Category Archives: early maths skills

interviewed

Think i might be hoping the other guy did better. not sure – so indecisive!! It was midday though, so kinda ruined the whole day. the morning with the preinterview worries, and the afternoon coming down from interview high – poor buggers, having to listen to me on my soapbox expounding on education!! [btw, this is just a tack on to present post, no radical huge change! more hours though]

The violin strings game from bonners, so the violin is restrung. so had lost her music book – so have looked at the first tune a day book, and done lesson 3. rather stupidly [especially since I spent a proportion of the day saying I was god's gift to education] it hadn’t crossed my mind that SB’s reading of music is situation specific – ie she can find the piano note associated with the musical representation, but has ‘not a single clue’ [how she put it] what that note may be for violin. Her first violin basically uses the letters rather than the musical representation. Its obvious NOW of course! However, lesson 3 starts with d string notes, and actually she is quickly stringing them together.
Oh well, also today there was lots of playing with duplo and lego – S built a pyramid amongst other things, and both girls enjoyed both sizes, the kids k’nex also made an appearance and the marble run.

SB read a book about 5 brilliant scientists from scholastics great black heroes set, and was partcularly taken by how many things you can use peanuts for, and wants to make peanut soap. recipes please!! She also did some singapore maths [having done on line CIMT yesterday – sarah, do i need to send you money [how much] and address??], french on education city – leading to a discussion on whether it counted as french or education city – chose to tick education city on timetable!

we read a story about st nicholas, the st nick bit from while the bear sleeps, and have slippers out in hope. Also the usual bedtime reads. Have found my 13 days of christmas as a read aloud this year. Obviously a MUCH older book – the one I had as a child!

BB and I did some more christmas stamping -v over the top coverage of the card! in the end we were playing some complicated game where the stamps were friends, having picnics etc… SB was at rainbows. Fair bit of christmas carol singing. SB reprised her solar power experiment [under desk lamp] and we talked about electrons again – she seems to have got atoms comfortable in head, and electrons moving along like newtons cradle [well, ok, its not quite, but it sort of makes the flow of current make sense!]

BB still awake. she is such a cutie – i was singing and stroking her forehead n a sleep encouraging way, so she stroked my forehead and gave me lots of kisses!

Think thats it?

Blogging in front of an open fire

Also firmly wrapped in duvet – its winter you know!

Had a fun day today, though we didn’t do what was planned – which was to go to a Christmas market. the weather earlier today was yukk and by the time it had improved we were stuck into other things.

SB quickly had done some handwriting practice this morning, and had stuck on Muzzy german by the time I went downstairs [had been playing sill games with BB in bed]. She was waiting for me to print off the next timetable – so much for it being a one week wonder. Realised this is a bad time of year to start, as it is the month of christmas ed! Might try some ‘customisation’ of the timetable.

BB‘s mind has really been duplo oriented since she got the Bob duplo for her birthday. today we made houses, fixed things and were more or less trapped by bobness! SB also enthusiastically joined in.

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SB did some piano practice. we are going a bit slower as now she has to actually know what the note is, as the hands move slightly. so e tend to have some free play making up a tune and then some practice. She was so proud though when she played twinkle twinkle all the way through!

More bobness for the girls whilst chris and i prepared for the start of christmas card extravaganza! we have gone for potato printing plus glitter and stuff this year – early years card list, you have been warned! so much fun doing that.

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and then MORE bob duplo for BB and I read SB about grasslands. She then did some dot to dot and a counting book with BB.

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the cards being sort of dry, it was time to start the glitter fest – even chris couldn’t resist the lure of glue and glitter! half are done. they are planning to stamp things inside as well, so our usual OTT ouvre!

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we finished with hama beading and then some little house on the prairie eating hot chestnuts. SB has read me some magic tree house, and I have read her the next chicken soup for the soul story.

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Advent Lights

well, so its the end of the timetable week. I took a picture of it, but we’ve then done a few extra things so need to do it again! IMG_1823

So today, excitement at getting a chocolate from an advent calendar. Even more excitement when chris’s parents came round and gave them each another one. Game playing with grandparents, then SB was going to do violin – and we found the snapped string! So she did some singapore maths 2B, and then spent ages on education city – we had a huge wobbly over telling the time, so practiced over and over again, and think she might now have got it! She also did some writing practice and then more playing before grandparents left.

BB was mostly playing with her bob the builder duplo, but she also likes making patterns with the connect 4 game, and did some playing with poisson rouge. we read books – she now reads some to me too, mostly describing the picture, but she is good at red nose readers.

We put on some xmas music and gave the playroom a good tidy whilst chris was out getting some bits and pieces. looks much better! BB did her ‘match and sort‘ drawing round shapes and numbers. she did an amazingly perfect dot to dot as well – from 1-10 in order! [think this might be a fluke...] and had some lovely strops and eye rollings.

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ermm, we read the first while the bear sleeps story – always nice to get back to that. SB and I did the questions and narrations for the SOTW chapter we did this week – she had remembered a lot actually from other books too. we had a french conversation, and looked at our usborne le ferme des pommiers! quite a discussion after that and also singing away in a manger on polite and friendly yous [rofl!].

BB and I baked a chocolate cake whilst SB did some colouring and then piano practice. it was a bit of a scramble then to get out of the house.

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SB was helping the rainbows deal out mince pies [free] at the grand light switch on in the village. She was really proud of being so helpful. The local brass band played carols, and most of the houses got their lights to go on at roughly the switch on time. we – of course – did not. on returning home i found the socket switched off. sigh. I had tried to persuade chris to walk all 10m home and check! The local car driven sleigh made an appearance with sweetie wielding FC. It was cold then, and I had totally forgotten we were supposed to be going to ‘the big house’ afterwards – though we did meet them and R and had a chat, and also the couple and children who used to be know on blog as home-dad [long since back at work!] so very nice.

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Got home, BB into bed and SB and I made chocolate cornflake cakes before watching a to the beginners guide cosmos -about black holes etc. v exciting. I think SB enjoys them! She is now in bed and we have moved from the balloon book to chicken soup for the soul – a story for each advent day.

SB does want to continue on with the timetable.

hmm, skimming catchup

with a hope that chris might blog!

Tuesday – a Chris day! Nope, cannot remember anything they said they did! library day.

Wednesday – unfortunately I had to go into work for the morning. Mum came by for the day on the way to little nanny’s so that was lovely. Sb played the violin for her – jingle bells – rather nicely. much playing of games altogether.Bit of maths and some practicing latin – sort of. At least I remember some now!

Thursday – Latinetc at the intown alternative venue. lots of playing as well I gather [another chris day - I really missed out this week!] and then they went shopping and had a lot of fuss with static electricity in John Lewis. oh, and those blue lighted phones were bought! I got home late, but joined in with the talking about static that was still going on! So we found a good book and looked at atoms, electrons, protons and neutrons. It shew how static happened with a nifty diagram showing electrons shooting off, and how to make it. Sb had asked the night before how the elephant got its trunk – so we read some rudyard kipling – rofl! we decided it was just a nice story rather than truth though.

friday – And so to today. Has been the not so local group with an egyptian theme obvously daddy’s day. some SOTW activities etc. seems like a good time.

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i got back and a bit earlier! so played, watched tv and did some experimenting with the cabbage water indicator from tea! so we guessed whether things were acids or alkali and then tested our hypothesis. oh, and we had great fun, particularly with mixing bicarb and cream of tartar. Sb particularly liked this eves chapter of 21 balloons – all about Mr M’s house, and she would like the elevator bed. I just quite like the idea of a gourmet government! oh well, krakatoa soon to explode!

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hmmm. it is particularly crap blogging a week where i barely play a walk on part

first timetabled day. A maths day

After having a discussion on the starting day of the week, and how it is sunday, though tbh monday seems a more likely point, Sb decided to start her ‘timetable’ today rather than Monday – i think she was desperate to start! However, we actually – I think – didn’t consider ‘the timetable’ as such when choosing what to do.

The girls got up before me and watched nemo. When I got up we did some violin practice – SB getting more and more confident and is holding and playing nicely. practicing jingle bells for Xmas! SB then wanted to do something at her desk, so looked at a roman activity pack, which she probably could have done at a push, but we both agreed might be better left for later, so intead drew me and BB mazes to play with.

new desk

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An interesting discussion over brunch leapt out from how to make yoghurt to measuring temperature, absolute zero and why it was absolute, what it meant on the particle front which meant you couldn’t get colder. how our standard celsius temp is all tied in to water melting and boiling at a standard pressure. etc etc. we weren’t too sure if we had a box for thinking…

BB has done a fair bit of stickering and colouring this morning but mostly played with her lacing game and the bob duplo – which we knew would be a massive hit! S joined her for a bit, and they collected wood to roast chestnuts for all the trucks – rofl!

Sb bought me a ‘box book’ which are interesting books that we choose for the week to go with MTH, my story, SOTW or what she fancies. this one was sir cumference and the round table[ as initially recommended by kirsty]. I read it – SB guessed early on that round was going to be best, and we considered the various maths elements within the story. This led naturally on to drawing lots of circles and marking out diameter, radius and circumference and measuring them. we had a brief chat about pi, but might leave that for a different book! she decided that ‘sircles‘ didn’t fit anywhere in the timetable, so that got added to a blank box.

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SB then took ages getting dressed, and the girls played upstairs for a bit whilst i did a bit more work admin – must never get behind again [who am i kidding!] SB then did some singapore maths [which counts as maths!] and daddy gave her a bit of help, and BB and I played… Bob the builder! SB moved onto zoombinis [computer box] whilst BB and I read lots of books and played lots of games. BB also did some plasticine at one point. Chris found a best of slade cd!! so SB enjoyed dancing around to that.

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getting late and tired, so both up to bath, down to watch numberjacks and mama mirabelle before tea. BB fell asleep pretty much by end of tea, and was whisked upstairs. SB and I have done some felting, and I read to her the first chapter of the new SOTW book while she did this, and then whilst she coloured in a princess. We read the next chapter magic tree house, and 21 balloons at bedtime.

SO we counted that as 9 things! [yesterday without the timetable was 7]

monday just gets busier

during the day, SB did maths and piano practice, and the girls had their room re jigged. SB in particlar made lots of icosohedrons with the polyhedrons . I think I might have to print off the various platonic solids so that I can remember their names, and SB learn for the first time!! BB made houses and tunnels and tents – not bad![chris might expand on day, but doubt it!]

When I got back, we did some more polyhedrons. BB and i read apple tree farm, and she did lots of counting. Then – drum roll please – SB and I FINISHED SOTW!!! well, the first book anyway. The roman empire has declined and fallen! SHe wanted to do some more latin, have no idea where the minimus book is, so found the usborne first latin [or whatever its called too lazy to check!] and said hello, how are you. Chris liked being the domine – ahem!!!

SB went to ballet, returned briefly and then went on to swimming – how chaotically busy. its the new class, and there were only 4 in it today, right down at the deep end, so lots of attention each. Chris said she was excellent. BB and I played with the jigsaws and counting games, and then some more traintracking whilst I made a thai thing for tea – which i cooled down for the girls with some left over leek and potato soup from yesterday- worked well. oh, I must say at this point, SB says Marcus makes better leek and potato soup as Chris’s was to leeky!!!

BB off to bed after a numberjack hit, and SB and I then wrapped up her presents for BB, and finished her card. [OK, I have just finished it, as SB got ‘worn out with cross stitching‘ , but the design was all hers, and she did do it valiantly.] So she decided to make chocolate [dairy free] truffles to put in the party bags for wed. SO we had fun doing that, and agreed we made a very good team!

SB is reading to me the next magic tree house now at bedtime – lunchtime with lions, and I read another chapter of 21 balloons, which we both giggled over. [and yes, a maggie , hamilton and the ferocious beast]

SO now wondering whether to do a BB blogpost or read new book!!!

Visiting V

my sister visited this weekend with M and E – her 2 children. Mine were therefore ecstatic, and there was a lot of playing and merriment. Flickr is receiving a bonus of photos, 1 or 2 might get a p2 tag. [this is the tag for those that might want a minimal version - not sure why anyone would :¬P ]

the seeds for latinetc sprouting – well first the sunflower and now some lentils, and the butterbeans appear to be splitting. we had a chat about them. SB quite confident on seeds because of the number we sow and grow. BB v interested.

Yesterday we made mixed spice biscuits and first of the birthday cakes for BB [which wasn't a great success! passable]. lots of games and toys ended up stren everywhere, but they did then help tidy up nicely. We had a nice evening of mulled wine and chat with my sister. Trying for her to ‘get’ HE. She pointed out that originally we were going to stop at 7 – I think I might have said that as a delaying tactic! SO I said it was working just so fabulously [fibs! I can think of loads I wish we were doing better] that there didn’t seem to be a good reason to stop [well, that bit true]

Today we made banana, oatmeal choc muffins. more games and toys [particularly gears]- lots of co-operation which is nice. BB got her present – a dora scooter – and she has been much taken with it, scootering everywhere. A party lunch with jelly and icecream and cake. My sister then went home – dreadful drive in the snow! SB did a violin practice. we have started reading 21 balloons [a sonlight book] and did masses of train playing.

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i have had an amazon order – so off to read some books, but will keep an eye on rss!!

walking and cycling

My car being at work due to the shenanigans of last weeks travelling meant we all went into town today, but to the other side and had a lovely walk/cycle around the park. SB cycled, BB triked [sometimes pushed] and walked and we did all the usual looking at things that goes on. was chuffed that SB had remembered loads about clouds and weather, reminded her of the names. BB in particular had a real ball with leaf kicking. Ended at the cafe – where else? and they coloured and drew funghi and SB read the display.

and off we go

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Home, mostly playing. SB did do some violin practice though. Whilst we did this, BB was very carefully ascending and descending a note at a time on the toy keyboard, singing doe a deer at the same time. i was impressed. BB and I read books – she loves counting at the mo, and she and SB played a complicated game with the alphabet cards, and SB and I played a lot of card games, including rapid adding up. Rather HE-ly, we now have 2 and 3 times tables up in the toilet, which she chants loudly when she goes. 2′s are fine, and the early 3′s any way. When BB in bed, she then went through a DK gymnastics book, doing warm up and various positions. She has finished the magic tree house ghost town book already! so I have put various mapping, atlas and explorer and such like books in her choice box at her request.

I need to buy some textbooks. they come in at 150 – 200 each! added to our 2000 [well just under] mondeo bill and christmas, aaarrgh. So might just stick some of the Katie art books in anyway – or is SB too old now?