Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Maths again...

Successful morning eventually, after a very bumpy start: I was feeling terrible and not sure I could even get out of bed let alone manage the day, and there were multiple tears when it was time to put the lego away, and phone call from England about Mum and Dad's disastrous holiday (we seem to be doing a good line in those!!!!)... All this delayed Matthew getting to work and it wasn't looking good.

But I remembered that things always improve when the boys have work that they are keen on, and LittleHs #2 and #3 are very keen to join in with maths especially. The other day they were nagging me for work too so that is very good.

LittleH#1 and I tidied the playroom while the others watched playschool. Then we began... I got the Sparklebox number doubles jigsaws out for LittleH#1 while LittleH#2 did number writing practice. His maths is good but at the moment he can't really write the numbers very well and gets frustrated, unless he practices them first. So I write the numerals 1-9 out with highlighter, and he traces them. Then he writes his own row. He enjoys that so I'll make the most of it!

LittleH#1 did the number doubles - 1 to 10 - said that he did them all by 'trick' (ie he knows them without adding them up) rather than 'cheat' (that's where you use any method to work out the answer). Rebranding calculations and calling it 'Trick or Cheat' last year got us out of a 'can't do it' rut. We haven't been back there with maths since, thank the Lord! I did feel it was Godly inspiration at the time and it certainly did the Trick...!

I found a number facts addition table on the computer so sent LittleH#1 to colour the doubles in, and that was good practice for using a table. LittleH#2 was frustrated because his column went out by one square (I gave him one but knew it was too hard but thought he could try it while I put Little Miss August 2009 to bed for a nap she was really desperate to sleep!). But anyway, we will do that together with a ruler another time.

I then set LittleHs#1 and 2 on measuring in centimeters from the Miquon book, and that was very successful. The tags for the writing of the measurements were fairly small but LittleH#2 did a great job, and that's really thanks to my mum's advice about practising the writing of numbers before actually beginning the maths.

While the older two did 'real' maths, LittleH#3 and I did some work with the laminated numeral cards I made last year. I have three coloured sets. He laid them out in order and we practised counting them with brain, mouth and finger going same speed. That still needs more work! His brain and mouth are far too quick...!!!

Finally by this time it was 11am and I decided on morning tea now that I can face food again and I grilled English muffins and we had them with peanut butter. After the weekend when LittleH#1 either shamed me or made me look good (I feel the first, but it was taken by everyone else to be the latter!) by calling a piece of cake a 'half of a quarter' I decided we need to learn 8ths. So we cut the muffins in half, grilled them and then I did mine gradually in to quarters and eighths. I have explained to the boys I don't expect them to remember it the first time (think I have mentioned eighths before anyway) but it is good to at least start to look at fractions a bit more in depth. There are some Miquon fraction pages where we have got up to in the Orange Book.

I need to make a decision about Miquon now, because LittleH#2 needs to start maths work properly, and the early pages were used up when we began homeschooling last year. I think you can get it as a download and then print the pages, but I am not sure whether that's the best way for me to get it or not. I do quite like flicking through and tearing the pages out. We'll see. The other option is Math-U-See but I am not sure whether to invest in it or not...

Anyway, as we ate our muffins I read them a chapter of Proverbs - they wanted me to read the chapter corresponding with the date. I have picked a proverb out of that for LittleH#1 to do some copywork but there wasn't a great deal suitable for that.

They've had a play outside and that takes us to lunchtime. We are back into maths at least, but somehow I need to begin to do English properly again. I have some resources intended for Charlie and The Chocolate Factory which LittleH#1 read in a few days last week so I think we may begin there...

Not bad so far for a sickday. Really hoping that I don't feel worse tomorrow because it's a big weekend ahead of us... Was supposed to be Spring cleaning this afternoon. We'll see...

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Encouraging.

Just a little encouragement for me, today, when I need it.

Verse for the day on Bible Gateway just now as I have logged in is:

"I have chosen the way of truth. I have set my heart on your
laws."
Ps 119:30.

I suppose its my signature verse. Maybe a life verse. A personal one, rather than the ones we have for ourselves as a family.

Encouraging to see it today, on a day where I have really just felt like I need more from God, some sort of break through in my spiritual life; a kick start. Its a gentle encouragement and reminder to me. Maybe God is whispering to me. Not speaking loudly, or being 'obvious'. I need to sit still and hear the whisper. Good. I'll try that - less striving, more listening.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Surprise...!

Da Da.....!

Back. And almost in the saddle again too. That is the surprise. We are actually starting to find normality (only been back 3 weeks!) and have done two mornings of maths with some other things thrown in. Wow, that's good, it's only Tuesday!!!

Have photos to post of Scholastic Bliss but they are on LittleH#1's camera and I need to find the cable and work out how to get them onto the computer. Or better still, I will let him do it.

LittleH#2 is extremely keen and #3 is also showing signs of promise. We sat together yesterday and did a little maths cutting and sticking exercise. LittleH#2 did it alone and for him I really wanted the discipline of the cutting practice and following the instructions, the maths was easy. But LittleH#3 wants to do school a bit now too, so I cut his, and he did the counting with my help (counting aloud is faster than his finger, so we need some co-ordination there!) and he is bombproof now with number recognition. I know he's 3 1/2 but I still think that's good, and although I realised about 6 mths ago he knew his numbers pretty well we hadn't done anything about it, like work or anything!!!

We've made some new friends recently, and I have a few things up my sleeve for myself too - Christian fellowship with other HS mums (fantastic mix of ages of children, backgrounds, and probably homeschool styles) and also latest idea: craft circle - I want to make a Waldorf Doll for Little Miss August 2009. She's going to be 1 soon and I would like her to have it for her birthday. So far we are unspoilt for dolls (ie we have none). None, that is, because we had a tiny little plastic baby doll that was v cheap (sort of an unwanted gift) and it had a strange smell. I decided the chemicals were probably volatile and didn't want her to eat / inhale / play with those kinds of molecules...

Recently have had lots of hope that we are not alone, God is providing for us in

many ways, and we are in a new chapter. Will save that for next post, but hopefully come back to this one when I have a couple of photos to add...