Category Archives: numeracy

going swimmingly

i got up early, we got going early. Played games, did jigsaws. Home ed – S singapore aths and handwriting, B counting and pattern making [rofl! both did the europe jigsaw, we looked for diff countries and discussed that it is SO old there are 2 germanys. SB has quick;y cver t cover read a fairy book. BB did a lovely hama butterfly. we watched numberjacks and roar.

the afternoon was mostly going swimming  – finding costumes, dong wees, finding corocs  you get the picture! we all had a lovely swim.

Back, and some violin practise -well 2 actually  from SB, games with BB, a picnic/cafe reenactment. loads of jump ahead level one and poisson rouge [SB,BB]. SB coloured in french colours, and we had our french conversation.

tea and bed. There, all done. total week from H*** at work next wee – just hoping to keep head above water.

I hate migraines

I should be a a 20 years since started uni reunion. instead, as I was baking, a massive headache started. I have taken max doses of everything in my posession, fell asleep from 2-4 but still too crap to go. only now surfaced really in last hour. SHOUT AND SCREAM.

we baked cookies, SB did some maths and writing, and read about romans. she also apparently did loads of zoombinis.

Earlier this am, when I was fine, the library did a very late medal and certficate presentation for big wild read, so we went to that.

chris making me a cards dinner, and then I might fade away again, and hope for better day tomorrow.

argh, eek, aahhhh

or words to that effec. feeling a bit blog stuck, so will perhaps just type!

Rainbows – i really, really hate it mucking up my wednesdays. especially when i now go in occassionally in the morning to earn a bit more. humph. positives though, are the playdates she has had with R. They have got on like a house on fire, and she lives in the village.

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Just what we had hoped for from rainbows to be honest. Also, that BB and I spend time together without SB feeling jealous, or me feeling i am juggling things. thats nice as well. So I forgive rainbows, but only just!

Teeth – what a total palaver that has been! mon Sb got herself really worked up by the tooth hanging on by a thread, so we had a really long bedtime settle down, lots of hugs and chats. No good, it was to thread like and she couldn’t sleep, so in the end I pulled it out. Fabtastic, tooth gone. the next night loads of wails and tears that losing her baby teeth. I wonder whether she is worried about getting older? Something other than just the teeth must e at he bottom of this. Again as massively long reassuring bedtime. tooth replaced. I want to smooth out her life and protect her from all upsets. But teeth trauma? what is that about.

numberjacks. BB is totally besotted and adores them. she knows all the characters and makes up her own stories. She would also like to just watch back to back, but can be ditracted!

BB is just such an adorable pickle. If we say no, and she goes with it, she has this sad head down walk she does – often! and I love all her phrases ‘sorry ’bout that’ etc. SHe is very good at sorting shapes, and very careful with her painting and makings. SHe loves to be loved.

So yes, I feel, as always , blessed by my children.

eek – I was speaking to someone at work who was considering having a hysterectomy [for fibroids], as now she was 40 she had no real need for ‘those bits’. I think its the first time that I have been so acutely aware of time ticking and the biological clock. I am nearly 39! How did that happen? If I want to think of a third child and all the fertility nightmare, then I need to do it sooner than later. argh

But we did a lot today. Whilst I was at work. SB rattled through some maths and writing, and we did a violin practise together. We watched Nina and the neurons and some mr maker or something programme, and he made a string painting tree. Both girls desperate to do that, so I got string and paints and patted myself on shoulder at following through. SB proceeded to paint her ‘rainbow box’ and BB insisted on having one too. So they did that. both exceptionally careful with their design.

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We then decided to do some games. BB chose SB’s fiendishly difficult fish puzzle from E and R. Both girls made a stab of it, and S did rather well. It degenerated into some non-sharing [BB] so we changed tack and played Hisss . I read both the romulus and remus story. SB also did some first language lessons – we are jumping forwards skipping out chunks!< /p>

get the game! Mega ocean game

Rainbows [SB fetchingly dressed in asda skirt [thanks t-bird] looking v schooly], and Chris helped out to a visit to the library and SB v excited. BB and I fed the fish, cuddled, played snap, made ice lollies and were making choc oat muffins when Sb and Chris returned.

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SB did some cbbc complicated games (Edit – link added by Chris – it’s the BBC Bitesize KS2 bit) math based with means/medians and modes, making pictographs, looking at probaility. all sorts of things we haven’t covered but she soon grasped. BB watched muzzy[her choice] but when sleep seemed to catch her both were whisked upstairs for a bath efore tea. [ken hom and noodles, yummy]

SB and I played some more games before her bedtme. I started to mindmap a whole day of interactve postgrad teaching/lecturing that i foolishly vounteered for, thinking that I could persuade others to help out – nope! ny 6 hours to fill [aargh]. So the computer has been playing up! SO now chilling, blogging and watching regenesis – ahhh.

Beading very Merrily

Hmm to work! I had to go in today. Got back however mid morning. Decided we would have a relaxed kind of day. SB, however, wanted to do the whole of one of the revision exercises in her 2A workbook [nearly finished] so did that, and BB and I started beading. We were threading some wooden beads onto scoobidou threads. BB wanted to make some bracelets after reading the yellow moon catalogue. So we did LOADS, she was really careful and happy. though periodically she pickeed up by the knotted end and lost them all… SB also joined in.
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We then did some violin practice – got to the G string, which is uncomfortable, so only a short practice. Sb wanted to read her library book about Australian animals. We had a look for Australia on the globe, and then with both girls piled on me we flicked through, talking about the ones they were interested in, which ones I had seen in Australia etc. The snakes interested them both, so naturally led onto a game of Hisss. This remains a great game to play altogether. It takes about the length of BB’s attention span without creating havoc, and both girls enjoy it.

Then, by popular request there was a short break watching numberjacks and something based in cartoons in african savannah. After this I got out the wacky wigglers/oogly googly gears, and both girls played happily. SB and I finally did some SOTW with a nice big cuddle. We have arrived at Emperor Constantine. BB and I read a BIG book about dinosaurs as well, and we went outside to pick veg and I got stung by a bee. humph.

Some more general playing around, and then SB and I looked at DK’s atlas of archaeology she picked from the library at the paleolithic section – ties in with our nearly finished magic tree house book. She the went on to read other library books, and I read some to BB.

All read out, SB off to rainbows and BB and I made pasta sauce with our own tomatoes, onions, aubergines, french beans and one chilli [though picked loads today], and added some spinach and red peppers- all whizzled up so nothing identifiable. Then olives, red lentils, chickpeas, peas and sweetcorn added to it when cooking – and the Hendersons relish. It was yummy. For me it had a slight appearance of bolognese – but I doubt regular meat eaters would agree.

We read some more and it was apparent BB falling asleep, so emergency bath. SB returned and joined in, so then messy pasta for tea – ermm, a bit of an oversight there! After tea an even longer beading fest, followed by a natural history DVD and bed. She is up there reading a Horrid Henry book at the mo. BB flaked out – yippee.

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We had a good day today, with lots of cuddles and minimal wailing. Though SB and BB are not necessarily rubbing along all the time, which is stressful.

Oh, and so I don’t lose it, a link to an evolution ‘plan’ that goes with one of our books

Time and Motion.

Where does it go?  the time that is. OK i know I’m an expert at frittering it away, but I find it somewhat annoying when I’m not and it still goes and disappears on me. I think I need to do a  time and motion study to see where it has all gone during the day.

BTW, H pinched most of the piccies for her post below, So I’ll refer you there for illustration :-)
Monday 

As soon as H was off to work, girls watched a couple of Numberjacks episodes – BB is a real addict for these at the moment. Then it was into the bath to clean up from the camping weekend – They’d been out for the count when we got back Sunday night.  Then it was off to the shop for bread and milk and home for breakfast.

After breakie the girls made cards for their cousin E’s birthday (a day late  – ooops…). We couldn’t find any colored card, so made a another trip out to the (relatively recently opened and quite useful) stationery shop for supplies. BB insisted we needed glitter, so we bought some probably expensive glitter from there as well.

Home for productive card making. SB had plan to make a Dorothy from the Wiggles from instructions in one of the kiddie magazines around here. She did really well, I showed her how to trace using some greaseproof paper and give her a bit of help with that and some cutting out. Other than that she sat  and did it all herself – spending ages working on it – basically the rest of the morning. Did some  lovely and careful small writing in it and addressed the envelope nicely as well. BB had fun with the glitter :-). and then spent ages organising things out of the camping food box. She is very much into organising and sorting things out at the moment.
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BB couldn’t quite wait for lunch though :-) :

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After lunch and a bit of running around and playing nosily SB did some maths while BB spent ages making patterns with the Cuisenaire rods. And then Helen came home, then after bit it was time for Ballet. While  SB out at Ballet, H and BB made some biscuits.

After ballet, SB did violin lesson with H whilst I got dinner. After dinner, with BB off to bed H and SB played some maths card games 

Tuesday was basically a reading day. After breakfast, rereading the library books before we took them back. Off (early for once) to the library for storytime – SB did a fruity wordsearch and made a fruity picture. Eventually prised them out of the library, home to finish off some of the camping Bourbon biscuits and read the new books before we had lunch. After lunch I chased them out of the kitchen whilst I tidied up a bit. SB was going to come back and do maths, but she settled down with books again on the sofa – spent about another 1 /1/2 hours solidly working her way through the books.

BB played happily for ages with the dolls house and the ‘people’  – she is very much into playing these sorts of games as well at the moment. Somehow the rest of the afternoon disappeared in maths, cooking tea etc. before going out to swimming lessons.

After lesson and dinner, whilst I was putting BB to bed (H still marooned at work) SB (unasked) emptied the dishwasher and put it all away, and washed up the plated and cutlery from dinner. So I let her stay up a bit longer and watch some TV. By the time she was settled in bed H was on her way home and it was time ti flop into our various heaps.

BB Baking

BB really enjoys baking. it is our secret treat when SB at ballet on Monday. this time she wanted to make biscuits

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SB and I did piano and violin before we ate the yummy biscuits. Earlier in the day they both enjoyed the cuisinaire rods – SB doing areas, and BB patterns.

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both also made fab cards for their cousin E’s 4th birthday.

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no idea what they have done today as  was to late home.

Finding things

Had my hospital appt about knee =bursitis . good.

Had a chat with SB about what to do today, so the plan was to do maths and writing quickly , some piano, baking, and experiment and paint her dinosaur. Not much then! We found the 2A workbook, and SB rampaged through the weights bit of that – nearly finished. Then did ‘S’ in getty and dubay B, and some extra writing while I got stuff ready for making banana loaf. She decided to do the writing inside a box – picture below – and had a wail as Daddy took a picture, and I collected beans with BB.

BB meanwhile had done her match and sort but us playing a rocket game, we counted down from ten, and then she had to go off and find the right numberjack. She also did some very careful painting, and put on a french song CD about animals for them both to listen to. we did a lot of jigsaws.
So we made up over banana and white choc drop loaf – an extra banana and it is truly squidgy and gorgeous. must make for Melrose. yummy. SB and BB mostly were able to share the task – today they have not been receptive to the aternate sibling receiving any attention – makes for fun. SB found the magimixer we have had for ages from brightminds and was having fun sorting it out.

learning to multitask!!

Following that SB did piano practice, and BB did some afterwards – more randomly! both felt tired, so watched some Muzzy german cd 1 while I made cheese on toast for their lunch to refresh the parts…

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Following lunch I put out some options for SB – facepainting, science experiment, dinosaur to paint or ‘something else’. We did the bio clock – and no, we still haven’t made it work. I think SB thinks all experiments are doomed – its just like my Nuffield Physics course all over again.

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SB chose to do some quick violin practice – she wants to finish the book, get a certificate and then learn some Christmas songs.

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BB stayed asleep in my arms. SB also did a dancing show, the asked or face painting. I am not particularly skilled, but think this wasn’t bad.

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SB painted her dinosaur – but for some reason, although I was sitting next to her trimming green beans, I didn’t take any photos. We did test the yummy cake – very difficult to resist eating it all. BB woke up, and we all did some of SB’s mosaic picture.

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BB-isms. She does like to say ‘fantastic’ a lot. Also, when I want a kiss, she always says I ‘have to say something’ whether or not I have said please. Oh, and I love her ‘how about that then?’
We finished the day with bath, tea and a general chasing fun around the upstairs, ending in fits of giggles. our usual bed routine of taking it in turn to read, but with BB snuggled up to without being a scamp. A good end, because at several times, I was looking at BB and SB who had wound each other up into a shrieking and wailing frenzy thinking I could perhaps be at work. But only a couple of times. Mostly, I would rather be at home.

Oh, and we found BB’s lost croc. But we seem to have lost my camp socks!

trying to get back on track

before you all shriek, I just don’t think we are home edding to the best of our aptitude and ability. I’m not wanting to do school at home or anything, and quite happy with our mostly child led, but I’m not sure we are giving the wings as it were to fly. hmmm and more hmmm. lots of cogs and little whirring!

Anyway, we had a dreadful night. SB required feeding at somewhere between 3 and 4 am. BB woke up somewhere between 5 and 6am… So we were not at our peak!

After a very slow start to the morning, SB did some weighing things in kg and g, which we generously called maths. we have lost the 2a workbook – bugger!! Also need to scan some more Getty and Dubay. But we did read Usbornes who were the first people to go along with our magic tree house book. We looked onto the globe to see the spread of humanity out of Africa, and how it took a long time but in the end the whole world had humans on it – a bit of diversions about getting to America, australia and some islands but not all!! We also did some violin practice [onto the E string!] and some education city – english, which was tricky for her as she had decided earlier levels too easy, so on level 3 – decidedly not too easy! She read to me some stories, and I read some barefoot stories to her. This lead to a discussion about Hawaii, and islands being created by volcanos.

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BB did some chair fixing with daddy. We have had a trick broken chair for about a year now, and BB has fixed it – well done BB!! She was very proud. BB also did some ‘match and sort‘ counting up to 20 [she misses out 15 and 17, and looking at her numberjacks numbers to try and recognise which one was which as part of a game. She has also watched the magic school bus, and played snowman on starfall.
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After lunch :¬) we went to The Deep End to see their not so new anymore house and have a play. Also took some of the experimental carrot cake, which we all agreed didn’t taste a whole lot like carrot cake, but was quite edible even so! Children played, SB baby worshipped, adults nattered. ALl very enjoyable. Left an hour later than planned – oops.

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SB and BB therefore fell asleep in the car, so jiggled them about at home long enough to get tea into them. SB went to bed at 7, BB had a second wind, so watched 64 zoo lane and has finally succumbed. Regenesis and a coffee for us.

Christenings and Chatting

We went to A’s Christening [the Deep End] today. Sang one of my favourite hymns [always good]. Baby A had a comical expression when being liberally doused with the water. And after the baptism, when the children left for the creche/sunday school, there were periodic loud shrieks from that direction – often v clearly my two!

Chris was particulary impressed by the apple bread pudding cake – as were most of the rest of us, though the flapjack was my fav. Got to chat to Babs and Chris and some other home educators I haven’t seen since 1st Melrose. Children were like loons.

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Back to one of the godparents houses [did they know what they were letting themselves in for?] for a very relaxed bring something lunch and out in the garden afternoon. Apart from a bit of adjudicating periodically at the trampoline, the children were all v autonomous, having great fun. Also managed to give Melrose form to Babs – talk about speedy!
Thanks Bob and Katy for invite, and to godparents for hosting the afternoon.

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We are home now, still full from lunch – well, the girls are having tea, watching the dinosaur one of the magic school bus. I have to say, thanks to the SOTP crew for introducing us to the delights, but a lot of info is stuffed in these programmes. So tempted to buy all the books! SB also been making great 3d shapes with polydrons.

Need to do manic house tidying tonight as Canadian Aunt visiting on Wed – woohoo!! am really really looking forward to it. I haven’t seen her since my sister’s wedding

Protectiveness and loving

I think I am probably over protective wrt SB. I love her dearly,and she has such a gentle soul and personality. She is so caring and generous. It means that I struggle with the her being upset thing. I was always so totally useless at the making friends and social thing at school. I still am really, but try hard. I just don’t seem to have the cues that do social things well, and still stumble.So how do I help SB? I think she is prob better than me, I hope so anyway. I don’t have the same worry for BB. She is a rascal, and no doubt I will one day be worrying more about her forcefulness.

Anyway, SB came back from Nana and Grandad’s with a present of earings and a necklace that she bought for me [with grandad's money!] She wanted to give me it because she loves me so much and I work hard. aaah. i was very emotional! Getting an unexpected present from your daughter when you are at a low ebb is a massive mood booster.

Wearing my new jewellery from SB

OK, so moving on. today I got home at about 10, and although sorely tempted to throw myself into bed I managed until about 2 to read books, snuggle watching the magic school bus, aid playdough and singapore maths, and read some then and now style books on homes and food, and a bit about cavemen. We listened to a french music CD about days and months I did want to do violin and piano with SB, but couldn’t keep eyes open so had a nap while Chris cycled with the girls to the fruit farm, and then they ran about wildly for a bit.

When I groggily came too again,it was tea time and the girls were in the bath – how did that happen?? I sorted out our Melrose forms. We had tea and both girls made some cards, for the christening tomorrow and for Chloe. Read some Magic Tree House. Hopefully will feel more wakeful tomorrow.