girls created a fairy house, and Delaney tried a new volleyball idea that Vanessa shared with us.

fairy house

new broccoli

potato sprouts!

When Friday rolled around, it was time to pick up Delaney's supplies from school.  I wasn't prepared for the emotions I felt as I pulled up to the school and saw Mr. Fast directing traffic, staff carting out tubs of supplies to the cars, and other staff waving and saying good-bye.  What a strange feeling to know that none of us will be together again for this school year. As I said on IG, I was so thankful for the GES staff sending the students home with love and care!  When I returned home and started to look through everything, I was amazed at the work those teachers put in to prepare lessons for the students - there are such great activities from not only her classroom teacher, but also from her art, p.e., and music teachers.  And then Delaney gave us an art show because Mrs. Schmidt found time to gather everyone's art pieces from the entire year - what a week for every teacher!

Mr. Fast directs traffic

"We love you! Take Care" "Honk for Bluebird Pride"

Mrs. B, Mrs. Gaeddert, and Mrs. Conrady

One of Delaney's favorites - her engraved metal butterfly

And Saturday morning - Stay-at-Home orders were issued from the governor for the next 3 weeks! So, we will see how that goes. Monday morning - school begins!  I'll let you know about that next week!