Category Archives: literacy

Day 2 of BB’s Baby Welcome

Posted on July 24, 2005 by | 5 comments

Weather not so good for us today, so predominantly indoors. I was more stressy today – not sure why, as no less relaxing a set up, and I’d made the pasta bake on friday?? Prob. due to a couple of comments that set teeth on edge. [must learn to ignore for own sanity!]

Anyway, predominantly lovely day. SB had a bit of a melt when Morgan left to go home, but a long cuddle and reading new books helped [did I say I caved in to amazon and bought the barefoot book of princesses [with CD] and the usbourne stories from around the world?. Very nice. I particularly love the illustrations of the barefoot princesses book.

Guests today, as well as mine and Chris’s parents and my sister and family where my aunty margaret [mum's sister] uncle mike and cousin mark, and on Chris’s side, Uncle Bob [dad's brother] and cousin Marilyn.

I hope you all can identify the whose who and trace family resemblances.

Cats enjoyed leftover salmon.

Earlier in the morning, before the guests arrived, SB and Morgan were playing schools, doing sums and letters. Rather cute really.

Wish BB’s teeth would come in so I could get a nice sleep!

Anyway, flikr will be linked here.

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Posted in Books, Butterbean, General, literacy, numeracy, socialisation

Updated flikr

Posted on July 21, 2005 by | 2 comments

And thats the most positive thing I can say!

I find thursday my most stressful day. I tend to come home fractious. BB then feeds for ages, and SB desperate for my attention- which i do want to give her – but quietly and sat on comfy chair with BB latched on not screaming. I must try harder not to be sharp – after all i am happy she wants to be with me, and i want to be with her, but quietly with no sudden movements. London news again crap.

I have done a phonics leapbook with her and read stories from my newly arrived barefoot books [links given earlier]

I will now stick some of the flikr photos on the blog – if you’re interested, will be this last weeks ouvre. This is the first added. Rather cute, even if I say so myself.

Oh and Chris won on shelving as the lady wanted mpre so scanning freecycle. did see some on ebay Jax’s neck of the woods, but chris said even if we stopped in for coffee it was a long way

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Posted in General, literacy, photos

Worn out

Posted on July 20, 2005 by | 3 comments

think we are all worn out. candles lit both ends and in the middle – what with me working an average of 56 hours a week and wanting to see/play with the girls as much as poss, and Chris trying to do the househusband thing so that I don’t feel the need to, as well as play etc with the girls. SB tries to stay up late with me, and BB feeds all night long. Cream Crackered in deed. Somehow we are going to have to alter the pace without too many compromises.

This running to stay still thing seems to permeate every area of our living as well. I go round house and garden and there is just loads to do. if I earned more, we could pay for someone to do it, but earning more means less time at home, and just not up for that. Weeds and grubbiness will just have to stay. Unfortunately we have a housefull of family this Sat, and would like it to look at its best. they all just don’t seem to have the problem of keeping tidy/ship shape and living life that we have. What do we do wrong?

mind you, although I say unfortunately, I am really looking forward to it. It is BB’s welcome to the family event [no Christenings here] and lots of family coming for lazy day in the garden. cold spread – maybe some BBQ items, and alcohol [I will be practising for the portico party]. of course we haven’t shopped or organised yet.

oh, home ed. I have had a lovely laid back day with the girls. We did some exeter maths, read a bit of the usbourne travel then and now[ not much], the castle section in the time traveller, started growing a crystal.

Actually, on growing the crystal, it was a science in a box [would have been v over[riced except from ebay] and it said for over 8′s. why??? There was some distilled vinegar [maybe stronger than that I use for pickled shallots perhaps that SB has handled, but I didn't find out] and a piece of limestone. vinegar [acid] poured into plastic beaker and stone popped in it – so what needs an 8 year old? SB quite happy that the bubbles were carbon dioxide – she knows what that is from ‘dizzy’ water and breathing. Also happy that now have to wait and see. i guess she was supervised. Also caught a few more bugs to look at including a fly!

Oh, and on the exeter maths, found out that she knows her number bonds up to 5, and can add and subtract quite easily. she even remembered the ‘greedy bigger sign’ and which way to face it. I had printed off about 20 pages, she found them all and did the ones she liked the pictures on! She had a go at writing the numbers for a change as well.

We also sprinkled starts with… and ends with… throughout the day – again something she is progressively more confident with. Oh, and again a lot of singing. note to self – must bring her violin down and remember to suggest piano regularly.

It sounds alot, but we spent most of the day playing [though she considers it all play, it is just me categorising!], a fair bit with the traintrack in the morning, her alphabet finger puppets, dollies and ‘mummies and daddies’ her wooden fix together toys from ikea, and directly with BB. I read various books from the library to her. played interminable Simon says.

BB is a charmer. She mostly played with her noisy toys and SB’s musical instruments. She has recently started to find knocking down stacks rather good, so SB builds them up for her to take a swipe at [will be on flikr soon!]. She obviously loves SB and waves arms and legs wildly in happiness and excitement. She is also rather keen on her food.

Other things today, I did some weeding and SB and I nipped to garden centre to buy mulch. caused a chuckle when she asked what bark chickens were. Obviously my diction not clear!

Chris got us a working shower – woohoo!!!

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Posted in Butterbean, General, history, literacy, numeracy, science, Stringbean's HE

Dum Dum de dum Dum da Dah

Posted on July 18, 2005 by | 3 comments

SB doing her stagecoach concert and all the blog titles have kept this in my mind today.
What have we done in the last 2 days? well quite a bit on the HE front
maths:my friends are here singapore maths with the cubes. number line stuff, addition and easy subtraction, measuring. Joe the dragon. dot the dots [thankyou sarah, this really is reinforcing the higher numbers as is] snakes and ladders.
literacy: studydog – back in favour again, but suddenly we lost sound, and it becomes impossible! Spelling out words [starts and finishes] phonics cards, red nose readers. Also lots of reading of whatever book came to hand [stories]
history: some on ancient egypt, does a paraphrased Homer [usbourne] count, as spun off discussions of ancient greece? history of school on webland [most dischuffed girls didn’t go.
music: rhythms, recorder and create your own on webland
science: mostly concentrating on bugs at the moment – DK book and the magnifying glass. Caught a lily beetle [grr] however we were sitting by pond when we knocked it out, it fell in the water and a goldfish rose up like jaws and ate it. Other bugs included ants, earwigs, woolly aphids [on bay tree - grr], woodlice, dead bees.
PE: well, i played numerous games of tag [thank god garden not overlooked as running a la charlie dimmock not really a good idea!]. Also some scootering/like a biking/gymnastics over the climbing frame. Chris took the family swimming yesterday while I was on call, so also armband free swimming practice.

Also miscellaneous discussions on death, castles, computering, birds, fish etc etc. i am quite worn out!

lots of lovely photos onFlikr

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Posted in General, history, literacy, music, numeracy, SB-PE, science, Stringbean's HE

Mediaeval Fayre

Posted on July 16, 2005 by | Leave a comment

not called in overnight – always a result!

so stagecoach in the morning for SB – last in the term. I think these have been a success, so we will carry on. i do think they are expensive for what they are, but at this stage of the game, its more important to provide SB with pattern. She loved the fact that they sang doe a deer to the video with actions, and that she already knew the words.

We then took a picnic to the animal shelter in godmanchester that was hosting a mediaeval fayre. I was surprised at how empty the place was, and I think it would have been much better if bustling, so that SB could have watched people using the archery/crossbow and jousting stuff. She was just that little bit too young, but next year….

Anyway, she enjoyed the axe throwing competition – but really wanted a go! And found a playmate to play knights and princesses with [i made up a story whilst feeding BB. He was such a nice lad that he immediately gave her his new sword and shield to use while he played with a bigger one! The re-enactment of one of the roses skirmishes was good. no gunpowder due to animals close by. SB very hot, so I amused others by dribbling water down her back and into her hat. [many photos on flikr]

At home we read the ancient egypt dorling kindersley eyewitness and looked at joe the dragon again – SB good at adding [not carrying over] and also like the chinese numbers – I think that might be new. We also did a it more castles at bedtime. I am getting her to spell out headings and have a guess at blending and making words, think this may be successful, as if thinking about it, she can do it. of course postman [as in pat] does not come out quite right, but she did realise what it was meant to be.

Nearly organised the books, but Chris has vetoed stickering for now. Sonlight order will prob go in tomorrow. Thinking about those plug and play electronics things – brainbox whatever. Sarah, are you still being a facilitator for edu toys or should I buy direct?? Looking forward to my lovely books!!! [and no, have not got harry potter, but if anyone does buy 2, i would consider coming to a deal, else tescos next week!]

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Posted in Butterbean, General, history, literacy, music, numeracy, Out and About, SB-PE, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

oops

Posted on July 16, 2005 by | 4 comments

on recommendation for barefoot books, I have cut down my sonlight order, andt not ordering the lion tales one, instead have bought this and this from ebay!!

not saved a great deal of money there then!

4 Comments

Posted in Books, General, literacy

Ahh, good day today.

Posted on July 10, 2005 by | 2 comments

though a surprise, considering I only managed to go to bed at -2:30!

SB got up and brought me some singapore primary maths 1a this am whilst I was still in bed [9-ish] sat on BB’s head so she woke up too! Since I have started being worried that we are letting things slide, I managed to prise open eyelids and we romped through the numberline pages. When SB then brought a spelling ‘match and sort’ book, i realised she was raiding the future presources box and got up. i fished out the DK eyewitness books [that were a book people special a while back] and some phonics cards and went down in search of breakfast.

SB was the teacher [as always] for the phonics cards, but I hope that she actually takes some note of my answers. I think it is going in, but no reading coming out yet. We then had a toss up between the shark and the volcano eyewitness book, and the volcano won out.

About half way through Chris reminded us that if we were going swimmin…. So a frantic getting ready and the usual SB exasperation with going out hurries. We did get there though – nice pool and reasonably quiet for the sat morning session. And [drumroll please] SB swam half a width unaided!!! Several times infact, floated on back and generally enjoyed water confidence. She is swimming like a drowning dog, but its a start! BB as always loved the water, kicking and waggling about.

Home to some joe the dragon addition and then fraction fireworks, plus the stackers. she finds numeracy easiest when she thinks in sweets, even if in her head!

Lunch was another SB palavar, as she really is driving me nuts with the not being bothered to feed, wanting to be fed rigmarole. I might not be so fazed, but she did actually starve herself between 9 and 15 months [92nd to 5th centile]

weather so good we put up mudpud camp gazebo – to find there is a piece missing! [is it with you layla??] BB had some toys on a mat, SB and I did part of a mosaic style banner until boredom set in. we the read the usbourne pocket science why people are different and 3 red nose readers. though i was reading, she is at least guessing words now. lots of general play/tickling messing about interspersed between the 3 of us. [chris mending the pond fountain]. SB has got much better at balancing, and was even scootering well. I wore different trousers today!

SB then put on a horseriding show while chris persuaded BB to nap, we also peeled and chopped veg for tea [my pretend south american dish – sweey pots, butternut squash, carrots broad beans and sweetcorn in a gingery chilli sauce. should be with couscous , but had run out, so rice and tortillas that SB makes into ‘sushi’]. The broad beans were own grown and about 5% were maggoty. We never really had pests in leeds as too far from any other veg growers i guess, and new made plot. What got me [and stopped SB helping] were that they pinged themselves all over the place – lovely! Anyway, you could pretty much tell the pods infected from the outside. When I find my veg growing books i will look it up. We ate outside again as such lovely weather. This was followed by looking at varoius seedpods – water and land iris, hellebore, sweet pea [everlasting] and a general scout around the garden. SB solemnly warned me not to eat any. I also introduced her to drosophilla – as there were manky cherries in the pantry!

While Chris did bedtime stories tonight, I have been having a kissy/raspberry giggle and ticklefest with BB – she has a great chuckle. She is now asleeo on lap, and chris coming down the stairs. What a lovely day!

general updates: littke nanny happy in convalescant/rehab cottage hosp. we will be visiting wed. My sister 34 tomorrow. not guiness [AKA Murphys] seems to have departed.

time for a limoncino and coffee!!

OH AND WHY DOESN’T MY GRAVATAR WORK??????

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, gardening, General, literacy, numeracy, SB-PE, science, Stringbean's HE

shhh, BB asleep

Posted on July 4, 2005 by | 1 comment

at last!
she does seem to have a very low sleep requirement. She had a good day playing today, and had fun bashing keys on baby toy to make a tune the hit herself with it!

chris took the girls swimming, which they enjoyed.will try and go reg on a sun early morn as well. SB keen on idea of lessons, but as monthly we seem to be spending more than i got for a full year as a student I think we may have to pass. [just done budget, and we are def on that trendy asset rich cash poor thing. ho hum!]. they both enjoyed it. SB also had fun with the baby toys and investigated new webland issue

When I escaped home, me ‘n SB hama’d a bit, read some phonics, podded beans ate tea and cuddled up with bedtime stories [ i fell asleep first]. since then i have budgeted [where is gorgeous alvin when you need him?], whizzed around blog ring, and played with BB – as she last slept pre teatime]. She has finally zedded out.

chris has put shelving in what will be craft cupboard, so hopefully can make headway in creating order out of chaos.

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, DIY/ house renovation, General, literacy, SB-PE, Stringbean's HE

Another home ed day captured

Posted on June 19, 2005 by | 1 comment

After the last day, I thought every so often I would capture a day in photos again, fairly randomly every once in a while to see what happens.

Today started with me making maggie and the ferocious beast stories up in our bed,, until my obvious sleepiness and halfheartedness persuaded SB to get up! She the started making her fairy garden with daddy – its an M and S kit, with marigolds and cornflowers, and some cut out fairies and a castle.

next was stage coach, where they are practising zippedeedoodah and summer holiday and sun has got its hat on for the end of term concert. SB has decided she definitely likes stagecoach, so thats good. Next sept she will go to ballet in the village as well.

On her return we finished the fairy garden, and put it in a heated propagator to get it off to a good start in the conservatory. While there we heard a live brass band, and remembered it was the float procession through the village today, so SB and I nipped out to the village centre to watch the floats and listen to the band.

Lunch was a pittapocket picnic on the lawn. very nice, and BB woke up, so had her puree on the lawn as well. Unfortunately, being nap free she also pooped on the lawn – sigh!

SB then played on her bike, my hammock and the climbing frame before settling down to pasticine and the monster stick in bits. however, when I brought a bowl of water and some plastic toys for BB to play with, this seemed much more fun, so she got her own bowl to do some more float/sink experiments. BB continued playing with the water all afternoon [with some snacking!]

When SB was starting to be a bit more adventurous with the water [over BB] I got out the paints and paper, and we cut out some stamps from sponges and did stamp picutres – very nice! even an alien world with two huge red suns. So I think we’ve caught up a bit on the craft front.

Before dinner she got out the cuisinaire rods and made patterns with them, and discussed with me the different steps you could make, and which ones to put together to make same lengths. She hasn’t assigned numbers to them. We then did some complicated game she made up, with looking at the phonics flashcard with her bouncing on the spacehopper, and me kicking a ball to her that she had to catch in a cup – a la mouse trap! She read out cat and knew it was cat. was really pleased when she red out fox and knew it was fox, until she admitted she had seen a flash of the back! She went off to teach daddy them with dinner.

After bath she got out her leappad and did the mother goose music one, and the richard scarry one. Both her and BB dancing to the music, with me and SB also singing. Bedtime stories, and the end of the day.

BB mostly investigated grass, a few toys, wriggling around and water today, with a bit of da teh and ra practice and lots of feeding. A bit of dancing, throwing about and general larking about~!

Weather was hot – luckilly a fair bit of shade in garden. We had a lovely day. I have got a box for chris for next week with some maths, some phonics and early readers, bit on the body, bit on people/religion, bit on garden wildlife and bugs so that should fit emergency ideas!

photos will be added to this a bit later.

Added by Chris

SB was having boiled egg for tea. ‘So what is egg yolk made from?’

‘Um, well…’ couldn’t think really of any sensible terms to use for 4 year old, so deflected the question by talking about what it is used for instead.

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Posted in art and crafts, Blogging, Butterbean, gardening, General, literacy, music, numeracy, SB-PE, science, socialisation, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE

Gentle Day – Quick Blog

Posted on June 16, 2005 by | 2 comments

We have had a gentle day today as both of us at home. Another execrable nights sleep though! I think chris was going to blog about the mice – so I’ll leave that to him! Also the singing thing that he took both girls to while I sorted out various paperwork things and fiddled with photos.

Homedad and G came back to our house, and he looked suitabley ‘windtunnelled’ after listening to SB and reading her 3 books.

We did some more reading, and I used the letter dice from Boggle to write 3 letter words for her to guess – which went quite well. She wrote words for me, mostly in ‘alien’! We did some adding and subtracting with bricks, playing Bob the builder, and looking at her dressing up clothes.

In the afternoon, she had found a bag of wool, crochet hok and one of those cotton reels with pins in for tatting. Once I’d taken the 3 meters off it that i had done as a child, we had a go, but the crochet hook was too big really to be easy – even diff for me so we stopped. We also had a go at macrame with the wool, but she found the knots too fiddley, so we’ve put it aside for when she is older. in between showers we have pottered about outside. Otherwise we have been dancing, singing and make believing. We did however do the craft robot that she has been wanting to make, so that’s good. We’ve all in all had a very happy day, with no real fusses.

BB has been very noisy! [mostly shouting duhduhduh] she is getting good at pushing herself around on her tummy, and investigating things, Also eating more and more. hopefully this will lead to a reduction in night feeds?? At the moment, i think she is attempting to bf from a dolly’s head – so one track!

This eve a work colleague came roud, and we spent 5 hours sorting out how to best get the forms and appraisals to get a consultant ticket. Lets hope that it works. Oh, and I really miss not having a working shower!

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Posted in art and crafts, Cooking, General, literacy, music, numeracy, Stringbean's HE