Category Archives: language

Weekend

Posted on October 17, 2005 by | 2 comments

Quick bit of catch up before I get over takne by events. Bit of a downer as Helen was on call all weekend (home on Sat at about 5 or so, but not until after 9pm on Sunday) Upside of that though is that she is off all this week.

So Saturday, for us not at work was a pleasant day. Stagecoach in the morning, the time before passed with breakfast, playing, a bit of reading, finding various things to put in the car. Dropped Stringbean off at Stagecoach, me and Butterbean poopped into town for bit of shopping for lunch and further unsuccessful look for nice kiddies wellies (why is that so hard?) – problem is I know I’m not going to be able to trump her current stripey wellies, which are just so good :-) Back to pick up SB and then off to meet Helen at work for lunch and a BB refill. Had a nice lunch there and SB did a little bit of the Gettay and dubay handwriting stuff (Helen blogged that bit below) .

Headed off after lunch into the country park so SB could ride her bike – lovely sunny afternoon. Plan was to take off her stabilisers, but she changed her mind, so we just rode/walked around the country park for bit which was good, though SB disappointed we couldn’t find any trees to climb. Also disappointed that all the bits that there were to play with in the education room the other week with the ‘Roman Britian’ thing weren’t there any more :-)

Stopped off at the cafe for coffee/cake/ice cream then headed off again. Stopped off due to popular request at the playground on the way home for swings, climbing, more bike riding along the river etc. Eventually prised SB away from the playground and got home not that long before H got home from work. Tea for beans, then SB seemd to spend most of the pre bedtime on Barney Bear and such like websites. not in bed as early as expected given the late night the night before (Not sure when she went to sleep, but was stil awake when I went to bed at about 1 am.)

Sunday – we had an ill Bean. SB complained of a bit of tummy ache in the night. In the morning she was seemingly ok at first, but then was little bit sick and didn’t want any breakfast. A bit later she had glass of milk and was promptly sick about five minutes later – though the good girl did make it to the toilet each time. Said she still wanted to go swimming, so we got organised and did that Spent about half an hour there. BB as ever enjoyed bobbing about, splashing, almost floating and is starting to hang on the side all by herself. SB didn’t actually do that much swimming, but lots of jumping in, ‘Dolphin dives’ as she calls them – a sort of duckign unde the water move. Think she found it bit tiring though as normally we have to prise her out of the water. Once we got home she collapsed on the sofa under a duvet and watched various videos. BB was out like light as fter swimmign as usual. Spent some time pottering about doing few jobs, sitting with SB, and doing bit of reading to her as well. by the time BB woke up, SB was dropping off. Wouldn’t normally let her sleep in the afternoon, but she had a mildy rasied temp and hadn’t eaten anything and had been a bit sick again so I let her rest whilst I fed BB and played with her.

Don’t really know exactly waht happened for the early evening. SB did eventually eat couple of slices of toast and did by then seem to be perking up. Was hoping to try and get them both into bed before Helen came home, but SB had had a sleep and now felt bit better, she was going now where for bit . And BB was being very resistant to sleep as well, even though she obviously was ready for it. Was just about to try and get Sb into bed when H camwe home so she stayed up for bit longer. Still didn’t get to sleep until about 11 pm turned again though….

Today they are so far iostly playing with Helen whilst I try and knock this house into some sort of domestic order. Back to the grindstone :-0

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Posted in Butterbean, Dance/drama, language, Out and About, photos, SB-PE, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE

default blog

Posted on October 15, 2005 by | 5 comments

you see, chris is sort of reliable at blogging, and then again………
have been at work all day, and now just on call.
very nice that SB and BB with chris joined me after stagecoach and had a picnic in my office [sorry Liz - my sharee]. well, BB mainly just guzzled milk.
SB then did some of the getty and dubay that I had printed off. We had a hysterical moment when she wanted to draw things beginning with K – kite, kangaroo [though my outline apparently more t rex], koala and… we were stumped. Chris made me giggle at the thoughts that the dictionary must have a very short K section. i googled, and came up with knight – to SB’s disgust, so then thought of knee. we had a bit of a discussion then about silent K. How will we manage to home ed, when we can’t even think of King?

I had to do some work, and they went off to the park – both cycling and swings I believe.

When I got home, SB finishing tea, and BB thirsty – LOL. After tea we looked at CBBC schools site, and SB has had fun with barney bear – in the new forest, in dublin [with some mapping] and in australia. it seems odd to be progressing from cbeebies!

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Posted in Dance/drama, General, geography, language, SB-PE, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

Wednesday’s child is full of…

Posted on October 12, 2005 by | 6 comments

.. beans and energy and enthusiasm! We have had a great day [rather full-on]. i might even have to dash backwards and forwards re-editing, as I think its going to be hard to remember it all. i had thought that since I fell asleep with the beans last night and then woke up at 11, stayed up till 2, and at 3 had to leave to sleep in spare room as chris snoring so loudly it woke me up [I kid you not!] that I would feel lousy, but somehow no.

We started with reading. In a rather countdown style when SB asked me to read, I asked for 1 from the top, 3 from the middle for her to read and 2 from the bottom [rofl!!!] i sort of got them. So I started with the story books - the twelve princesses orchard books [v nice] and something a bit mawkish about baby snow fairies from the library which she really liked. In fact liked it so much she then read it to herself. She then read – with varying degrees of success, but at last really trying – 3 red nose reader books. Both she and I were really proud of this. I then read a fair wodge of the rest of the Usborne Greek Myths [bellorophon and the flying horse, king midas, the chariot of the sun, pygmalion and his wife, eros and psyche]. She has got the hang of quite a few of the ancient greek gods – and goes ‘oh no’ in advance whenever a character says they are better than one of the gods! Whilst I played with BB for a bit, she then got out the Happy Street and made a huge track.

just before lunch we went for the chosen craft of the day – glass bottle painting. I had got some half price glass paints from lakeland last christmas sale, and chris had gots some Ikea bottles, so SB set too. the isntructions were limited, so it has been a bit trial and error. For some of them I drew the demanded shapes with the black outliner for her to colour in, and others are coloured without/spotted/splodged. We have done this on and off then all day, as you have to wait a fair while for side to dry enough to turn and do next side [oops for the drippy sides]. We haven’t quite finished any yet – 4 on the go and a window transfer. Both of us have really enjoyed this!

Between sides I finished off some of the mammoth greek myths session [as above] and suggested we get a greek history book to look at things in more detail. Nope said SB, I want this one – Usborne beginners Elizabeth 1. We read the book and discussed bits and pieces of it. She was much taken by the idea, and remebered some of the names from before. We – for once – dd the internet linked bit as well, and printed off the pages to colour in as well as looking at the various games and linked sites. She particularly liked a link to some Elizabethan music. so we stuck on a CD of roughly right music while we then read most of The history of britain – the Tudors. This book is aimed older, but still reasonable as a read aloud, with snipping if the page doesn’t seem to be as attention grabbing. the first thing SB noticed about henry the 7th was that he didn’t have many jewels, so we discussed fiscal reponsibility, and the fact that wars had made the country nigh on bankrupt. how much she takes in I don’t know, but I go round things until she indicates we move on – or I run out of knowledge! When we got to Mary Queen of Scots, it shows her being beheaded – but she was in prision shouted SB, so we wenty back to first book and re-read it, pointing out she was beheaded in the text, even if the picture was prison. I guess that means it is mostly going in. Not that I actually mind. i think of this as foundation stuff – learning to love listening, finding out, and working out how things are ordered – for example king and queen numbering is understood now, and that there are many year gaps, asn she is happy our queen is Elizabeth 2.

Half way through the book and BB woke up. As agreed with SB, this was BB special time, and she sat down to colour in the Elizabethan pictures. BB and I played with cars, rolling them to each other. We put the happy street people in and out of the cars. We did a bit more peeboo games and walking practice. BB then meandered over to where SB colouring,a nd did her best to see what was going on! SB decided to join in – so heavily moderated happy street play. [No SB, you can't take all of BB's cars to the far end! - we have at least 20 of the things!!] SB played peeboo too, and then pushed BB around in the happy street box, until decided it looked fun, so daddy roped in to push them both! A final bit of glass painitng and curry for tea. Aaargh to SB eating speed!!

After tea and bath SB insistant on Joe the Dragon maths website. She did the non-carry over addition and subtraction pages – though I scaffolded quite heavily some of the subtraction as she was being odd about it. [7-3=7 type thing??] however, soon got the hang and I could be less gritted teeth.

Just as I thought she would go to bed, she spotted the newly arrived rainbow resources box [yippee!!!!] We pulled out the story of the worlds and their activity books. the main text is apparently for when she is 9 [her arbitrary age!] and the activity books for now. And then she saw the Latin!!!! So, massively excited to be learning Roman language, and we have done the first 3 sounds. It is really nicely done, and suitable for her age [though I do have to do the reading] So thankyou really v much Jan for that tip. Dare I open up the massive doorstopper of a rainbow resources catalogue though????

I think that might be it – I was childed out as it were though by this stage!!

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Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, General, history, language, literacy, music, numeracy, photos

october blogbumping

Posted on October 5, 2005 by | 5 comments

has been rather grand!
we have kirsty and co staying, and merry and co round for the day.

it was nice to get in from work to a houseful yesterday. Kirsty’s 2 and SB were demonstrating nicely one of the reasons we bought the house – it is a fantastic place for children to run around madly shrieking!! They played together, watched shrek and investigated the house together. unsurprisingly very late bedtime. foolishly i’d said we read 1 book for each – andthey all chose long ones. kirsty giggled as i started to paraphrase! not that they then fell asleep……… We got in a good natter before my eyes refused to stay open anyway. I did check out the sonlight manuals though.

Today they all demanded we bake so i checked ingredients and recipe. SOme nice drawing occurred while we adults had a cup of tea! they then ran around indoors and out like loons while I tidied some of the disaster from yesterday! once the floor was visible, it was quite clear that happy street should be done, and the 3 worked nicely to get the track to go around the mat – even with BB ‘helping’!

Kirsty here! Helen forgot to add in the huge conversation she and Marcus had about hearts and discussing the different parts of it using her freebie heart model she got ages ago. We must get one of those! This was started by looking at a big body book so loads of discussion there too. Marcus was beign very brave I must say, talking to both Helen and Chris like they were normal people (which of course they are lol!) and not like he normally talks to adults! He’s getting better!

oops edit no 2 – forgot to also add that on asking for a paracetamol for a headache Chris supplied me with 2 double strength cocodomal (sp?) which resulted in me being stoned for the whole day!! erm, oops!

When Merry and co arrived, Fran settled down to read numerous books to SB [what a great idea!], before they got more adventurous. the littlies demolished the happy street of course. While we grownups discussed sonlight, usborne and brownie-style badges for bloggers. was a great natter.

Chris edit – Whilst those adults nattered. This adult was in the kitchen organising lunches for the hoards. Much uproar was caused over instant needs for Pitta Bread ! there should be some sort of rule that all children will eat baked beans….

Children went outside and climbing framed and sandpitted [great!] when started to look overly excited we went to plan B which was drawing in the conservatory – some great pictures done. Included discussion on growing grapes, why they have pips, the solar system and order of planets.

When Merry went we had pasta tea, and the children counted to 10 in all known languages. Chris read some of our pre-loved ladybird books – greek legends and dinosaurs. They all did a lot of counting and adding, and some shops playing. I insisted only one book read to nigt, but they still spread it out by doing a full home-ed thing by discussing each page – counting, spotting differences etc etc. sigh!! Still awake. Anyway we actually did a lot of autonomous home ed.

now, have flickred, so may do a badge whilst drinking wine!

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ok, better late than never!

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Posted in art and crafts, Blogging, Butterbean, General, history, language, literacy, numeracy, photos, science, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

A life less chaotic

Posted on October 3, 2005 by | 7 comments

would be nice.
updates
HE
Sat - some explode the code [2 pages] and some singapore maths [2 pages] read 2 of the red nose readers. I read loads of other books. Discussion around romans. Army and costume mainly. Watched Muzzy. Went to stagecoach. mostly played though – chris feeling ill.
Sun – Chris a zombie, me with migraine. 2 pages explode the code 1, and 2 [just] of singapore earlybird 2b. read another red nose reader, some phonics cards. painted a lovely picture which she told me was a dreamtime story – and the story involved. heard her tell inlaws about how days and nights worked

Chris’s parents came over for sunday lunch and prob wished they hadn’t as we were in a bit of a state – house in uproar and dishevelled parents and children.

BB getting good at crawling forward now – at last! and likes to push along a car or other toy as well. good fine movt fingers – picks up the smallest speck of rubbish off the floor to eat!!

unfortunatley no sleeping skills – i closed my eyes at 6.30 am for alarm 15 mins later. dead on feet. In fact so dead, hace reallised i hav gone to work with trousers inside out – and done a whole clinic like this!!!! ROFL

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Daft Stuff, Dance/drama, General, history, language, literacy, numeracy, Stringbean's HE

Welcome to the mad house

Posted on September 28, 2005 by | 5 comments

we started lots of things, but not so good at completing! Sb still recovering from cold, and me from maudlin-ness. So a partial duvet day!!

We started off well though, had a look at various seed heads around the garden – the water iris and sweet chestnut the most fantastic. Picked up a few of other kinds too, and used them in a sticking picture of Autumn. We had a chat about seasons as we did it, what autumn meant, the how behind it etc. As we had done this in the conservatory, SB wanted to watch telly – so had a spanish Muzzy. Neither of us comprehended much, so we watched the english version – aha!! We were supposed to have the spanish back, but SB spied the bugs life video….. lunch was a good distraction, and after that we did some looking at our fly on the wall ancient egypt book and DK egypt book. We spied egypt on a map – SB a bit put out that it wasn’t ‘ancient egypt’. I tried to explain a bit about the country being more or less the same through the ages [yes, I know]. She did know the big river was the nile though – good-oh. She has decided that the first pharoah entombed in a pyramid was Josie Jo [close, as Djoser! - i wont let practical archaeology get to far Merry!!!!] We had a very brief look at the mediaeval bit of the DK history explorer – she was collecting stickers, and a blink at the solar system one. [and I mean a blink].

Moved on to Happy Street, and making stories. Getting better still with BB destroying as she goes [though the peace was uneasy!]. Some climbing about on the climbing frame, and then brought me the usborne greek myths and waved it about saying she wanted ulysses. i explained that was the other one, but she knows best and shows there is a woooden horse piccie in it. She’s right, the Ulysses story is in there too near the end. Odysseus here though – so we discussed name changing. She sat rapt by it, and insisted we went on to Theseus and the Minotaur.

What we haven’t done is any learning to read stuff and singapore or miquon maths for a while. I am gald we did some language though. knowing she would have it regularly at school does up the stakes doesn’t it. even for us, who are not trying to school at home. I know she will prob have a mad day of non-stop maths soon though, but I think we would like to encourage a daily habit as well. i have therefore taken photos of the front of some of these resources, and will cut them out into ? laminated magnetic stickers, or have a sheet with a certain number of them on, so she can get used to choosing which one to do, finidng matching book and getting on. How controlling. Once we’ve slipped back into the habit, we can just let go a bit again.

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Posted in art and crafts, General, history, language, photos, science, Stringbean's HE

Apologies for absence – edited

Posted on August 14, 2005 by | 2 comments

Woke up with crashing migraine again – something tells me they may be slightly related to my stress levels at the mo!!

A fair number of drugs later, and surfaced gone 11, so since Chris had forgotten to buy tickets for the festival before we went to Copenhagen, and didn’t fancy taking girlies on own as also pooped, we missed it. Would have texted anyone, but we hadn’t been sensible enough to swap numbers. I am sure it was great, and really will do it another year.

Instead, we went for a lazy swim instead for lunchtime, SB still doing drowning dog impression, but is very experimental in the water. She was jumping off floats and starting to approximate a dive – to be more like the ones in copenhagen. She loves the water, has no fear of going under and coming up spluttering. BB also a water girl, kicking wildly, and reaching for toys. We really should have done the waterbaby thing, as she is the type.

After lunch we found my sindy hourse, so re-enacted rapunzel and made up various barbie on horse stories [def drama!]. Some webland, lots of rupert bear annual and general playing with things. Laid back as I still am not feeling particularly perky. BB entertained herself very well with all SB’s toys, bottom shuffling around the room.

Did manage to make a nice curry though, with 2 portions to spare for Little Nanny. Beans both asleep [nice and early for a change!] so I am having melon vodka to go nicely with the drugs, and will look around for work stuff, as Monday is an early start day. Also have lots to discuss with colleagues as fired with ideas from conference, so had better organise some of them!

oh, forgot to say that as I can sing the swan lake music, SB has me teaching her the moves – ROFL!! that girl needs proper ballet lessons.

edir – Have made a page of acquisitions when money trickles in – eyes to big for purse syndrome!! Any extra suggestions [codes and cheapest places of course!] welcomed

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Posted in General, language, literacy, SB-PE

How late?

Posted on August 13, 2005 by | Leave a comment

The day just seems to have whizzed past, SB only went to bed at 9ish, and I’ve been messing about with the copenhagen flikr pics some more.

i rang Little Nanny and she is getting a bit better. her neighbour cooked her dinner and watched her eat it, and until end of next week, social services has a lady coming in daily for an hour to help a bit. My dad visits midweek, and my aunt the week after [and hopefully us for a day, so getting cooking!]

When we got up, SB decided we should make icecream, and was very put out we couldn’t, so settled on jam [well, jelly] so picked elderberries and added some frozen redcurrents. had assorted beasties to look at then in bugbox – mostly ladybirds and spiders. We played walk the plank, followed by a grizzle session. SB then read a book – no kidding! a starter one with simple repeats, and I did take over as she was worn out, but def sound and say. [cue trumpets]

Having worn ourselves out, she watched toy story 2 and german sesame street whilst I flikred. This segued nicely into german reminder phrases while Chris pruned the grapevine. We then set up the second drain for the jelly to go overnight and hama-ed. I read some of the usborne stories from around the world - we look at the map on the front, and chose india and denmark. Some leappad maths and phonics and thats the education!

BB still happiest when standing, and appears to be in paradise if standing and SB playing peeboo from behind the sofa. Got to eat some runner beans from garden [she likes]

My ears still playing up from flights though. Otherwise all well here [mostly, as SB has back-at-home-itis, but only mildly] Yes, as a confirmed photoholic I did take photos, and they are still on the camera!

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Posted in Butterbean, Cooking, gardening, General, geography, language, literacy, numeracy, science

La dolce vita

Posted on June 11, 2005 by | 5 comments

we have had a great holiday. the campsite is in a super league. pitches gorgeous, shady and sheltered – such that the night of high wind barely affected tent. we like our vango nightstop dome [venture 500 i think??]. Beach huge, sandy, dunes and shells. gently sloping into sea [warm] with a sandbar. Ideal, i think so! As if not enough, also 2 pool complexes, the nearest to us with a ring pool – with current to get you around it in the rings – SB v keen!] 2 round pools with jets and jacuzzi effect, large gentle sloping tots to toddler pool with slides and waterfall, and a lap pool for the straight swimmers! The further away one had landscaped sandy [read small gravel!] beaches, a samller ring pool, a jaccuzy like bit, and a water volcano, different depth areas in a big water complex joined with small slides, and a climbing frame with lots of water slides off it. A wooded area with swing/playpark etc.|Very nice too! 5 restaurants, 2 beach bar/grills, 3 other bar/grills, 2 supermarkets, baker,grocer, pizza takeaway, creperie, gelateria, hairdresser, numerous buying things shops so no real reason to leave – except venice! If you wanted it, there is kids activites in the days 2 hours am and pm, so you candrop them off, sports such as golf etc in complex across road, and a spa thing with thermal thises and thats.

my parents and sister and family were already there [hired caravan each] and we ad an easy journey out with SB and BB being well behaved on flights and transit. Having dad meet us at marco polo airport did make whole thing more civilised! Unfortunately, heavy hints on others putting up tent were disregarded, but they did save good pitch! SB and cousin M have great times together, and were off playing in sand and dirt immediately. my niece E had decided she didn’t like heat, sand or water, so sister Vivien rather stressed! Weather good, apart fro 2 days

the days activities: we ate croissants and rolls at breakfast fresh from bakers at tent, wandered over to the caravans to go to beach/pool, back for lunch – roll, cheese, salad and wine usually prepared by mum. then pool in the afternoon. a takeaway or restaurant usual for tea – though I cooked 3 times in a fortnight as did my mum. baby disco in the evening, and a night train ride. Baby disco was a bit of a hoot, with the under 12′s – on the whole much younger – dancing eurobop routines with the childrens camp people showing them how at the front. Very good for counting to 8 in german, as this was often done over the words! SB had some favourite bits. The night train wandered around the campsite in the evening with little ones on board shouting something untranslatable in german, and slapping hands of passers by.

bits that stand out -

me not gauging depth of one pool and stepping off side with B in arms, and holding her over head as I go under – she didn’t get wet, dad prepared to dive in hasselhof style, but relieved I didn’t need it. Jarred ankle badly, and scraped other foot [still painful] but BB unruffled!

BB learning to ROLL OVER!! fanfare for that one

SB asking for icecreams in italian and saying please and thankyou nicely.

SB just generally being happy and having fun. Playing with german girls in tent nearbye, even though minimal crossover of language, with no problems.

lazydays and evenings. I went to this campsite every other year for about 10 years, so it was actually quite a sentimental return for me!

venice was gorgeous – I have been lots before, but first for chrsi and girls. SB particularly wanted to go in the church, so duly done, where she was very impressed by it all. chris took her up to top, where she noticed the horses were boys! Gondolas, canals, bridges and the rialto ummed and ahhed over. icecreams consumed! SB was knackered by end, so good old bushbaby backpack!

HE on the hoof: We read usborne pocket science books, painted, dot the dotted, counted, and spoke italian and german. discussed weather, stars, vision [spontaneously SB came out with the fact that our eyes 'see' upside down]. lots of dinosaur hunting for fossils in the dirt and sand. A bit of ‘gunning’ as playing with a boy – hmm!! lots of singing and SB dancing. she even managed to swim some strokes before sinking by end of hols.

will prob add more including piccies given time. would recommend though!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, geography, history, language, numeracy, Out and About, SB-PE, science, socialisation, Stringbean