Category Archives: literacy

Nice Start to 2006

Posted on January 1, 2006 by | 1 comment

I did have a lie in though – very nice!
I could hear SB playing with the Sindy/barbie dolls having a great imaginative time

When I came downstairs, SB was doing the new webland – she devours the whole thing when it arrives, so Sharks, songs, construction and I missed the other one.

She and BB bounced around a bit playing, then SB read a fair bit of an usbourne farmyard tale, with Chris filling in the more difficult words.

When BB fell asleep, we played with her wooden marble run. when we first had it, i did all the building and design, the i just built to her design. now she designs and builds whilst i troubleshoot. excellent – lets call it science. She is very anthropomorphic, with Mummy and baby marbles!!

We did 2 pages of explode the code – i sounds – and she is speeding up and more confident. we were aiming for 4, but lunch was ready.

A bit of cbeebies and jump ahead to follow – mostly stories. BB awoke and neighbours [remember homedad? now back at work] came round. they are both trained teachers, and his wife asked lots of questions re home ed. she then says she shares an office with the E something or other [EWO??] in charge of home ed. guess we are not likely to remain unknown. lots of playing with their daughter – 2ish, and SB wrote them a new years card.

After they left, SB and I looked at the usbourne book of britain - starting with the intrductory bit on how the country was shaped, and then a look at where we are. In it it was mentionig glaciers, and I could see SB hadn’t got them, so got out the Earth DK book – loads of info and then lovely pics of glaciers. i have promised to take her to one, but, disappointingly for her, not tomorrow.

I then read several back issues of disney princesses and played shape snap before dinner. We devoted afterwards to games -farmyard dominoes and don’t wake Dad. It was nice playing games together so will try and do that more regularly.

Feeding BB as I type and Chris putting SB to bed.
All in all a very nice start to the New Year.

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Posted in General, geography, history, literacy, numeracy, science, socialisation, Stringbean's HE, writing

so far so good

Posted on December 31, 2005 by | 3 comments

we have had a good day today so far.

Sb did 4 pages of explode the code 1 – 2 more than she said she was going to do. She’s getting good at it, though does have to ask me for the americanisms [pal and gas and going to bat!] Today she didn’t want me to watch her do it either, and just came when she had a query – excellent!! So whilst she was doing that, I played roll the ball and run to Mummy with BB.

I then read to her the new years eve section of the barefoot book while the bear sleeps. this has been a good buy, and has stories for various dates though the Winter calnedar for various faiths and cultures. todays was African American. We did think of making a bean soup/stew like the story, but when I found some recipes, SB decided she didn’t fancy it after all. instead, I took the leftovers of mashed potatoes and some sweetcorn and made fritters with them for lunch. With some fruit, so not as entirely unhealthy as it sounds!

Sb then did some of the story and numbers section of jump Ahead 2000 year 1 – again all on her won, with me in the room for advice. SO BB and I played click clack caterpillar , funky footprints, chase and read some of her books.

We all played Mummies and Daddies [surprise] and SB was a working mummy ballet teacher – dancing and singing galore! while BB was our baby. When they stopped for an apple, I read the first China section from story of the world which included the silkworm story. SB remembers silkworms from another barefoot book – the silk road – so we had a bit of a discussion about them and materials. we found China on the globe. SB decided I was to be a geography teacher, so we went through the lattitude, longitude, equator, seasons and day and night thing – which she seems fairly comfortable with now. Since Chris and I did the trans siberain train journey in our youth, we chatted about that, and the different ways of getting to China and how long they mght take.

Chris and Sb then fixed her tassles to her bike, and have gone off for a ride to the park. BB and I had a play and I sang some folk tunes. She is fitfully sleeping as I type, but must wake by about 3.30 at latest [will be 1 hour] so that we break the really late night crapness for my sanity sake.

Its nice to get back to a bit of normality. I keep trying to work out how I could effect change in my life so that I get to do more of this. I discussed it at some length with my clinical director, but my job doesn’t make it so easy. And I do enjoy my job, so woudln’t want to change it altogether.

I’ve also been fiddling with family tree, as inherited from cousin Anne who died this May – she had traced part of it back to 1600′s. After popping it onto genes reunited [thats your fault KatyB!] was immediately contacted by someone who had been working with Anne to trace part of it. So thats another thing i would like time for.

Ah, the cold beans are back – time to go back to my life. SB demanding hot chocolate, and Chris says she can have it if she can spell it – meanie!

edited to add that we finished the day with playdough – lots of it, pretend baking, monster making etc etc. vietnamese stew with rice for tea – so very healthy!

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Posted in Books, Butterbean, General, geography, history, literacy, numeracy, SB-PE, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE, writing

11.30, both girls still awake

Posted on December 30, 2005 by | 3 comments

and I am about to scream with aggravation!
actually, as it is over 5 mins that SB last slumk downstairs, I hope she is asleep, and I have shifted BB to chris so she is yelling.

Apart from that. Main item of day was going to Halfords to buy a bebe confort hipsos for SB. Still not entirely sure about which seat to have bought, but she was comfortable in it. She was more excited by tassles in the sale for her bike handlebars…

Halfords being a hop and a skip away from Merry, we descended. Children played – some monster gobbling up game! We nattered and then came home. SB fell asleep in car – thats the problem!

At home we read the India bit from story of the world, and made another wacky wiggler with the gears. Also I read countless books, and she read me the first read with me book – not badly either.

Just need that peace and quiet a young puddler has offered to sell!

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Posted in General, geography, history, literacy, science, socialisation

Back to normal?

Posted on December 29, 2005 by | 7 comments

well, sort of. We have ar least done some obvious home ed!

SB thrashed Chris in a game of tubes that have to build across the board [logic and creative thinking!] – twice. They went to chemists for assorted hair bobbles and slides. I got to play hairdresser [which I love] as SB wanted them all in – yep, will flikr!] We did some colouring of pictures and then some hama beading. While SB doing that, I went and found the magnets, so she shew me how to make iron filings faces, and I shew her how to make a compass. so discussions on earths magnetism, magnetic fields, north and south etc.

We did a bit more story of the world [ we have left it awhile, so only on to theIndia bit, but she likes that - looked for india on globe and chatted about climate etc.] Some more fun as I got to paint her face – she wanted it to be a ballerina flower fairy. I had to paint it as a dolphin yesterday [and she painted mine as a lion - rofl!]

We have done more work on tens and units, using jojo in numberland, and just measuring things around the house with the tape measure. Also looked at webland chocolate and played some of their gamesShe has gone around all week sounding out words as well.

What else? eaten lots of chocolate, watched Stuart Little. played with BB – stacking things
, hoops on the pole, feeding mummy game, her click clack caterpillar, and draw on mummy. She slept better last night too, which was fantastic.]

SO a lovely day playing with the girls. Arm still very painfuil, so a bit worried, as I really need to get better soon. Work is keen for me to return, and as I don’t actually feel sick, I feel guilty. However can’t drive, can’t lift things with left hand, and can’t rest on it so not actually able to do much. sigh.

Shopping for a new carseat tomorrow. fun!!

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and for yesterday

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, geography, history, literacy, numeracy, photos, science

Catching up

Posted on December 21, 2005 by | 5 comments

SB off with grandparents. Chris rang them up to arrive at lunch, so a good compromise and all happy.
SO we made muffins, and looked to see if any toys of hers to put away for BB [no!]. played with paper dress up dollies, and did drawing.

Chris did lots and lots of tidying!

Since SB left for playing wioth chris’s parents and their christingle service, I have made the minceppie muffins – they are fab heather, and easily converted to vegan. the last of the curries, and some wrapping, bought 2 goats as final Xmas pressies.

BB now awake – so doing a 1 to 1 play session now!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, General, literacy, numeracy, writing

Oh Festive Day

Posted on December 14, 2005 by | 3 comments

In this home-ed lark, it does seem like the whole of December is a Chrismas-ed type of month.
today we hav done:
Christmas crafts – no surprise there, loads of christmas cards done
Christmas writing practice – loads of writing SB to be honest, but still, writing.
Christmas maths – we have 28 cards left to do, how many have we done now, how many left
Christmas counting – how many address labels are left??
Christmas economics – discussion on how we pay for posting, and her jolly stamps or stickers wouldn’t cut the mustard with the post office, why there are 2 different rates [why are there really now, when first class not guarenteed?].
Christmas history – a foray into history of stamps, christmas cards and christmas trees – yes, those victorians!
Christmas music – yep Christmas carols!
Christmas baking – delias yummy savoury scone recipe

OK, and I read loads of Apple tree farm books, which are not Xmassy, we looked at the 1001 things to spot history – but thinking of geography as well. Some cbeebies – particularly good at the roly mo spelling game. Lots of playing with her sister – which I really like. general playing.

BB – well, she is feeling a bit better today, and ate 1/3 of my donut treat [shouldn't live opposite a bakery!] She was mostly stacking things, running off with SB’s toy animals, rarring at shape sorter when bashing in hard still didn’t get things to go in the wrong holes. Also, turning pages of the books I was trying to read to SB, as she doesn’t like me doing this! She is very good at turning pages. She has been walking faster and aster recently as well.

Overall a lovely day. Tomorrow they are both in nursery. I am 2 minds about this as usually we cancel when I am at home, but there is so much we need to do, that a short burst of childcare will hopefully do the trick, and let us really relax and enjoy the weekend. [does this make me awful, having just moaned about lack of time with the children???]

PS SB gagging me – she obviously doesn’t like the descants
password is the usual ,email if you have forgotten and want it – not v exciting though!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, Stringbean's HE, writing

Christmas tree and vomit

Posted on December 13, 2005 by | 7 comments

being the 2 main things that characterised our day today.

The vomit was BB‘s, she has vomited through the night and on and off through the day, so I have been doing a lot of bf – no change there then! She feels a bit hot, and has a cold, but no obvious dredful anything, and apart from when vomiting, she has only really seemed a bit tired, rather than particularly out of sorts.

Before I flickr it, try and imagine what you think our Xmas tree would be real/artificial ;tasfeful colour scheme/whatever; less is more/deck the boughs. Anyway, Chris had to curse and swear with getting it i the right places, as no good helping with a broken hand. Only one set of lights working, so severly underlighted [I do like lighting to have somthing of an operating theatre intensity about it!], but will sort out something. Last year I divided the decs into breakable, and fairly sturdy, and so gave SB the fairly sturdy to do the lower bits with. WHY NOT ONE OF THESE SHE SAYS, OOPS! I guess there was the reason. The other main showstopper was realising BB was quietly munching on one. hmmm. After excavating most of the shards from her mouth [expect interesting nappies] I realised she has 9 teeth in full biting order. SB chose Christmas chants as the accompanying music – she has excellent taste, before we moved on to more traditional carols. SO all decced up there. Some decs put on staircase, and nearer the day, may prune non berrying holly and strip some ivy. Frugal princess or what!

what else? SB and BB went to library with Chris, and did a sticking Christmas activity and chose about 600 books [minor exaggeration]. We then read 4 on the trot until I insisted she read 1, she did 2 pages anyway with sounding and working out. Beans on cheesy toast. We considered the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vits and minerals to discuss further the book we had read yesterday.

After lunch we did 4 whizzing pages of Singapore maths primary 1A. Very easy pages and romped through them. SB definitely sure of odds and evens. Doing much more mental maths as well without using fingers. i have decided i prefer the primary maths to my pals are here, though both very similar. When we get to 2, I think I will stick to the primary maths series.

Rest of day taken over with Christmas tree business!! i did print the family Christmas cards, with a front and back picture showing my 2 meeting Father christmas.

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, literacy, music, numeracy, photos, science, Stringbean's HE

yesterdays blog

Posted on December 13, 2005 by | Leave a comment

Hmm, well I really do need some sleep ? the combination [boring though it is getting] of these broken bits means I just don?t get a decent sleep for love nor money. When combined with SB having nightmares about being made into mushroom stew by a witch ? that girl has too much imagination, and BB feeding non stop?..

Anyway, we actually have had a good day, so I shouldn?t moan, even if adult tempers frayed significantly as the beanies bathtime approached.

We started with cards ? as sooooo far behind on both the early years list, and those for friends and family. How did Xmas get so close?? Then a fair bit of just playing followed by tidying up. I read to SB the why we eat usborne science book, so we did a few of the experiments out of that as well. Lunch was disregarded by both the little beans as neither fully chipper. SB did feel well enough for an icecream though?.

After lunch we had a group play session, which BB thoroughly enjoyed. Then we painfully did 4 pages of explode the code 1. SB great at the reading and ringing bits, but finds writing dreadful. Must sort the getty and dubay. She then did lots of sprinklies over the house picture, rather than more xmas cards. Her next book for me was all about magnets. We had quite a long chat about them. BB asleep fitfully in lap, so didn?t do experiments, but discussed the brio trains and the fridge magnets as reference, and we bought a magnet and iron filings set from brightminds as xmas pressie ? so will use that later. When the book got to electromagnets we thought we would have a break.

At this point BB vomited rather impressively all over me. Lovely. SB cheered her up by gentle stroking [read manic mauling] and was then persuaded to put on a music and dance show ? something she needs only minimal encouragement for!

Over tea with did a lot of counting in German and some mental maths ? adding and subtracting. SB also through the day has being coming to me with one liner queries regarding the concept of tens and units, so something percolating there!

Internet connection down, so done this as a word document. Hope it springs back soon!

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Posted in art and crafts, Blogging, Dance/drama, General, language, literacy, numeracy, photos, science, writing

Simple Sunday

Posted on December 11, 2005 by | 5 comments

BB gave us a dreadful night last night, so we have felt a bit zombified.

SB drew a lovely piccie of our house and all the expected Christmas guests in it. She also put the pub next door in as well for GrandadF. Surprisingly, she also drew a route to the seaside [hmm, artistic license?]She then has done a sparkly [very] red Xmas decoration for the tree.

We did go swimming, and I pootled about. It was still rather painful though – possibly due to the 2 children, rather than the actual pootling in the water. SB investigating swimming backwards and dolphin dives. BB just chuckles around the pool.

on the return we did some hama – another glow in the dark star, 2 pages singapore maths 1A, SB read a red nose reader to BB, and I read a variety of books. We never did get to the explode the code. SB then looked at the new webland.

Lots of sindy and barbie playing. WHilst i was otherwise busy [snoozing if I;m honest, with BB asleep on my lap] SB got some blu tack, and is now fully understanding on the reason why you don’t squidge blu tack into a barbies hair – yuk! Any remedies??

We also did a lot of singing paractise – actually going up and down with ploacing our hands on feet, knees, tummies, head and up in the air. After discussions at Okehamton, I’ve decided to be pro active, and hopefully SB will sing better than her dad!

Finally vietnamese stew for tea, and Sudoku for SB and me – it does make it rather more challenging when you aren’t that sure what the numbers are! She has had her bath and is shining my pen torch through my cheek – sigh!

Other things – Chris planted out the garlic [at last] BB played with her musical toys, the tambourine was a real hit. She also had a great giggle at SB playing chase with her. She has enjoyed walking about – shut herself in the downstairs loo in the dark!!

I must see orthopod next week, as arm still really painful. Also, although they did views of my scaphoid, the base of my thumb is still hurting. I can’t think work is going to be that impressed if I need more time off.

Tomorow, Christmas tree.

May try and google child bonds tonuight. would like an ethically friendly one if ok – smile seem to do one through someone else. My dad alread has a babybond with the childrens mutual for each of them [i think] so i don’t think we can have another one?

Oh, and I finally won 2 ebay dressing up dresses for SB within the specified gift price from little Nanny- yippee! [helped by ebay postage coupon]

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Dance/drama, gardening, General, literacy, music, numeracy, Ponderings, SB-PE

Easy day

Posted on December 11, 2005 by | 5 comments

we thought we might relax a bit!!

Lots of sindy/barbie playing. some cutting out and colouring paper angels. SB read to me bouncy ben [or from heart!]. i read quite a lot of books. Some cbeebies games. A game of shops – we made the money with different denominations and did lots of sneaky addition and subtraction.

Last stagecoach – SB got a glowing report. She now says she really wants to go back. I think we will put on hold for a bit. We are organising swimming lessons and ? gym instead.

the fruit trees have arrived and have been heeled in.
washing has been sort of done.
I think I may have deleted finally all the spam comments
i have started albumising last years piccies – on June!

Post camp always feels like a bit of a deflationary exercise. I think we have all enjoyed the more relaxed day today. I might try a gentle swim – or at least pootle in the water – tomorrow.

Must look at my diary for visits
MUST do tax return!
MUST do babybond – has anyone any recommendations for stakeholder/shares based ones?

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Posted in art and crafts, Dance/drama, General, literacy, numeracy