We're seeing a new network, made from homes and bandwidth—where we choir, ceilidh, teach (and share the best hand washing techniques)
The Coronavirus isn’t just shining an x-ray light through our faltering institutions, policies and laws. It’s also a trigger for positive illumination. People are tapping into their social ingenuity, their feel for relationships, and making the most of what’s before them - the places they live, the talents they have, and the communication networks that are now second nature to them.
We’d love to hear about examples you’ve found - but here’s three that delight us.
#COVIDCeilidh
A Twitter hashtag that does exactly what it suggests - gathers performances from all over the world, with folk players occupying their split screens on Skype, Zoom or Google Meet. They’re turning in some life-enhancing performances - see below: #COVIDCeilidh
Stay In And Sing!
Another musician making the most of his Zoom account - to create “a free online singing project run by musician and singing leader Dominic Stichbury and set-up in response to the coronavirus epidemic.” More here
Dominic will get your voice warmed up and then slowly guide you through the singing. This is open to absolutely everyone.
The limitations of technology means we aren't able to synchronise or experience singing together, but we've discovered that watching others sing and experience the music whilst we join in can be a moving and uplifting experience. So far we've had people join us from all over the world.
The next session is on WEDNESDAY MARCH 25th 7.30-8.30pm, and here’s the Zoom participation link: https://zoom.us/j/674419425
Homeschooling for Revolutionaries
Plenty of advice available, if both kids and parents have been sent home from work under Coronavirus rules, to help effective homeschooling, on the normal curriculum. But our readers may appreciate a guide to this challenge, which opens up some transforming possibilities for pupil and new-teacher-at-the-deep-end.
From the blog Raising Revolutionaries, here’s some “Advice for accidental home educators”:
Slow down and connect
This is an anxiety-ridden time for adults and children – allow yourselves to name that, and sit with it together. You may find that everyone needs more cuddles, and that older children’s minds are swirling with questions about what exactly it is that’s going on.
Try not to dismiss these very real needs for connection, and recognise that just being together and doing things that make you feel good might be all you can manage some days, and that’s ok. In fact I’d argue that it’s really what we should be striving for every day…
Make lists of things you want to do
If you’re anything like us you’ll have a tonne of plans that never quite seem to come to fruition, from playing more board games to sorting out the kids’ old clothes. And with several months of disruption to ‘normal’ life ahead of us we might finally have a little bit more of the oh-so-precious commodity that is time to tick some things off that to do list…
You might feel you have enough to keep you occupied with your own goals for yourself and your family, but make sure you talk with your children about the things they might like to do too. Their answers might surprise you!
As well as the big lists you might also find that daily lists are a handy tool. For me the juggle of working from home whilst facilitating my children’s learning would be made much harder without a daily check in with my plans and goals: it helps keep my mind clear, and stops days from blending into one another – especially at the moment.
Find your rhythm
Different people will need different levels of routine, but having a sense of rhythm can be really helpful with long days at home. For us something that can help hone harmonious mornings is for me to set up a couple of activities the night before that I know the boys will be able to engage with independently so I can drink a cup of coffee and get my own priorities straight for the day.
You might want a clear timetable for your planned activities, or you might prefer a more freeform approach, keeping a range of different ideas up your sleeve so you can weave them in when spirits are drooping. Be prepared for this to evolve as you all get more used to learning together at home: if things feel too stressful or too much like hard work then stop and ask whether you could be doing it differently. And don’t forget to involve your children in the reflection and planning: they will always offer useful perspectives, and having ownership over whatever approach you end up taking will make them much more likely to be invested in it.
Don’t get too hung up on tasks from school
This one’s a bit controversial and will depend on the age of your child to an extent, but honestly – don’t get into battles over completing school work if it’s not what your child wants to do. Learning is way bigger than the national curriculum and this could be a real opportunity for you both to discover some passions.
The moments when learning happens in our home are very rarely during the odd occasions we are focused on a formal task. More often they come through a game, or a conversation, or a household job that needs doing, or a mistake.
I understand that you might be anxious about your child falling behind if they don’t keep up with the tasks they’re set, but my experience as a home educator has taught me that it really doesn’t work like that: learning is not linear or incremental, it happens when it needs to – and leaps of progress can be made when to the naked eye it doesn’t look like there’s any learning going on at all.
The situation we are facing is beyond compare, and I very much doubt that the world is going to be quite the same when we emerge from our respective periods of isolation. It is a once in a lifetime chance to reflect on what our true priorities are for ourselves and our children. If that’s completing worksheets then go for it – but if it’s not take this as permission to try something new.
Get outdoors
This might not be possible depending on your situation, but if there is any way that you can then make sure you get outdoors as often as you can. Breathe the air, look up at the sky, feel the sun (or the rain) on your skin. Our everyday life has reduced the amount of time that children spend outside to less than one hour a day: let this be the time when that changes.
More here - and the advice continues on for several more points. You may never return to normal behaviour…
The best handwashing video we’ve seen yet
Ingeniously highlights the parts other handwashing videos just don’t reach: