My children finished school 30 days ago due to the Coronavirus. Yes, I am counting the days.
I don’t know about you, but I started off all enthusiastically at the beginning of lockdown, even drawing up a bright and colourful timetable for my son, Jacob, age 9, to do some home learning. That lasted about 3 days.
30 days on, and I take my hat off to his teachers and all the educators out there. It’s so difficult to get him to sit down and do any learning. We are managing a couple of things a day, but I worry it is not enough.
Working full time from home and worrying about the virus while trying to home school is quite stressful but obviously nowhere near as stressful as the NHS staff who are saving lives and key workers keeping our country going. Thank you.
Jacob’s school are brilliant, they have sent lots of worksheets and access to online learning, but he just isn’t engaging in the work as much as I would like, preferring to sit watching YouTube on his iPad or playing on the Xbox with his sister.
Our 16 year old daughter, Amber is one of the many students who won’t sit their GCSE exams this year and is in limbo at the moment worrying about what her results will be.
Honestly, I haven’t really been able to help my daughter with much of her secondary school work, it’s just so difficult, unless of course it is to design anything, especially a newspaper, then I’m the person for the job.
My husband Mark is a teaching assistant, and he is brainier than me, so he gets all the questions I can’t answer, which is quite a lot.
I even find it difficult to teach my son who is Key Stage 2 and had to search what a rhombus was the other day. I know! Bad isn’t it!
I’ve never been any good at maths, but always enjoyed anything to do with writing and design. So this is what it is like in our house at the moment.
The novelty on home learning has well and truly worn off now, so imagine my delight when I heard that the BBC opens the doors to its biggest ever education offer, Bitesize Daily, from today, Monday 20th April, and the teaching roll call looks mightily impressive with a register full of familiar names.
I know there are a lot of options available and many great websites out there helping kids learn at this uncertain time, but it just got a bit overwhelming and I didn’t know which ones to use.
I was so pleased to find out that the BBC have launched this new virtual classroom with over 200 teachers and a host of well-known faces to teach the nation’s kids . School’s Out, Learning’s Not!
Hooray!
The BBC Bitesize app has featured a lot in my daughter’s secondary school education and revision, so I was so happy to hear about this new launch to help my son.
Here are just a few things to look forward to:
BBC’s new Bitesize Daily service powered by over 200 talented teachers.
Professor Brian Cox teaches key science topics including force and gravity.
Manchester City footballer Sergio Aguero to get the nation’s kids counting in Spanish.
Award winning music stars Mabel and Liam Payne combine music and reading for secondary school kids.
Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker drops into Bitesize Daily lessons.
Danny Dyer, EastEnders actor and direct descendant of King Edward III, delivers the facts on another historic king, Henry VIII as he brings history to KS1 pupils.
Sir David Attenborough, known the world over for his natural history documentaries, is also set to be involved, helping youngsters to learn about the oceans, mapping the world and why animals look the way they do.
Hundreds of lessons to be delivered over 14 weeks split into age groups 5-7 years, 7-9 years, 9-11 years, 11- 12, 12-13 years and 13-14 years.
Every day, 6 x 20 min programmes, Bitesize Daily, will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button targeting six age groups, from 5 to 14, where teachers, experts and famous faces cover off what that age group should be learning that day. Each programme will be available on BBC iPlayer as well as having its own regular slot on BBC Red Button aiding routine and daily structure.
Collaborating with teachers and education specialists, the impressive roster has been compiled in just four weeks and will offer 14 weeks of curriculum based learning for kids across the UK.
In week one students will meet; Mr Burton (Educating Yorkshire). I’m very pleased to see Mr Burton is teaching. He was on Educating Yorkshire at Thornhill Community Academy, which I have a soft spot for as I went to that school, yes quite a few years ago now, and yes I am older than Mr Burton, but it is great to see him taking part in the lessons.
Meet the BBC Bitesize Daily teachers. Picture: BBC
We will also meet Ms Webb (Primary), Mr Brown (Secondary), Ms Armit (Secondary), Mr Mycock (Secondary) and Mr McPartlin of Britain’s Got Talent fame. They will all front daily lessons available from 9am each week day on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button.
The BBC is delivering the biggest Education offering in its history to ensure that kids across the UK have access to curriculum supported learning for the summer term, working closely with trusted education providers, teachers and partners. All elements of Bitesize Daily have been developed with teaching professionals.
Alice Webb, Director BBC Children’s & Education said “We’re proud that the BBC can bring together so many people to offer such a wide-ranging package of support to help children and parents right across the UK at such a challenging time. “We said the BBC would be there for people through this crisis, and we meant it. It’s vital that every child is able to continue learning – and the lessons we’re putting on will make sure they have fun at the same time.
Here’s week 1 timetable for primary school age pupils. Picture: BBC
” BBC Bitesize Daily will deliver a tailored day of learning across BBC iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Bitesize website and app, BBC Four and BBC Sounds, with curriculum relevant offers across the UK. Together, this comprehensive package is aimed at minimising disruption to children’s education and providing rhythm and routine in these challenging times.
I’m so pleased there is also a guide for parents. On social media, parents will be able to access further advice about teaching via BBC Bitesize Facebook and Twitter which will be updated regularly with helpful guides. Phew!
There are two brand new daily education podcasts will be available on BBC Sounds aimed at parents of primary and secondary pupils. Each episode lasts around ten minutes and will be a guide to help families who are home schooling find content on the BBC that supports their education and wellbeing. Both podcasts - BBC Bitesize Primary Planner and BBC Bitesize Secondary Planner.
And for the teens, BBC Four is devoting a block of programming each weekday evening to shows that support GCSE and A-Level curriculums, bringing back premium factual programmes presented by some of Britain’s most authoritative voices on Science and History. For students studying Science, programmes of interest for them include Pain, Pus & Poison, Chemistry: A Volatile History, Blood & Guts: A History of Surgery and Shock & Awe: The Story of Electricity. And for students of History, highlighted programmes include Mary Beard’s Meet the Romans, Michael Wood’s Story of England, Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain and Tunes For Tyrants.
Great idea to show them in the evening, because I don’t know about you, but my teen doesn’t rise out of bed until after 12pm.
We are all ready for BBC Bitesize Daily. Are you?
Thank you BBC! I am looking forward to taking part with my son, and who knows, maybe I might like maths in the end and will definitely learn something new.
Enjoy a new TV channel, podcasts, videos, and lessons each day online.
BBC Bitesize Daily launches Monday 20 April across BBC iPlayer, Red Button and online at www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/dailylessons
I’d love to hear how you parents are getting on homeschooling during lockdown.
You can find me on Instagram @ourfamilylifeuk
