Different Kinds of Maths.

Maths is taking different shapes and sizes, literally, after looking for how I can involve Little Miss August in more school, and do some slightly different work with Little H#3 at the same time to involve them together.

A while ago I downloaded a great number of Scholastic e-books, as they had a dollar sale. One of them was a shapes fun booklet. I thought a little geometry wouldn't do us any harm, and this was perfect for tracing practice for Little Miss August as well as easy but still useful work for Little H#3. 

She really likes tracing and colouring at the moment and I am really pleased with the new dimension this is giving our mornings.

 Finished shapes coloured in and traced, ready for cutting and sticking.

Big brother Little H#1 helping with the cutting and sticking. Helping sometimes takes patience (!) so this was good practice in co-operation too for everyone!

Little H#3 making his shapes bear with little assistance and patiently waiting while we shared one tube of glue around the family. Note to self: we must buy more now that even that one has run out. I think we do a lot of craft. :) That, in itself, amazes me!

This is the usual maths scene. Math-u-See. We use the little DVD player now for those who want to watch their lessons. Was lovely having everyone gather around the PC to watch everyone else's lesson but it just takes too long to get through the work. While the boys were working, Little Misses were using play dough on the toddler table next to the big table. It was their first time with the home made play dough so we got a lot of mileage out of it. Still in use although the novelty's worn off a bit. Have re-invented said play dough to include a maths activity for Littles some time this week.

And now for the unschooling variety. This is child-led Park Maths.

Mr L and his mum came to the park with us for a play date. He was obviously much heavier than Little Miss August. The children decided that this was  a problem that needed fixing.

Nope.Mr L < Little Miss August + Little H#3

 Mr L + Little Miss June > Little Miss August + Little H#2... only just. Keep trying!

Aha!!!! Mr L does in fact = Little H#2 + Little Miss June. 

Socialisation + Children = Happy mums chatting while kids do their own kind of school. 

No two children were exactly the same age.

It didn't seem to matter...

In sickness and in Homeschool... again!

Well we are in a health blip - nothing major but even if they were at school, Little H's #1 and 2 would be having a fair time off at the moment with a flu virus that just seems to be going on forever! No-one is spared, so with a family of 6 we having been nursing someone or other (usually more than one) for about the past 3 weeks...

School still goes on, kind of, but it has been even less formal (and less organised!) and there is beauty and blessing in that, as well as a bit of extra guilt and stress for me!

I have had a bit of an exploration of the NAPLAN standards, a year ahead, so that I can see where we are in terms of what is expected of Y3 which Little H#1 will be next year. Really the thing I am interested in is how the maths curriculum compares and I am glad to have looked at it now - not because we are going to go anywhere near NAPLAN next year ,but because I can see what gaps we have in what we are doing. I have listed those for myelf but a noteable one was logic problems. I used to love those as a child anyway and we haven't done much logic and not enough probability (which actually Little H#1 copes ok with). So I will supplement what we are doing in maths (I don't really feel the need to apologise for concentrating on number, but I will do some more of the other things to make sure we are a bit more rounded).

We did some beginner logic problems on Friday and I enjoyed doing something very different with Little H#1, and he enjoyed them too. They were free off the internet of course. :)

We also have done some money play and work recently - we definitely need to do more of that, and I think the time has come to start with pocket money and saving up and actually using money in shops.

The boys have been playing games really nicely too, and there is definitely an improvement in the patience of taking turns, accepting that they may not win, and also importantly being willing to attempt things like forfeits (or action cards, required in a lovely game we have called Bright Buttons). The Bright Buttons game is aimed at 3 year olds but even last year when I bought it, neither of the older 2 felt able to attempt any of the easy actions if they required physical movement or impersonations etc. So it's a nice game they can all play together and still get something from.

Little H#2 is very keen now and is asking for work even when ill, which is difficult because obviously it is harder for him to concentrate and he gets upset with himself for getting letters back to front or questions not quite right.

They have inspired me again with Bible time, we have had some lovely devotion times recently and Little H's #1 and 2 are reading fantastically from their Bibles. Little H#3 is also desperate for "work" but his attention span is age appropriate and it's a little hard to keep him engaged sometimes in preschooler activities. ANyway. I am trying to master setting work for 2 slightly different developmental stages (they are closer in maths than I might think) and soon I will have a better idea of how to balance all 3. There are those scholastic bliss moments (like hotweels maths last week) where they all work together, Little H#3 can join in and we all come away with something good. I will detail that lesson separately but here is a sneak preview:

Magnificent Monday...!

I like the sound of that. It's not exactly a MEME I doubt I will be able to have a Magnificent Monday every week, although perhaps I should make it my goal to try.

I had an idea for some slightly different Bible studies this week - recently we have been reading the Bible every morning together once our school day starts, but not really "studying" together.

Today I decided we would study and learn the Apostles' Creed for a while. We began with a nice clean and tidy playroom thanks to last night's clean up before bed. So we sat on the carpet together and I first read them "You are Special" by Max Lucado, which I had thought about this weekend but wasn't sure which book case it was on... one of the boys found it and had it ready to read without me even mentioning it, so that saved a hunt around! Little Miss climbed around on me while I read it, the others listened (thought LittleH#3 was in a climbing mood so wasn't quite so easy a listener!). We discussed what it meant, and we had a few nice moments discussing that and remembering LittleH#3's special scripture "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Ps 139:14 I think, from memory.

We went from there to the Apostle's Creed, LittleH#2 read it out, then I read it line by line to LittleH#3 and he repeated each one after me (Godparents please note I am keeping my promise and teaching them this prayer!!!!), then LittleH#1 also read it and we said it all together.

Then, amazingly, the older 2 demonstrated just how much of the prayer they could remember. I'd say for LittleH#1 it is about 80% with prompts to get it all right. LittleH#2 isn't far off either.

We discussed the prayer and I told them a bit about it (hadn't got to Luther's small catechism but had got it out ready in case it was needed for us to sit and explain the different aspects of the prayer). LittleH#1 asked me whether it was a prayer to defend us against the enemy. I said that it is a prayer that describes our faith, what we believe. He said that was what he meant - he thought the prayer was like the shield of faith to defend us from fiery arrows (he held his arm as if holding a shield).

Well that amazed me actually. What a good way to look at a prayer that describes what we believe. The enemy does in fact tell us lies - about many things but does try to take away from what we believe. We can equip ourselves by learning prayers such as this - the basics of our faith on which the universal Christian church is agreed. I think teaching the children this summary of our faith now will be an invaluable tool, or weapon in their armoury, later.

As I washed up, I built on my original ideas and I think we can do something good with the Apostle's Creed, Armour of God, Fruit of the Spirit etc. A little H-production perhaps. Bit like the Sunday School one last week, except maybe a bit better organised and they won't be stuck at the back where no-one can see them!!!! ;)

So the copy work for today was writing out the Creed (LittleH#1), writing out the first 2 lines and doing a drawing (LittleH#2) and we are making the full written version of LittleH#1 into a shield display.

Other than that- we have done practical maths - baking - weighing and measuring (they are good, and surprised me with the sums I asked them to do while we did it), and money maths (counting and sorting the coins in the Peter Rabbit money box).

In between times, LittleH#2 has been devouring books today, I love that he can be a bookworm at 5. He's read predominantly Christian books today, actually, so it has been a good start to our week and perhaps a bit of a rededication to the Almighty God who has called us to this work.

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...

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...

Domestic Science / Home economics?!

Well whichever of those 2 are more appropriate (can think of good reasons for either) it's not exactly Rocket Science. At least not in our house!

This morning we started back into Miquon with a little bit for everyone - even LittleH#3 did some geometry on a page requiring identification of squares and triangles and then a funny little picture of a man made out of shapes to colour in. That kept him busy for about 2 minutes and my 'village school' type idea of teaching everyone in the same room was good / interesting / still needs work but on the right track!

LittleH#1 had some multiplication pages to do, and I also tore some sequential work out for LittleH#2 as well as finding him some number handwriting pages for practice. Learningpage was the best in the end, but I also did some in orange highlighter for him to trace over. He got frustrated and was sad because his numbers don't look good on paper, and a lot came out backwards today for some reason. That hasn't happened for a while (he is left handed and has done more backwards writing than LittleH#1 did when he was starting out). I told him his head was ahead of his hand and that I know how frustrated he feels. I told him that he was really good at 'mental arithmetic' but that we need to work on 'writing maths' and am kicking myself for letting him do a year of letter writing practice as and when it was appropriate, but not having practised numbers in the same way. So a numberwriting crash course required. He's only 5, it doesn't matter, but he really wants to do maths and writing work so I need to have some 'handwriting time' organised as part of each day.

The multiplication went well for LittleH#1, and a few pennies dropped along the way. We discussed how you describe the sentences - 2 times 4, 2 lots of 4, 2 4's etc, and 4+4. In fact I am pleased that we got a lot out of a fairly simple page - that is what I like about Miquon - it isn't too prescriptive. I am also kicking myself for not buying the online version because LittleH#2 could have done that page as well, and wouldn't have had actually to write any numbers. Think I may well be downloading it later because I am trying to use the Orange Book for both of them and I randomly copy pages before I use them but I didnt do that from the start... I sound like I am in a muddle... I'm not, I'm just trying to save money on resources! For now we are sharing the book. LittleH#1 is further ahead in the book, and I left some of the early pages for LittleH#2 intentionally.

Following lunch (the strangest cheese on toast I have ever made - bacon, eggs, toast, peanut butter and honey on toast - spot the deliberate mistake - no cheese...) we had a lesson in first aid when LittleH#3 fell over and hit his head and nose on the floor. Nosebleed was quite distracting and it wasn't till I put him to bed I saw the bump. LittleH#1 was very good - brought me the frozen peas and teatowel, phone (for moral support!) and then picked up the runaway peas when the drama was over. Lots of good pea jokes and the boys are getting very good at making puns. Need to teach them some other literary devices but for now that one is keeping us very amused. Better than the joke book LittleH#1 is reading. Maybe a school project might be for him to write some of his own jokes down?

I was very pleased with LittleH#1's emergency situation response - something that is a goal for us this year actually.

Currently the home ec project is in the oven. We have jokingly called it Domestic Science (because they like science so I gave the kitchen some Importance in our school!). Today's 'lesson' was a mix (ha, get it?!) of both. We had to 'make' some ingredients before we could make the cake.

• Had no vegetable oil. Needed 100mls. So I 'tested' with LittleH#1 whether 100g of margarine will make 100ml of oil - it just about did. Not sure either measurement was THAT scientific but it did the job.
• Had no caster sugar. Did something I have wanted to try for a while. We put the raw sugar in the blender and made caster sugar. Apparently if you keep going you can make icing sugar. I do believe that. I think ours was a halfway house between caster and icing.

So we have learned how to be economical with what we have got, how to make oil from solid margarine, reinforcing what we know already about 'matter'. As well as how to cook.

Next stop: walk to the shops. I think we will continue with 'tables walking' as really that is the next landmark I want to get to - learning a few of our tables.

In the meantime LittleH's 1 & 2 have been teaching themselves geography with the Leapfrog globe. Reporting exciting things to me as I wash up the dishes and now they are drawing flags. LittleH#2 just showed me the Libyan one he's just drawn. They began looking at continents and discussing volcanoes / islands made from volcanoes / funny names they'd never heard of before. I must record all this 'extra' / natural learning because it makes a very interesting picture overall when I look back, as we have for the review. I really do see these extra 'learnings' as God's provision to us as a family - his provision in the form of their learning.