Category Archives: numeracy

Don’t Forget The Bacon !

Posted on September 15, 2007 by Daddybean | 1 comment

No, we haven’t suddenly turned carnivorous, this has been Butterbean’s saying of the week, they got it from the eponymously named book that we had from the library recently. So she has been running around shouting this a lot

Last couple of days they have been staying at my Mum and Dads, while I attacked a bit more of the arched window. Thursday they went to Mount Fitchet Castle, which was rather drier than when we were there last year.

Friday I think they just pottered about at their house. SB never had the chance for this at BB’s age, as they were all to far away. They do both enjoy going to stay there.
Rest of week, Tuesday is library day, so much reading of old books before we go. Made masks at Storytime:

Then home to read the new stash of books:

followed by a bit of tandem Starfalling:

After lunch, and bit of playing in the garden, Maths and Getty Dubay and then time to get going for swimming lesson, with a short play at the park in between.

Wednesday, umm…. There was some Maths and Getty Dubay, and Education city and maybe some other computery things in the morning, we did something else as well, which eludes me right now – I read something to SB. Afternoon seems to have disappeared. More reading though:

- Helen was back home from work by then. Until I took SB out for her Rainbows boat trip. She had a good time, hooked up with another girl there, R and they were getting on like a house on fire according to her mum who had gone on the boat as well. They had a bit more of a run around while we chatted until SB hit her head on a wall and we left wailing…. We will hopefully arrange a playdate soon. While we were out BB and Helen made another Chocolate Spread Cake:

A couple of snippets from Monday:

BB helped make scrambled egg:

They made this construction from chairs in the kitchen. It is apparently some sort of cot/bed/desk/sofa thing, with built in drinks thing for the baby:

1 Comment

Posted in Books, Butterbean, Daft Stuff, IT, literacy, numeracy, Out and About, photos, socialisation, Stringbean, writing

Mosquitos

Posted on September 10, 2007 by HHaricot | 4 comments

I am soooo fed up with them. Having a pond a bad idea – though the fish lovely, and BB always pretending to be a frog on a ‘leappad’. Aaarghh [scratches everywhere!]

Whilst I’ve been at work, there has been painting, a bit of maths and writing, lots of reading, DS-ing and ballet restarted.

On returning SB has done some violin practice – wailed hugely about doing it, and then was v pernicketty about getting it right beofre carrying on, so did way longer than I suggested – all v happily.

Make your own pizza for tea. Listening to french CD about colours. SB is now ds-ing rather than any joint activity, so I am feeling loose endish! BB asleep.

4 Comments

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

I’ll get told off again…….

Posted on September 8, 2007 by Daddybean | 6 comments

…if i don’t blog But I do have photos as well in mitigation.

So today, SB has read loads. Usborne Book of Ledgends before breakfast (Hercules I think), as well as a bit of Little hippo DVD (in German) which is one BB’s favourites -she can get it playing now, and select an episode sometimes. And if the folder of downloaded kiddy programs is open she can pick one of those and start that, though she hasn’t worked out how to make it full screen yet (“bigger! bigger!”). She is scarily competent at working the mouse for a not yet 3 yo. Thats’ what having an elder sister does I think.

We had a good sort out of the playroom, clearing up all sorts of detritus from the floor, under and behind sofas etc. SB did a great job at vacuuming it. I rather like the room when not carpeted with crap, just wish we could keep the table even sort of clearish for more than 3 seconds.

Put away more clothes in the girls room. I think that all their clothes that are washed and dried are now put away, a rare event indeed. SB tidied the floor again and made beds as she is on tidy room hit at the moment, then I vacuumed it for her. Did the bathroom as well while I was at it. 3 rooms, that’s plenty for one day .

More reading, she is very keen on the My little Treasury of Stories and Rhymes that she got from the library the other day. She spent an hour or so, before and over lunch reading it. By this point BB had decided to have napped, so it was all rather peaceful.

After lunch is was bit of maths – measuring from Singapore 2A, so pretty simple stuff really. A bit of Getty and Dubay, then they both went off into the garden to play for a bit whilst I started on dinner. Playing seemed to involve most jumping in the paddling pool, getting wet, and then running around like loons shouting ‘I’m bare , I’m bare” Had to make an impromptu run up to the potato farm for potatoes for dinner, where they managed to get a free apple each, by dint of being cute really I think..

Dinner made and in oven, SB had a go at some secret/magic writing, as H had brought home some Tincture of iodine which we had needed. Basically, write/paint of the paper with lemon juice, dip it in water with a bit of TOI in. Paper goes a darkish blue colour due to the starch. THE bit where the juice was stays lighter so you can read it, as there is a different chemical reaction between the acid in the juice and the TOI solution.

BB had been playing and pottering, but noticed she’d put on more Little Hippo This took us pretty much up to dinner time really.

After bath, (H was home by now) there was playing with the wooden train track, with the customary wailing from both children , a bit more Little Hippo. A bit of Education City (apparently i hadn’t let her earlier….???) and then bed. EVen BB who had napped for an hour was asleep by 9.

Started watching Regenesis last night, watched another tonight, quite enjoying them. Makes a change from the normal ‘policy’ type things. Though it is a bit like a microbiological Numb3rs when they launch of into an explanation of some aspect. Been also flipping between Eureka, which is enjoyable and lighthearted – reminds me a bit of Northern Exposure with it’s collection of slightly kooky characters, and Space Above and Beyond, which is mildly diverting, but a bit rubbish overall really. It’s getting bit repetitive now. It has an excellent collection of corny lines though, which is fun

6 Comments

Posted in Books, Butterbean, IT, language, literacy, numeracy, online resources, photos, science, Stringbean, writing

muttermutter

Posted on September 6, 2007 by HHaricot | 4 comments

Am awaiting yet another ‘news of the future’ update from where I work, so forgive my grumpiness!!

chris is not blogging much. SB has done some education city at the new levels today, which she said was much better. Some maths and writing, and reading an usborn science book.

Other than that,they went out shopping.

We played a bit when i got home. SB did some violin. its not ideal doing it so late as she gets frustrated much more quickly, and is very fussy about perfection. I shouldn’t complain, but it can take a very long time to get to the end of a piece of music . She did play beautifully though. She put on a bit of a dance show, and we also read some greek myths – ulysses
BB and I spent a bit of time looking at the pond skaters in our pond. SHe was pretending to be one too,showing me how she would have to put her legs, before turning into a frog on a ‘leappad’ . SHe has a beautiful mind for thought at the moment.

I love listening to both of them- separately! – when they decided to think through something. SB gradually adds in more and more detail, and possibilities and choices. BB often turns into a dialogue with herself. Lovely

Oh,and RIP Pavarotti.I have loved listening to you sing for many years. such a voice and such a talent.

4 Comments

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

Rainbows

Posted on September 5, 2007 by HHaricot | 8 comments

ALthough I would have quite liked to be at a not back to school party today, SB was ecstatic to be going to her first ever rainbows. We had regular countdowns throughout the day. SHe needs a blue polo neck – does that mean her group is blue then Michelle?

Anyway, lots of playing first thing with the 2 of them together and separately. Quickly romped through some maths and writing practice. SB is doing measuring at the mo, and so went on to measure all sorts around the house. Being of ‘a certain age’ we have various things measuring in inches, so we discussed why we do waists in inches, and heights in cm – well, actually we do that in feet and inches, just cm for you for clothes!

I read a number of books to BB at this point as a snuggle cuddle, and SB wanted in, so she read to us half of tell me how ships float, and I read the other half. A tie in with the magic school bus programme we had watched the other day. So we decided we could do the experiments in our head, and did so! She then played on the rainforest maths that t-bird had so kindly pointed out. BB also had a go too – but the nursery level is a bit above her so she was grumpy!

So BB and I did playing with playdough, and she made some cool monsters. Then was doing cutesy stories with them acting out. We were listening to french songs about time on a CD that I got from ebay. SB meanwhile was back with the DS getting her dog to be trained to ‘stick your bottom out’ ???

I’d had enough of children in different places, so we all reconvened to cut the green leaves to make our rainforest tree, that we were going to do when reading about the rainforest, but never quite got to. The girls loved the idea of sticking it on the wall [chris not so keen, so a paper backing compromise reached!] . SB was VERY tolerant of BB ranting.

SB then started drawing and colouring rainforest fruit and flowers to put on it, and BB and I did a jigsaw. SB remembered a lot of the rainforest stuff – yes, I know it was recent, but I don’t test recall, so never sure what goes in!

Then – drum roll – she cycled off to rainbows with Daddy. She sad it was all right, but will be more exciting next week as they are going on a river cruise – eek!

BB and I went out into the garden, as she was looking v sleepy. So we harvested beans for tea [surprise] watered the greenhouse and picked 2kg [!] of toms. BB very pleaed with this. I noticed that a lot of her harvested toms weren’t making it into the bowl! [we have some cherry toms as well as gardeners delight and tigerella]. Some of our peppers finally going red – making me v happy.

So I had started making spicy [allegedly mild, but i don't think so] red tomato chutney with our own toms and onions. And that sort of threaded through the rest of the evening. The house doesn’t smell too vinegary!

SB came back, and the girls did some more flowers and bitterflies, and those and the ruit are now all on the rainforest canopy. We have had a discussion about the understory and forest floor – we are not putting spiders there.

BB fell asleep in the sling again after tea – she has taken to being put in the sling at teatime. SB was doing her violin practice, so obviously has a soothing effect [rofl] . She then watched Nina and the neurons about taste and saliva before bed time.

She is presently waiting for me to go up and sleep in her bed tonight. I imagine she will force herself to be awake until I get in too. SO might nip up and cuddle her till she sleeps, and if stay awake nip back down.

Flickr has come back, so am flickring a backlog to be tucked into all the last posts!

8 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, Cooking, gardening, General, language, literacy, music, numeracy, science, socialisation, writing

Blogging for Chris – updated by Chris :-)

Posted on September 4, 2007 by HHaricot | 5 comments

Edited to add:

Pah! Gone back to Opera, forgot it doesn’t play ball with the editor in WordPress , does weired things to the formatting of the text. Don’t like it that much anyway, might go back to Livewriter. Though WP editor is better for adding photos with Joe Tan’s Flickr Photo Album Plugin

He can pad this out perhaps?

He can try…. Can’t much get into blogging lately – always seems a bit insubstantial, haven’t really read any or Twitter much either, I did add some bolding though. And capitalised – which bugs me.

Library – finished Wild Read. No certificates, medals, presentations or anything! nic, do you have any spare certificates??

It’s all pretty low key at ours, then again it isn’t proper library and is run by volunteers, i’m not sure exactly how the whole thing is arranged anyway. Some of the local town libraries are having a presentation of some sorts. Anyway SB was excited with her magic bookmark Girls sat down on the floor whilst having the ’1st of the month bikkies’ and sat reading books, so a good little advert for HE there

SB done some maths and getty and dubay.Her writing is getting very neat know, when she wants to make is so. I was encouraging her to write smaller to fir the writing in the boxes in the maths book, which seemed to make it neater for some reason. Maths was measuring things and estimating measurements. One bit was about picking the right scale of units for things – so she got highly amused by the idea of very big and very small things for a while.
SHe is v proud bedroom now spotless.Yup, she has organised the wardrobe – he clothes (arranged of course) at one end, BB’s at the other, all the empty hangers in the middle – who does that remind you of… ;-). She was going on about tidying things away a few times a day, and I did hear myself saying one of those ‘OMG I said a parenty thing’ things ‘yes, if you put things away when you’ve finished it odoesn’t get so much of a mess’. Now if only this parent could apply that…..

random playing – some naked playing in the paddling pool, a bit too much screaming and shouting indoors. Some drawing/colouring etc. BB is very much into ‘cooking’ with the play cooker. Have to do something about storing all the food bits though. We’ve got more than we had with SB, and it all now seems to end up all over the floor, and then take ages to tidy up. BB is also very much into playing with various people/animals etc. characters and can sit for ages playing little games.

Swimming – has level 3 and nearly level 4 sign off.Shame dad didn’t have enough change (£2.50) to get the certificate and badge though (shame she didn’t get it to this term, they are included in the cost now). In some ways it’s good to get back to having some things to hang our week on and structure it around, but I do find trisping off to things later afternoon a bit of a pain.

lots of DS-ing, and has finally got her dog trained to some commands!she waited up until 9 for me to get home, and put her to bed, chatting all the while, proud of her swimming, tidying and DSing. we also chatted about rods and cones in eyes.

BTW, last week they stayed over with my parents, went to Hunstanton, for a summer seaside trip. SB likes the seafront fairground there, as was excitedly telling BB about what things she might like to go on BB stayed awake until about midnight it seems…. (sleeping on the way home)

re-edited by Helen – what on earth did you do to the length of the text lines Chris – a right old mess!!

5 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, General, literacy, numeracy, Out and About, photos, SB-PE, Stringbean, writing

Abbalicious

Posted on September 3, 2007 by HHaricot | 3 comments

when I got home from work I was treated to an Abba dance display from both my girls. we will have to start u-tubing again. SB is getting a good wiggle, and was being v inventive with moves. BB was half a move behind, often trying to mimic big sis. lovely.

Earlier in the day they had been mostly tidying their bedroom! SB also read all the Quentin Blake bookset we got from the book people ages ago. she is turning into a real little bookworm. well, with 2 keen parents, I guess there is a good gene for head-in-a-book.

SB has done a minute bit of maths about measuring in cm and m. Also a single page of getty and dubay B for hand writing. [these were the requested somethings!!]

When I got home, Sb and I did some violin practice together, she did a bit of webland, and was very grumpy because she couldn’t spot what was wrong with the picture! I read to BB, and Sb and BB played cafe before watching a short bit of a magic school bus before tea.

Feeling boring at work and at home, with no sparkle. prob just from such a tough weekend sapping all vitality, but hope to improve!

edited to add. rather amusingly, when I got home chris went out ot buy some veg – i thought to avoid yet another bean meal but we had beans anyway! he then rang me as he had credit card and no PIN, so I had to scurry round the house to find the bit of paper with it written on. SB thought this weirdest of all, as he needed a number? we considered how many number combinations it would be before daddy guessed right, and her head was spinning v quickly!

3 Comments

Posted in Butterbean, Dance/drama, General, literacy, music, numeracy, writing

weekend HE

Posted on September 2, 2007 by HHaricot | 7 comments

BB is feeling very autonomous these days! she draws, she tries to read books all the time, she enjoys watching language videos: first fun with french/spanish, and bonjour mes amis. She loves the magic school bus tv programme and pretends her little bus is the same one and it goes on similar adventures! I’ve read to her a lot usbourne starting science books. She loves to sing and dance. go girl!! She also is being rather horrible to SB – often with no cause or provocations – i guess that is strong willed 2, but not happy for SB to bear the brunt of it, so behaviour modification required [for all of us]

SB not quite so industrious [rofl] has done some maths, lots of playing with barbies, tidying her room of doom. when I have been at home [some of today] we read some books together – on castles and evolution. yesterday she looked at countries on the globe and maps looking where nana and grandad and now nanny and grandad have been/are on holiday. She’s watched some nina and the neurons. She’s read lots of books herself – likes enid blyton short stories a lot. She has nearly completed her mosaic suncatcher. that might be about it! Oh, she has finally got to the top of the rainbows waiting list – woohoo!

7 Comments

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

rain rain go away

Posted on August 23, 2007 by HHaricot | 5 comments

you know, I am definitely grumpy that we have catapulted into Autumn with not much of a summer to show for it. today was miserable weather, the evenings are shorter. grumble grumble!

anyway, today we have had a bit more of a chill day. my parents left this morning, and both me and SB were doldrummy because of it. So we have read loads of books snuggled together with BB as well in a heap on the sofa. The new shelf reorganisation is OK-ed by BB and SB, and they have been picking books off left right and centre. SB very happy to find old favourites such as greek myths, archaeologists dig for clues and the usborne science books.

SO when i couldn’t talk at all from parchedness, i got out the pattern blocks and sheets, and the girls both made patterns for a bit, interspersed with ‘putering. Mostly webland and cbeebies. BB is exceptionally good at manipulating, mouse control and general ‘puter using. she switiches it on, goes into her screen, finds firefox and them the bookmark toolbar. or else webland explore – which she manipulates well too.

girls keen on baking, so went out for supplies, bt when I got back in, SB got all wobbly, so we called tots tv magic adventures french, and she snuggled in a duvet to watch it whilst BB and I made chocolate brownies. After that it was BB’s turn to get waily, so we snuggled together and she fell asleep.

SB and I made ‘rainforest’ cake – well, it had bananas and chocolate in it, which are rainforest ingredients. We thought adding rubber would be yuk, and that although we like carrot cake with cinnamon and nutmeg, they might be a bit weird with the coc and banana combo.

Since BB was still asleep, we then did some fimo-ing. SB made a particularly ace turtle, some cool beads and a weird ‘thing’ i think it was for putting babies in? We glossed some fimo things we had made before, and also threaded a necklace we had made from one of the bead merrily kits up.

SB felt perky enough to do a bit of maths, so she did, and I woke BB up – I know, cruel mum! so we did more reading squished together, including stories from around the world and various fairy tales.

We neede some more baking therapy so made some cheese scones all together. I forgot that earlier SB wailed as I had *made* her have some sweets in the shop – it was a treat! hardly compulsary. She then decided not to eat any of the cake. She has been complaining of tummy ache today, so prob that. However, being me, I am now panicking instead about eating disorders, so wondering what the best thing is to head it off. i would rofl at myself being concerned and paranoid if I wasn’t so concerned.

Might do a self image thing on positive things?? am i overreacting?? [and I am imagining you all think so, but...] Anway, we also did some piano practice. she enjoyed this enough to want ot do it again, and thinks she prefers piano to violin.

Anyway, both girls then happily playing together and then next to each other on the ‘puter until tea and bed. SB has started the next magic tree house book sunset of the sabretooth, she read me a chapter, and I read her a chapter of from lava to life [her choice, honest! i read anything she chooses]

BTW, i got some duplicate magic tree house 17-24 from the states – new in wrapping [8 books]. I could have got them more cheaply from amazon as paid $44 including postage – sigh. They would cost 17.39 through amazon [not put any postage there]. SO if anyone I know fancies emailing me a best offer, I’ll consider it before putting on home ed bring and buy or ebay.

#17: TONIGHT ON THE TITANIC
#18: BUFFALO BEFORE BREAKFAST
#19: TIGERS AT TWILIGHT
#20: DINGOES AT DINNERTIME
#21: CIVIL WAR ON SUNDAY
#22: REVOLUTIONARY WAR ON WEDNESDAY
#23: TWISTER ON TUESDAY
#24: EARTHQUAKE IN THE EARLY MORNING

This set is brand-new, unopened in original packaging/shrink-wrapping.

5 Comments

Posted in Books, Butterbean, Cooking, General, geography, history, language, literacy, music, numeracy, science, Stringbean's HE

The Good Life

Posted on August 22, 2007 by HHaricot | 4 comments

I went out and harvested again today – we have more beans than you can shake a stick at. I must learn the blanch and freeze thing.

My mum and dad came this morning to visit, and are staying overnight [just gone to bed]. SO a lovely day of chatting, playing. And my dad taking advantage of us having broadband [which he doesn't need at home!] to look at digital cameras.

Mum brought some sparkle and glitz jewellery links for the girls to play with – cue at least 2 hours of contentment, making necklaces, crowns and bracelets, and then selling at a shop. Cheap plastic tat, but oh what fun was had. I am a great believer in utilising cheap platic tat. I love the wood and natural things, but not sure my children would want all their toys without glitter and primary colours.

Also, along the way SB did some maths [just part of a section really, 15 mins as I am just keeping a bit of focus as we have had a proper holiday since about june I think!] and also L in getty and dubay – earning praise from my parents for her writing – she was most chuffed. My mum is a musician, so both children showed off their violin playing – well BB had a shrieking fit as I confiscated hers from being in danger of being broken by her wildness. But SB played hot cross buns beautifully, and mum gave her some useful tips and pointers on rhythm and bow speeds. In amongst all the playing, both mum, dad and I read to the girls various books, mostly the usbourne science ones as they are very noticeable in the new shelf arrangement. SB also had a look at the spotter book on dogs, and read out some of the rocks and minerals – pointing out we had found belemnites before. Cue more praise from mum. I shouldn’t really be so happy about this, but my parents are ambivalent about home ed. So having SB autonomously [and BB] pull books off the shelves and read them is rather a good thing I think!

But mostly we have played and chatted today. Mum and SB did a number of joint drawings. SB got mum to draw the people and some of the features, and SB drew the rest, and sometimes SB drew most and then asked mum to fill bits in. I worked really well. We all did some more of the fab sunflower mosaic as well.

Oh, and I have sooooo missed BOLDING that it is back!

4 Comments

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

Category Archives: numeracy

Don’t Forget The Bacon !

Mosquitos

I’ll get told off again…….

muttermutter

Rainbows

Blogging for Chris – updated by Chris :-)

Abbalicious

weekend HE

rain rain go away

The Good Life

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Meta

home ed blogs

useful links

Pages