Feather on a Breeze

Look What We Did Today!

2012-01-28T19:43:00.001+08:00

We had a massive toy purge and reorganised our main learning space, yay! Just in time for school to start back on monday. So here's what it looked like when we emptied EVERYTHING out ...

and here's what it looks like now.

School supplies and curricula are on the Ikea shelving unit. Dressups are all hung nicely on the clothes rack. Thanks D for this great idea!

Some bigger extras that i couldn't find a better home for.

LOVE the Ikea Trofast frames housing cars, threading 'stuff', trio, little people, playdough 'stuff' and duplo. Smaller unit to the right housing baby doll clothes, Possum's toys, train set and doll house 'stuff'. Probably need to move the world map and multiplication charts a bit higher on the wall now.

Finally the top of this sideboard looks neat. Mostly taken up with books, the CD player, the mouse house and a ready supply of paper and pencils in the draw units. The crate with wheels at the end is our new library crate.

Our workboxes all loaded ready to go, science in a nutshell kits to the left and ontop of the Trofast frames are out BUILD materials.

You might be wondering about the desks. We usually school on the kitchen table which is just on the other side of the half wall where the workboses are. Although i was talking with Rusty this evening about getting a large table that we can all sit around so that we don't have to pack away at mealtimes. We will see what happens there.

We are all really looking forward to getting started with school this year. Just a few more things to finish organising tomorrow and we will be back to our full schedule on Monday! We have really enjoyed schooling 'lite' over the summer.

Warm wishes

Amber

No Avoiding Converting DVD's :(

2012-01-26T14:32:00.001+08:00

We are back from holidays! Lots of blog posts to come! Tried to get this out before we left but it didn't happen. Nevermind, here it is :)

Further to my previous post here I have encountered various issues attempting to transfer DVD files in their native format to GoodPlayer to be played. I had hoped that GoodPlayer would be the answer, but sadly it isn't :( It seems there is no choice but to CONVERT the files.

On the up side GoodPlayer does an awesome job of dealing with downloaded content from youTube.

Here are some good links to read through which tell you exactly what to do to get a DVD from the disc onto your iPad.

How to Play DVDs in an iPad, iPhone or iPod

Play DVD on iPad

Essentially their information is the same. Download an open source program called Handbrake, which is free, download VLC media player, again free, then convert and transfer through iTunes.

I tried it out and it worked like a dream on my Mac. I've converted several movies now and have them on the iPad and iTouches. Whilst on holidays i tried it out for my friend on her PC and sadly we couldn't get it to work at all :(

Just so you know, you can now purchase DVD's which have various file formats which don't require conversion. It will say so on the back of the DVD.

Hope that helps
Amber

iPad for your Homeschool

2012-01-13T18:59:00.000+08:00

This is brilliant! Anyone using an iPad to homeschool should check it out. There are some great ideas! Just follow the link to the google doc under the picture :)

Source: docs.google.com via Amber on Pinterest

BUILD

2012-01-12T21:24:00.001+08:00

A while ago i briefly put this up on my blog to remind me to come back to it for 2012. Well, i've been busy today and we have BUILD sorted at our place. If your not sure what i am on about you can look here and here which is where i pinched the idea :-)

So, what will BUILD stand for at our house?

B - Buddy Games
U - Using Manipulatives
I - Independent Work (Logic)
L - Learning About Numbers
D - Developing Strategies

You can see, i have tweaked the titles to work with what i want to cover. We will still have our normal math sessions each day, the BUILD boxes will be in addition. We will only be covering 1 box each day cycling through.

BUILD set up ontop of our workboxes.

So, what's in the boxes? (OK they are not actually all boxes yet, but that's the plan)

B - Buddy Games
Dice in boxes, playing cards, UNO, craft sticks, Rightstart skip counting envelopes, playing cards, hand cards, craft stick cards, square cards.

U - Using Manipulatives
Flashmaster, cuisinaire rods, counting bears, Rightstart abacus, fraction cards and tiles, clock cards.

I - Independent Work - Logic
Critical thinking activities, Lollipop Logic, Logic Safari, Analogies for Beginners, 10 minute brain workout, Primary Logic, Logic Countdown.

L - Learning About Numbers
Life of Fred, The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat.

D - Developing Strategies
Sort n Shapes, Castle Logix, Pirates hide & seak, Lokukus, IQ puzzler, IQ cabin.

Of course putting everything in boxes and getting organised creates a wish list :-) On my wish list is -
Geared clock
Wooden fraction tiles
Australian money
Times Tales DVD & flip book
Geoboards & lackies
More 'Smart Games'
More 'living' math books

Hopefully you can use these ideas to change things up in your homeschool.

Amber xxx

Oreo Ice-cream Cake

2012-01-11T13:00:00.000+08:00

I created an Oreo ice-cream cake. I've never made an ice-cream cake before and had a brainwave whilst chatting to Bugsy about what kind of cake he might like. He loved my suggestion so we went with that. I've never seen this done before, but I've seen similar concepts, I just winged it :-)

First thing your going to need is a pudding bowl, or a similar plastic bowl.

Now depending on the size of your bowl and the number of people your planning to serve depends on the quantity of ingredients.

2-4 packets of classic Oreo biscuits (I used 2 packets)

2-4L vanilla ice-cream (I used 2L) either make your own or buy a nice creamy one

1 jumbo packet of Maltesers

First off you will need to line the bowl your going to use with glad wrap. You need to do that do you can get your cake out later.

Put your ice-cream on the bench to soften.

Whilst the ice-cream is softening line the inside of your glad wrapped bowl with Oreo biscuits.

Tip the softened ice-cream into a large mixing bowl and add the jumbo pack of Maltesers. Mix them through so they are dispersed somewhat evenly. You don't want the ice-cream to be runny, just soft.

Now carefully put the ice-cream mix into the Oreo lined bowl. Put a little in at a time and use a spatula or the back of a spoon to squash it down and smooth it off.

Fill the bowl up to the top of the Oreo lining then fold over the glad wrap overhang to completely cover the top and put the entire thing into the freezer.

I recommend leaving the cake to firm up overnight.

When your ready open the glad wrap covering the top, which is going to become the base. Carefully tip it out onto a plate and remove the rest of the glad wrap. Leave it to soften on the bench for a few minutes, probably 20 mins depending how hot the room is.

Enjoy :-)

Bugsy It's Your Birthday ...

2012-01-10T20:46:00.000+08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUGSY!!!

Big Happy 6th Birthday to Bugsy!! It's also Possum's 1st corrected Birthday :-)

We started the day early at 5.47am. The rule at our house is no presents until everyone is up. Rusty had already left for work so the boys and I were waiting on the girls who followed not long after, around 6.15am.

Lucky Bugsy received a Razor Powerwing Scooter, a Lego Stormtrooper watch and 3 Automoblox mini cars. All greatly received and appreciated.

Everyone is keen to know what's in the parcel, so cute!

I put the scooter together and there was a bit of frustration from Bugsy working out exactly how to ride on this kind of scooter. There were a couple of spills but after a while he had the hang of it.

Still in his PJ's but getting the hang of the scooter.

The watch was immediately adjusted and put on. He's spent most of the day trying to tell the time :-). He's ok if it's on the hour or even half hour, no so great at working out the minutes otherwise. But that will come with practice. Now he's got a watch I'm sure he will have it sorted in no time. I can hear him now, "Mum you said we'd leave at 10.40am, we're late!" LOL

Showing off his new watch.

The hot rods joined the Automoblox cars from Christmas 2010 in various races and crashes during the day. A giant limo was created at one point. These really are lovely cars! Much, much nicer than matchbox cars.

The hot rods.

We had a pretty cruisey day. Late in the afternoon we all headed out for a walk around the local park. Flossy on her rollerblades, Bugsy on the powerwing, Chicky on the little scooter and Possum in the buggy. They had a great time, but it was HOT.

Pizza was on the menu for dinner as per Bugsy's request. Then came the peace de resistance, the Oreo ice-cream cake, yum!

Menu Plan 9 Jan

2012-01-09T04:30:00.000+08:00

We had a few hits and misses last week with the new recipes.

The GF & DF pancakes we tried were, um, unpleasant, texture was fine but they were completely overpowered by the almond extract. The only person to finish their serve was Rusty and that isn't saying much, he will eat anything!

The Indulgent Granola was a hit! It was YUM, YUM, YUM!! Not only did it feature for breakfast with yogurt but Rusty and I snuck some with homemade ice-cream for dessert one night :-)

The GF & DF Blueberry Muffins received mixed reviews. Flossy, Bugsy & Chicky decided they didn't much care for blueberries after all. Rusty, Possum and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I did change the recipe a little to suit us and what i had on hand, switched almond meal for buckwheat flour, backed the sugar off, used rice milk instead of water.

A few of the evening meals got bumped again as we had things come up.

This week is Bugsy's Birthday! So he will be choosing what we eat that day. I'm not going to bother listing what we are eating for lunch, it isn't very exciting, sandwiches, scrolls, leftovers, fruit or some combination of those. Here is what's cooking this week.

Monday

Breakfast - Fruit toast (EDC hot cross buns, but as a loaf) with TMX smoothies

Dinner - GF sausages with roast potatoes and steamed veggies

Tuesday - Bugsy's 6th Birthday

Breakfast - TMX rice porridge

Dinner - Homemade Pizza with homemade garlic bread (TMX pizza dough & bread dough) & Birthday cake

Wednesday

Breakfast - Cold cereal

Dinner - TMX spaghetti & meatballs

Thursday

Breakfast - TMX porridge

Dinner - GF rissoles with TMX GF & DF green potato rosti and steamed veggies
Pantry - Indulgent granola

Friday

Breakfast - Cold cereal, heading to the city.

Dinner - Pick something up in the city.

Saturday

Breakfast - Granola & yogurt

Dinner - Vegetable cous-cous with cabbage noodles

Sunday

Hitting the road and heading away for a holiday. Wont be posting a menu plan next week, see you when we get back :)

Amber xxx

1 Year Ago Possum Came Home

2012-01-08T04:30:00.000+08:00

One year ago today I walked out of the big children's hospital with my baby boy. He was still a tiny baby, just 2.7kg.

This isn't his homecoming pic. It was taken 2 days before discharge when he was

transferred between hospitals but shows how tiny he was in the baby capsule.

His 100 day NICU roller coaster was over. He had made it! It was a VERY emotional time. On the drive home I stopped several time and what is a 2 hour trip turned into an almost 4 hour journey. I didn't have the radio on, i was listening for every little noise he made to reassure me he was OK.

My little Possum had already come such along way. Born at 25 weeks weighing just 875g with legs skinnier than my index finger and paper thin skin, no one could predict if he would ever make it home.

This isn't great quality, it's a picture of a picture. The original was given to me by the nursing staff, taken just 4 hours after Possum was born. It was the first time i had seen all of him, he was whisked away so quickly after he was born, and i was unable to visit NICU during those first post op hours. I remember thinking how perfect he was despite all of the wires, probes, tubes etc. It was a lovely gesture and a picture i have treasured.

What an amazing year we have had with Possum home. It hasn't been without drama, his heart surgery was another scary time! Fortunately we escaped the flu season with only one hospital admission, so only two admissions for the year. Our friends and family have been wonderful in this regard, understanding just how fragile Possum's health is and making sure we cancel gatherings if anyone is unwell. I believe this has made a significant impact on Possum's ongoing health and strength.

Look at him now! Who would think such a strong little one had had such a rough start to life. I am continuously amazed by his strength, determination and courage.

At 15.5m actual, 12m corrected Possum -
has 4 teeth, 2 up, 2 down
can roll, crawl and pull up to stand
can walk holding his trolley (follow the link for a You Tube clip)
babbles LOTS
is still on nocturnal oxygen which will hopefully cease in February
has been cleared of pulmonary hypertension
has no ongoing heart concerns
happily feeds himself finger foods
has just learnt to drink from a sippy cup
still breastfeeds about 6 times in 24 hours
is approx 9kg (will be weighed on the 13th)
loves to splash in the bath

Today, we celebrate! Where there is life there is hope.

Amber xxx

Precious Beads for Miracle Baby Mums

2012-01-07T04:30:00.000+08:00

I stumbled across Peek-a-boo ICU on Facebook recently. I'm not even sure how i came across them but i'm glad i did. After i liked the page one of the first things to pop into my news feed from them was a beautiful bead, you know, like the Pandora ones, but it what a Micro Prem Bead! I followed the link a little confused and what did i find...

an entire range of beads and bracelets/necklaces dedicated to babies who have been through NICU! They are just beautiful, each bead representing something different and unique to those who have been there.

I could not help myself, my cart was loaded up quick smart and the order placed. I must add that i loaded up my wish list too as a few of the beads that i wanted were out of stock. I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival, hopefully before i go on holidays at the end of next week so i can post a pic :) I was too excited to wait until it arrived to share with you. Mum's of miracle babies, make sure you check them out!

PS - i did have a small glitch checking out but once i e-mailed their customer service it was taken care of quick smart and my parcel posted the following morning.

TMX Green Potato Rosti (GF & DF)

2012-01-06T14:20:00.000+08:00

Adapted from EDC.

500g potatoes peeled and cut into quarters, nadine & sweet potato
1/2 onion peeled & quartered
1 clove garlic
Large handful of baby spinach leaves
200g GF flour
1 egg

Place all ingredients into TMX bowl and mix on 6 for 10 sec, scrape down edges, mix on 6 for 15 sec.
Fry tablespoon amounts in hot oil on the stove top.
They are ready when they are golden brown.

More iPad Apps we are LOVING!

2012-01-04T10:45:00.000+08:00

Penultimate
For quite some time i have been looking for an app where you could write just like you would in a notebook, you could turn the page and keep on writing, even draw a picture and have it all saved into a neat little notebook. I stumbled across Penultimate and it is everything i was looking for. I've now got several notebooks set up, eg, Flossy's Spelling. In this notebook she can write all her spelling words and sentences and it's all saved there for later. Previously we had been using Whiteboard Pro for spelling words, but there was no 'neat' way of saving all of the work. As we are moderated by our state it is important to me to keep a record of the work we are completing.

GoodPlayer
Last year i tried ripping some DVD's onto the kids iTouches, what a time consuming process, ripping, converting, transferring etc. I eventually gave up, i think i only did 3! I was speaking to my sister over the Christmas break and she suggested taking a look at Good Player. It plays the files in their native format, no converting required! Brilliant! I've now downloaded a bunch of Magic School Bus movies from You Tube now to transfer lots of the DVD's we have in our library.

Drawing Box
Want an app that lets you feel like you are drawing on paper? This is the one, don't skimp, pay the dollars, you wont be disappointed. It has a wide variety of media to choose from, from paint rollers to calligraphy pens. Our favourite function is the mirror image feature where it will mirror exactly what you draw. LOTS of fun and is inspiring lots of creativity on paper too :)

Update on Bugsy's reading

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000+08:00

We have completed the yellow set of I See Sam readers previously blogged about here, and let me say, WOW! The change in his reading is spectacular!

It all just seems to be coming together. His brain is finally clicking and he is no longer sounding out every single sound in every single word. He's blending well and actually reading some words and phrases fluently! He is gaining confidence at a rapid rate and picking up other books and wanting to read the titles and sometimes even some of the story. Yay!

Menu Plan 2 Jan

2012-01-02T05:00:00.000+08:00

We had a very busy week last week catching up with friends impromptu so i didn't get to cook much of what was on my list. Not to worry it will feature on the menu this week :)

If you didn't see the update on Possum his poor tummy is struggling so he is going wheat and dairy free, again. I will be trying out a bunch of recipes for him and use my TMX where possible.

Monday

Breakfast - GF & DF Pancakes - new recipe

Lunch - Pizza scrolls (TMX white bread recipe)

Dinner - BBQ rissoles with TMX mashed potatoes & steamed veggies
Pantry/fridge/freezer - TMX Fruit loaf

Tuesday

Breakfast - Fruit toast with TMX smoothies
Dinner Prep - TMX rice

Lunch - Pick n Mix

Dinner - Chinese style fried rice with spring rolls and sweet & sour sauce
Pantry/fridge/freezer - Indulgent granola - didn't get to try it out last week & TMX GF & DF green potato rosti (recipe to come)

Wednesday

Breakfast - Granola & yogurt
Dinner prep - TMX potatoes & eggs for salad

Lunch - Ham & cheese scrolls (TMX white bread recipe)

Dinner - Home made chicken nuggets with potato salad and GF & DF zucchini fritters
Pantry/fridge/freezer - GF & DF vanilla cupcakes probably do choc icing instead - new recipe

Thursday

Breakfast - TMX rice porridge

Lunch - Pick n Mix

Dinner - TMX spaghetti & meatballs
Pantry/fridge/freezer - TMX white bread

Friday

Breakfast - Cold cereal

Lunch - Sandwiches

Dinner - Home made sausage rolls (TMX filling)
Pantry/fridge/freezer - TMX sorbet

Saturday

Breakfast - GF & DF Blueberry Muffins - new recipe

Lunch - Pick n Mix

Dinner - Tacos

Sunday

Breakfast - TMX porridge

Lunch - Pizza scrolls (TMX white bread recipe)

Dinner - BBQ GF sausages & salad

Proud Mummy Moment

2012-01-01T04:30:00.000+08:00

When your told your week old baby has had a brain heamorage you wonder what the outcome will be. Despite doctors telling you they *think* everything will be ok, they never truly know and neither do you. You wonder if moments like these will ever come. I'm a very proud Mummy, my heart is bursting! I had to share it with the world!

I can't work out how to embed the clip so please follow the link :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzwb7n7Tg-s

The Road Less Travelled

2011-12-31T13:41:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time to have an intolerance to food was almost unheard of, now however everyone you speak to is avoiding something for some reason or another. I'm not trying to make a joke of this, i know it's serious, i just find it interesting the way the 'food world' is changing. The road less travelled is now the well beaten track soon to be the superhighway i'm sure.

For me personally i have avoided pork in any form other than ham or bacon for years. It upsets my tummy and i spend the night on the loo. For some reason the curing process in making ham or bacon changes the proteins enough for me and i can deal with it. I also now avoid fresh pineapple after having several tingly mouth, itchy tongue episodes within minutes of eating fresh pineapple. I'm terrified of anaphylaxis! That's such a shame because fresh pineapple is YUM! Again i can eat tinned pineapple because there is something in the canning process that changes the proteins enough to be tolerable.

BUT, i digress. The real reason for my post is Possum. After much trial and error with his foods and meds it would appear that the poor poppet is very sensitive to wheat and dairy. Eating either of these causes constipation, restless nights, frequent night waking and nursing for comfort, tummy pain and screaming episodes lasting up to 3 hours mostly at bedtime or in the middle of the night. So we have decided that until further notice we will be going wheat and dairy free for Possum.

We are meeting with Possum's paediatrician in January and i am hoping that he will finally take me seriously and send us off the the gastroenterologist, allergist and dietician. Last time he brushed it off and to be honest i wasn't sure exactly what we were dealing with. I was hoping it was just an adjustment phase to eating real foods. Looks like i was wrong. I'm still holding out hope that his gut is just immature and that he will eventually be able to eat wheat and dairy, but in the meantime i'm looking up and cooking lots of new recipes!

Downloading You Tube movies in Safari

2011-12-29T20:37:00.000+08:00

If your on a Mac and your using Safari then there is an easy way to download your favorite You Tube movies to watch time and time again without the hassle of downloading each time. Better yet, if you've got an iPad then you can pop them onto your iPad and use a viewer like Good Player to view wherever you are, whenever you like!

So first up open the You Tube page with the movie and let it begin playing. Next press command-option-A which will bring up an activity window. Find the You Tube heading and click on the arrow to show details of what is being loaded. Somewhere in that list there will be a large file, typically over 5MB. Double click on it and Safari will begin downloading it. Once the download is completed you can find the file in the download folder via Finder, it will be a .flv file and have a generic name which I suggest you change so that it's easier to recognize.

If your using Good Reader you can transfer the file to your iPad via iTunes. If you'd like to view on your Mac then you will need another media player like VLC.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-29T15:10:00.000+08:00

Christmas Goodies

2011-12-28T15:07:00.000+08:00

Look what made it's way into my house this Christmas. A Nespresso Latissima+ for my lovely hubby Rusty.

VERY nice coffee with excellent milk froth. Kids have been having baby choc cino's daily!

Menu Plan 26 Dec

2011-12-26T16:52:00.000+08:00

I'm keen to try out a few new things whilst hubby is home this week.

Sunday (Boxing Day)

No cooking for me, still visiting family.

Monday

Breakfast - TMX crumpets, a new recipe for us

Lunch - TMX Ham & Cheese scrolls

Dinner - Sausage sizzle
Pantry/fridge/freezer - TMX Vanilla custard (EDC)

Tuesday

Breakfast - TMX rice porridge
Dinner prep - TMX pie filling

Lunch - 'Pick n Mix' crackers, dip, fruit, left overs TMX Hummas (EDC)

Dinner - TMX Chicken & vegetable pie, kids loved this one! This time going to make them as pot pies and skim some of the liquid as it was a bit too wet last time.
Pantry/fridge/freezer - TMX Vanilla ice-cream (EDC), TMX white bread

Wednesday

Breakfast - TMX pancakes

Dinner prep - TMX rice and sweet & sour sauce, going to try this recipe (sauce only) and use the TMX
Lunch - Sandwiches

Dinner - Chinese style fried rice with spring rolls and sweet & sour sauce
Pantry/fridge/freezer - TMX fruit loaf

Thursday

Breakfast - TMX Smoothies & fruit toast

Lunch - 'Pick n Mix' crackers, dip, fruit, left overs TMX Hummas (EDC)
Dinner - Home made pizzas (TMX pizza base EDC)

Pantry/fridge/freezer - This indulgent granola, new recipe

Friday (New Years Eve)

Breakfast - Granola
Dinner prep - TMX apple crumble

Lunch - Left over pizza

Dinner - BBQ Rissoles with TMX mashed potatoes & steamed veggies and for desert apple crumble and ice-cream
Pantry/fridge/freezer - TMX white bread

Saturday (New Years Day)

Breakfast - BBQ Bacon & eggs with toast

Lunch - Sandwiches

Dinner - Tacos

Sunday

Breakfast - Fruit scones (TMX butter & flour)

Lunch - 'Pick n Mix' crackers, dip, fruit, left overs TMX Hummas (EDC)
Dinner - TMX Baf's chicken & veg, new recipe

Christmas in NICU

2011-12-23T17:00:00.000+08:00

Last year Possum spent his very first Christmas in NICU. It was VERY hard for our family. Owing to NICU policies Flossy, Bugsy and Chicky were yet to meet their new little brother. On Christmas Eve we were notified that the children would be able to meet their brother on Christmas Day for the very first time. Possum was almost 3 months old! There were VERY strict conditions attached but we were so grateful!

Recently a friend posted this poem on FB. She had found it somewhere on the net, I would love to be able to pass on the proper credit but i've been unable to locate the source. It's very touching and sums things up perfectly.

Twas the night before Christmas, and in each isolette
Little creatures were squirming and getting all set;
Machinery sat by their bedsides with care,
In hopes that good breathing skills soon would be there.

... Day shifters were home all snug in their beds,
As visions of overtime danced in their heads;
While preemies on ventilators, and some on CPAP,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap...

When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
The residents woke up to see what was the matter.
Away from the sink I flew like a jet
To make sure all was well at my baby's isolette.

Some bilirubin lights with their powerful glow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to babies below,
When, there before my wondering eyes, it would seem,
Was an oversized stroller and a medical team.
With a handful of needles with which they could stick you,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nicu.

More rapid than eagles his specialists came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Nurses! Now, Residents! Now, Neonatologists!
On, Social Workers! On, Respiratory and Occupational Therapists!
From the front of the unit! To the end of the hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Up to each baby's cribside they flew,
With the stroller full of toys, and St. Nicu too.
And then, in a twinkling, they stopped at each bed
And tucked in the babies and got them all fed.

As I looked at my baby, and was turning around,
Down our aisle St. Nicu came with a bound.
He was dressed in red scrubs, and I could instantly tell
That his clothes had an obvious hospital smell;
A bag of stuffed animals was flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
A little red pen he held tight in his teeth,
And a stethoscope encircled his neck like a wreath.

He was chubby and plump, with a few extra pounds,
And I laughed when I saw him there doing his rounds.
A turn of his clipboard and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke few words, but came straight to my side,
And running down his face was a tear he had cried.

And laying his hand on the back of my head,
He gave me a nod, and slowly he said:
"Each night you come here you're aware of the danger,
But your baby is loved by the One in the manger."

Then the medical team gave a thumbs-up and smiled
And St. Nicu placed an animal next to my child.
But I heard him exclaim, as they rolled out of sight,
"Merry Christmas, tiny baby, and have a wonderful night!"

Possum was very lucky and Santa did visit him in NICU leaving him a lovely reindeer bear, a treasured possession. We are truly enjoying the magic of Christmas this year. Please take a moment to think of the little ones fighting hard, hoping to spend their next Christmas at home with their loving families.

TMX white bread, yummy!

2011-12-22T17:37:00.000+08:00

This makes a very yummy, light, versatile loaf. I use this as a base recipe for all the lunch scrolls i make. It is so good my children like to eat it as just bread and butter, they don't want to spoil the flavour by adding a spread!

1 egg
20g olive oil
Approx 220g luke warm water
3 tsp instant dried yeast
500g white bread flour
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt

Zero scales. Put olive oil and egg into TMX bowl then add enough lukewarm water to make the liquid up to 300g. It will be around 220g depending on the size of your egg.

Add yeast. Mix on 3 for 30 seconds.

Add flour, sugar and salt. Slowly turn dial from closed lid position to 7 and mix just long enough for dough to begin to form.

Mix 2 mins on interval. Rest for 1 minute. Mix a further 2 mins on interval.

Shape into a ball, put in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with gladwrap and allow to rise for about 1 hour. I normally sit my bowl in the oven unless i'm cooking something else at the time.

Turn out onto a floured surface and shape your loaf. I normally make two balls and pop them into my loaf dish.

Allow to rise a further 30 mins then place into a cold oven. Set the oven to 220C and cook until golden and when tapped the base sounds hollow. Approx 40 mins.

If your children are anything like mine this loaf will be gone in the blink of an eye, yum!

Look What I Can Do!

2011-12-21T17:25:00.000+08:00

Possum has started pulling himself up to standing. Look out world! He is still VERY wobbly so can't really be left, and he hasn't worked out how to get back down yet. Cleaver boy!

Christmas Read Aloud

2011-12-19T11:08:00.000+08:00

We visited the library a few days ago and I picked up The Kingfisher Book of Classic Christmas Stories. What a beautiful book! We are loving reading the stories each night before bed. It is such a shame that it appears to be OOP because it is a book worth owning!

Menu Plan 18 Dec

2011-12-17T10:17:00.000+08:00

Inspired by Jo at Quirky Cooking I'm sharing my menu plans too. Not nearly as creative or inspirational, but helps me keep my week on track and shop for what we need so it limits wastage!

Sunday
Breakfast - Fruit scones with jam (TMX butter & flour for mix)
Lunch - Crumbed fish & fruit platter
Dinner - Sausage sizzle

Monday
Breakfast - Cereal quick easy, another trip to the city
Lunch & Dinner - will pick up something in the city

Tuesday
Breakfast - TMX porridge & make TMX fruit loaf (EDC Hot Cross Bun recipe) to take on a playdate for afternoon tea
Lunch - Sandwiches
Dinner - Rissoles & TMX steamed veggies

Wednesday
Breakfast - TMX smoothies & toast
Lunch - Corn chips, salsa & fruit platter
Dinner - TMX spaghetti & meatballs AIO meal (new recipe for us)

Thursday
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Sandwiches
Dinner - Tacos

Friday
Breakfast - Cereal, quick & easy, heading to my parents place for Christmas! Won't be cooking until we get home.

Saturday

Christmas Day!

Sunday

Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-16T21:02:00.000+08:00

Last Swimming Lesson for 2011

2011-12-14T20:37:00.000+08:00

Today Flossy & Bugsy had their last swimming lesson for 2011. Chicky would normally participate too but she had broken out in hives from an unknown cause (possibly nuts) so she stayed out of the pool.

The children have all come such a long way this year. Their confidence has grown and they are loving their lessons. Their teacher has been unreal, knowing when to push their comfort zones and when to back off too.

Flossy passed level 4 and will enrol in level 5 for next year. Bugsy remains in level 3 which is fine. Level 3 is a hard one and he only moved up this term. Chicky has progressed from Kindy beginners into Kindy intermediate which has taken a long time but she is finally there and happy to get in the pool, a big change from the beginning of the year.

Cactus Flower

2011-12-11T08:20:00.000+08:00

Yesterday afternoon the children announced that a small cactus in our garden was about to flower. On closer inspection it sure was! I hadn't even notice that it had a bud on it before they mentioned it, oops!

9.30pm

7am

Flossy stayed up as late as she could manage to try to see the bud open but it wasn't quite open at her bedtime. She was afraid it was a one night only flower as Nana & Poppy have a cactus that flowers for one night only and you wouldn't want to miss it, stunning! She was up early and headed straight outside to see if the flower was still alive. To her delight it was still alive and looking even better than it did last night!

iPad - How it's changing our homeschool

2011-12-10T16:40:00.000+08:00

We love our iPad, it goes almost everywhere with us and comes in very handy when waiting at swimming lessons or medical appointments. Most of all i love the way we integrate our iPad into our homeschool. I can see that we will do more and more on the iPad in the coming years as developers release more apps to suits the homeschool community.

So, how do we use it for school?

For handwriting we use Whiteboard Pro. We have a stylus that we can use to write on the iPad like a pen and paper. Whiteboard Pro enables us to select different colours and nib size so that we can focus on formation. Flossy is learning cursive this way and Bugsy is learning to print. They still use a regular program, Flossy is using New American Cursive and Bugsy Handwriting Without Tears but the iPad enables them to practice, practice, practice without wasting a mountain of paper. We can hone in on letters they are struggling with and really nail them on the iPad and because we don't have the obvious output of a covered sheet of paper in front of us we are more likely to keep going and not complain :) Just this afternoon Flossy sat for half an hour focusing on the joining of a, b & c in cursive. She didn't want to stop until is was just right. If you need to it is easy enough to add a few guidelines or even use a larger nib and then have the child trace over with a smaller nib in a different colour. I also love this app when you want to demo a math problem or just jot something down to demonstrate a concept. When you'd normally reach for your big whiteboard or a piece of scrap paper Whiteboard Pro fills the spot. Love this app!

In the last couple of days i have downloaded SoundLiteracy. This app is VERY pricey but i am hoping that it will mesh well with All About Spelling and negate some of the time we spend at the whiteboard moving around the tiles, which seem to go missing regularly. I can't tell you how many i have had to fish out of the vacuum cleaner! From what i have heard the developer is open to feedback and is already looking at several suggestions to improve the program. So far we have done two lessons (AAS level 1 & 4) using the app and it has been a great success. So glad i found this!

There are a bunch of maths apps that i love. It is wonderful to be able to offer SO MUCH variety to make drilling those math facts fun. Ooops, don't let my kids read that, they think they are playing games! Here are our top maths pics in no particular order, Rocket Math, S-Kruis Tafels, Splash Math grade 3 (other grades are available) and Math Ninja. I also find these maths apps handy for teaching 100 Board, Counting Bear and AL Abacus but they are not games.

Recently i have come across Notability and i am LOVING it and can see that this is part of the future of my homeschool. Notability allows you to import PDF files using Dropbox or syncing, although Dropbox is easier when you are always on the go, and then annotate right onto the PDF. So you can import a maths or language arts worksheet or complete workbook and have your child complete it right onto the iPad and save the work for you to check. This makes the whole printing, binding storing of paperwork obsolete! LOVE it! Prior to finding Notability i had tried a number of annotation apps for this purpose but found they were cumbersome and clunky. Notability is much better. The developer is very pro feedback and continuing to work on and improve his app. Yay! Love proactive developers! I can see that i will be purchasing more curricula in PDF format. I had previously avoided this, so it's a big change.

For narration i am playing around with Dragon Dictation. In theory i'd love to be able to have the kids independently narrate straight into the iPad and have it all typed out as they speak, but i'm not too sure if this is going to be a seamless as i hope. I really need to spend more time on this app to make sure it will do exactly what i want but thought because it has lots of potential i would let you all know about it :)

I asked the kids to share their current favourite apps and they said -

Flossy's - Splash Math Grade 3
Bugsy's - Rocket Math
Chicky's - Whiteboard Pro (she loves to draw with this app)

Care to share your families favourite apps? We'd love to read them in the comments.

Menu Plan 10 Dec

2011-12-10T10:12:00.000+08:00

We've got a VERY busy week ahead of us with several trips to the city scheduled along with several other appointments in town.

Saturday
Breakfast - TMX pancakes
Lunch - Cold meat & salad sandwiches
Dinner - Kebabs with TMX rice & steamed vegies
Pantry/Fridge/Freezer - TMX Beef and vegetable puree for Possum

Sunday
Breakfast - TMX rice porridge
Lunch - Sandwiches (heading to the city)
Dinner - BBQ with the inlaws at their retirement village kids Christmas party in the city

Monday
Breakfast - Fruit salad & yogurt
Lunch - Sandwiches
Dinner - Tacos
Pantry/Fridge/Freezer - TMX choc custard

Tuesday
Breakfast - Cereal (quick & easy, heading to the city)
Lunch & Dinner out in the city

Wednesday
Breakfast - Cereal (quick & easy, heading to swimming), dinner prep cook rice (TMX) and refrigerate
Lunch - Fruit plate & crumbed fish
Dinner - Chinese style fried rice with spring rolls and sweet & sour sauce

Thursday
Breakfast - Fruit smoothies (TMX) with toast, dinner prep cook potatoes (TMX) and refrigerate
Lunch - Sandwiches
Dinner - Tuna patties & steamed veggies

Friday
Breakfast - Cereal (quick & easy, heading to the city)
Lunch & Dinner out in the city

Saturday
Breakfast - TMX Pancakes
Lunch - crackers, dip (TMX hummus), fruit
Dinner - TMX Chicken & vegetable pie (new recipe)

Home Grown Geography

2011-12-08T20:47:00.000+08:00

Our focus for geography for this coming year and into the future (until we work through all the goodies i just purchased) is physical and political. We will not be addressing cultures formally, apart from a tid bit from Material World, but i do have some other books on hand for the children to explore on their own if they choose. We have the World Book series People & Places and they are a bit heavy when our aim is a world geography overview, not a country by country in depth study.

Here are the wonderful books we will be using.

DK Complete Flags of the World
Usborne Flags of the World Sticker Book (1 each)
Geography from A - Z
Maps & Globes
DK Geography of the World
A Child's Introduction to the World
Material World
Around the World in 80 Tales

We will begin the year learning a bit about maps. We will read through Maps & Globes and also look at the first half of A Child's Introduction to the World. Once we have completed the foundation material we will move on.

From there I plan to use Around the World in 80 Tales as our spine. We will read a story at the beginning of each Geography session. It's a beautiful book with stories from all over the globe. They are segregated by continent. Here you can see the cover and a sample story.

Once we have read the story we will locate the country on our world map which hangs on the wall. Then we will colour a map of the country which i will find here. We will take time to look at the countries topography and see if there is anything special or interesting we can look up in Geography A-Z. Then we will again locate the country in DK Geography of the World and read what they have to offer. We will pay particular attention to where the country is located, which countries it boarders and features it shares with it's neighbours such as rivers and mountain ranges.

Next we will look in DK Complete Flags of the World to find out about the countries flag and what it means. Here is what it looks like.

This book offers excellent information on the meaning behind each part of the flag and other historical and/or political information about how the flag came to be. Where relevant there are also state, territory, provence etc flags illustrated. Then we will find the flag in our Usborne Flags of the World Sticker Books and stick it in the right place. To conclude our session we will have a look at Material World and chat about what we have found out. We will be narrating and note taking along the way.

TMX Pancakes/Pikelets

2011-12-07T13:19:00.000+08:00

We like to call them pancakes, but really they are pikelets :D Here is my TMX recipe adapted from the Golden Wattle Cook Book.

420g plain flour
5 teaspoons of baking powder (TMX home made)
55g sugar
4 eggs
430g milk

Put everything in the TMX bowl.
Mix on 5 for 10 seconds, scrape down sides, repeat, repeat again.
Cook in a greased pan on the stove top.
More than enough for a family of 6, yum!

Rusty, chief Saturday morning pancake cook, 2 pans on the go so we all get to eat sooner :D

Pancakes cut and served with real maple syrup for dipping.

Gingerbread for the Gingerbread House

2011-12-05T09:18:00.000+08:00

Recipe adapted from The Australian Women's Weekly Kids Cooking Book. We love the AWW Cookbooks, lots of tried and true, yummy recipes :)

This recipe will make MORE than enough for the Gingerbread House we made, if you use the same template we did. I put the link in the Gingerbread House post. If you just wanted to make cookies or gingerbread men you could halve the recipe.

250g butter
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup golden syrup
6 cups plain flour
4 teaspoons ground ginger
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground clove
4 teaspoons bicarb soda
2 eggs lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Before you do anything make sure you have enough spices on hand. Don't assume you do because you have a bottle in the cupboard. I JUST had enough when i made mine and they are now on the shopping list!

Preheat your oven to 180C.

Make sure you have enough baking trays and that they are big enough to fit on your house pieces so they are flat. You don't want a wall with a kink in it :)

Put the butter, sugar and golden syrup in the microwave and 'nuke' them in small increments stirring in between until the butter is melted and everything is combined. You don't want it bubbling madly, you just want it melted and combined. SMALL increments!

Put it aside for a few minutes to cool. You don't want to add the egg to it straight away or you will cook it.

Once slightly cooled add all the other ingredients putting the egg in last. Stir with a spoon to combine. If it's very crumbly here you can add a little more beaten egg. You want it to feel like playdough.

Turn it out onto a floured bench or cheat like it do and put it on some baking paper. Knead the dough lightly until it has all come together into a large blob. Now separate it into 6 portions.

Roll each portion out until it is even and around 5mm thick. Then use your template and cut the piece out making sure you cut the doors or windows where appropriate. I do all of this on baking paper so i don't have to move the piece, i just slide the baking paper off the bench onto the baking tray and pop it into the oven. Sound like a pro don't I, i've only done it once :P

You'll have plenty of dough, so once the house pieces are all done grab the cookie cutters as set to work.

Cook each piece until golden brown then cool on a cake rack.

Now your ready to make your royal icing and put it all together. Have fun!

Gingerbread House

2011-12-04T17:12:00.000+08:00

I've never made a Gingerbread House before. I've seen the kits you can get at the shop and thought about it, but never given it a go. There is something about prepackaged that i don't love LOL. This year Masterchef had an episode where they made the most magic Gingerbread Houses and i saw what they did from start to finish, and i thought, hey, that wasn't too bad. I think i can do that! Well, not quite so grande, but i could do a small one. So i decided that we would give it a go this Christmas.

I already have a gingerbread recipe that i love so i didn't have to hunt one down which made life a little easier. I just had to find a template. Google to the rescue :) This is the site i found, we used the first pattern, the house template.

I doubled my regular recipe and it was MORE than enough. We made some biscuits with the balance.

I left it all to cool and waited for peace and quiet before attempting to put it together. I made up the royal icing by hand. Oh, my! Never going to make it by hand again, my arm almost dropped off from so much whipping! I don't know how chefs manage it. Ofcourse it would have helped if i actually had a whisk and wasn't using a fork! In the end i was using 2 forks and yes, it was more effective than 1. You think i would have learnt when i doubled the gingerbread recipe that i didn't need to also double the royal icing recipe, slow learner here. I doubled that recipe too and had MORE than enough! At the suggestion of a friend i made the icing VERY stiff. It set very quickly which was just what i needed. I loaded it in a snap lock bag, snipped off a corner and set to work.

With the assistance of some tinned beans and fruit the house went together quite smoothly.

Once all the walls were up i let them set before putting on the roof panels, door and window shutters.

I put the icing in the fridge overnight so that it was ready to go for decorating in the morning. The kids had a wonderful time discussing and deciding on decorations. Next year i know we need a few different supplies to what we had this year, but i guess that is all part of the learning process.

We were all VERY HAPPY with the final result. We wont be waiting until Christmas to eat it. I'm sure it will be all gone by the end of the week!

I think we just started a new Christmas Tradition :)

Christmas Traditions

2011-12-03T07:36:00.001+08:00

Does your family have any specific Christmas Traditions? Rusty inadvertently created a beautiful Christmas Tradition for our family and i'd like to share :)

In the lead up to our very first Christmas together Rusty and I discussed gift giving and decided that we would not give each other anything that year. We were saving for a deposit on a house, our wedding and a trip to Europe. We were both quite happy to be putting our money towards these things than buying a gift at Christmas just for the sake of it. However, unbeknown to me Rusty did buy me something for Christmas. He purchased our very first Christmas ornament, a Swarovski Christmas Star. I had never seen anything like it, it was just beautiful!

We discussed and made a decision that from that moment on every Christmas we would purchase a Swarovski Christmas Star and if they stopped making them we would find something of equal weight. We also decided that on our travels we would collect Christmas ornaments to remind us of all of the places we had visited. It is our hope that our ornaments will be passed on to our children and their children and so on, creating a treasured set of family heirlooms.

This year we are hanging our 10th Swarovski Christmas Star on our tree :)

Here are some of our precious ornaments.

2010 Swarovski Christmas Star

Hand blown Mickey Mouse from Disneyland, Paris.

2008 Swarovski Christmas Star

Teddy Bear with snow globe Eiffel Tower from Paris.

Hand blown glass orchid from Singapore.

Queens Carriage from The Tower of London, England.

Cow bell from Geneva, Switzerland.

2009 Swarovski Christmas Star

Hand blown glass crayfish from Busselton, Australia.

2004 Swarovski Christmas Star

The children also each have their own birth bauble which has their name and date of birth.

Here is a pic of our tree.

We'd love to hear what your Christmas Traditions are :)

Precious

2011-11-30T13:00:00.000+08:00

I See Sam Readers

2011-11-29T13:58:00.000+08:00

Last year a friend of mine encouraged me to take a look at the I See Sam Readers as a solid reading program for Bugsy. He has completed Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons but he is still a struggling reader, maybe it's just a boy thing. I really didn't want to start another 'learn to read program' because he has the basics down. My gut feel is that he needs more practice reading real material, enter I See Sam Readers.

After e-mail discussion with Andy at Academic Success for all Learners I decided to go ahead and purchase all 8 sets of little books.

They are backwards on this shelf. The order is red, orange,

yellow, pale green, dark green, aqua, blue, purple.

So far they have been a hit! Bugsy has really enjoyed getting to know the characters which appear in all of the little books. He loves that they are colour coded so he can see when he has moved up a level. So far he has completed all of the red books and is three shy of completing the orange books. The books build so incrementally he really feels comfortable with each new book. This is giving him the confidence he was lacking. I can see his attitude towards reading changing as the process is becoming easier. Once the book has been read fluently he gets a sticker of his choice to pop on the back so that we know that one has been completed successfully. There are also charts and certificates to mark off and present along the way.

A page from an orange book.

Showing off his new sticker.

Here are sample pages from each of the levels except orange, it's above :).

red

yellow

pale green

dark green

aqua

blue

purple

Each book contains phonics review and comprehension questions. As they progress the font size decreases and the number of words per page increases. Longer stories and even chapters are introduced. I believe after completing all of the books Bugsy will be in a position to read anything he picks up with confidence. My aim is to complete all of the books in a 6 month period although Bugsy isn't aware of that :).

Just as a side note Bugsy is still working on phonics daily. Aside from reading he is working on Explode the Code and also All About Spelling.

How will school work for us in 2012?

2011-11-27T01:00:00.000+08:00

Loosely my plan is to do content subjects after circle time, first up in the morning so we all have a bit of fun and get the wiggles out. I know the morning is the most productive part of the day both for the kids and myself but i find i really need the patience to get through the content subjects and by the time afternoon hits my patience is waning for anything group related.

Monday - Science
Tuesday - Literature
Wednesday - Fine Arts
Thursday - History
Friday - Geography

I have early risers and most morning we are ready to get started around 8am so i would think we will be finished with content subjects around morning tea, approx 10.30am. Then we will move into Maths and Language Arts. Hopefully we will get in a hour or so before lunch so that we only have another hour at the most after lunch.

At this point I still see it as very reasonable that we will be finished by lunch or 1pm on most days thus allowing plenty of play time :) I think in 2012 i will be a little more precious with my time, not booking swimming lessons or other regular activities in the morning time slot. School just doesn't work well when you have been out all morning and try to get into it after lunch.

I realise that we will only hit those content subjects once per week, but we will go deep during that time. We also school pretty much year round so hit somewhere around 45 - 47 school weeks. Taking both of those into consideration i am not at all concerned about not spending enough 'time' on the content areas.

Alphabet Poem by Flossy

2011-11-26T09:00:00.000+08:00

We have The Poetry Pad and have used a couple of the prompts for writing poems over the last year. Today Flossy worked on an Alphabet Poem. We didn't follow the prompt exactly as we have already done one Alphabet Poem 'by the book' so i allowed some free reign. Here is what she wrote.

B is for book,
as in storybook,
with characters such as Captain Hook.
Then there are books that give you looks,
with words such as beach or bee.
So come and sit under a tree,
and read a book with me.

First we brainstormed subjects for the poem. Then Flossy wrote a draft. We edited it together then she typed it up on the computer herself. After it was printed Flossy illustrated it. Here is the final product.

I am really impressed with her effort on this task today. Flossy is generally very resistant to writing for school, but will happily write letters to friends, short notes, shopping lists etc. Today she had a great attitude toward her work and the final product reflected that. Language is her strong suit and she has a lot of potential. I really look forward to seeing what the future holds in this area for her.

TMX Rice Porridge

2011-11-25T10:39:00.001+08:00

200g jasmine rice

960g milk

40g sugar

30g butter

* a little extra sugar, dried apricots and/or sultanas to top

Put everything into TMX bowl.

Cook for 47mins at 90C on reverse speed 1.

Spoon into bowls and leave to stand for 3-5mins.

Sprinkle with a little extra sugar and top with dried apricots or sultanas.

Serves 5.

TMX Porridge

2011-11-24T06:31:00.001+08:00

180g rolled oats
460g water
490g milk

Put everything into TMX.
Cook 8 mins at 100C on reverse speed 4.
Serves 4.

Science 2012

2011-11-23T12:55:00.001+08:00

I am SO EXCITED about science for 2012! We just received our Science in a Nutshell Kits from Delta Education and they look unreal :D

Here you can see the 5 kits i purchased - Vision & Hearing, Body Basics, Weather Wise, Destination Moon, Energy & Motion. There are MANY more kits available however i chose things i thought would interest my children. I was also conscious of import restrictions on anything organic and considered a bio-security risk. I didn't want the kits ripped apart at customs!

When planning for science for 2012 i was inspired by this post. So i decided we would take a similar approach. I looked through TWTM logic stage recommendations for science and decided to go with their book recommendations.

Here they are sitting nicely on my shelf waiting for next year. We have the Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science, Usborne Science Encyclopedia, DK Science (a visual guide) and The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia. I'm really pleased with all of these books and feel they will be excellent reference books for us not only for next year but well into the future.

Back to the kits :) The kits are presented in a small plastic tub with a handle. Inside each kit is an Activity Guide and 3! Activity Journals. The guides provide step by step instructions on how to complete the 'experiments' and the journal provides a place to record details. The kits also have EVERYTHING you need to complete each of the activities.

My plan is to use the books to thoroughly explore the concept before we conduct the 'experiment'. We will do lots of reading and narration. Hopefully i will be able to share more of how it plays out for us next year.

Miracle Babies Foundation Picnic

2011-11-22T21:12:00.001+08:00

On Sunday we went to the inaugural Miracle Babies Foundation picnic for NICU and SCU graduates. It was a wonderful day, beautiful weather and location. The kids had plenty to do with the fire truck and bouncy castle being star attractions. They also enjoyed the face painting and for an amateur, the lady did an awesome job! Santa was also a hit :)

Glasses off while the paint dries.

I think Bugsy has found himself a new career path. He'd now like to be a fireman! He really enjoyed chatting to the firemen and being shown all of the equipment and how it all worked. They were wonderful with the children and more than happy for them to touch and try everything.

I can't help but plug the major sponsor of the event, Sutherland Rose.

I'm currently in the process of becoming a volunteer for Miracle Babies Foundation and hopefully in the coming 12 months i can be a valuable member of the WA team.

Rusty and Possum enjoying the festivities.

BUILD

2011-11-21T17:26:00.000+08:00

Just found this post and wanted to put it here so i can come back to it. Food for thought.

Walk for Prems

2011-11-14T14:02:00.000+08:00

Life's Little Treasures Foundation held the Walk for Prems for the first time in Perth last weekend and we were happy participants. It had threatened rain but it managed to hold off. The kids and I walked the 5km walk, and some, because we parked miles away. I estimate we actually walked close to 11km on the day! Afterwards we have a lovely picnic lunch and the kids enjoyed having their faces painted. It was a great day out and we are already looking forward to next years walk which we are hoping will be bigger and better!

Possum Update

2011-11-14T13:54:00.000+08:00

Yes, that's right folks, Possum is crawling! He is now 13 1/2m old or 10m corrected. He weighs 8.6kg which still puts him way at the bottom of the charts but he is happy :)

Homeschool Plans for 2012

2011-10-14T10:41:00.000+08:00

Flossy Aussie Year 3 -

All About Spelling 5, 6 & 7
First Language Lessons 4
Reading & narrating/notebooking from history & literature selections
Institute for Excellent in Writing Student Writing Intensive A
Unjournaling
Writing With Ease 3
The Poetry Pad
**Writing programs are not used in their entirety. They are used to complement each other and provide diversity.**
New American Cursive
Miquon yellow & purple - will move to Singapore from SGBox once completed
Math Mammoth - used as a supplement to help cement Miquon understanding where needed, topic books only
Kumon Word Problems grade 3 - used a grade below instructional level to ensure thorough understanding of the arithmetic needed so the focus is on decoding the problem
Getting Started with Latin - continue

Bugsy Aussie Year 1 -

All About Spelling 1 & 2
Explode the Code 4, 5, 6 - will use 1/2 books as necessary
I See Sam readers - needs more confidence then moving onto 'real' books
Writing With Ease 1
Handwriting Without Tears Letters and Numbers for Me & My Printing Book - needs more confidence
Miquon red & blue
Kumon Word Problems Grade 1 - again used a grade below instructional level

Chicky Aussie Kindy -

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Explode the Code Primers
Reading Eggs
Bob Books
Nora Gaydos readers
Handwriting Without Tears Get Set for School & Letters and Numbers for Me
Activities for the AL Abacus unit 1
Miquon Orange

For everyone -

Literature selections -
Adventures of Don Quixote
Great Expectations Stepping Stones
Gulliver's Travels classic starts
Les Miserables stepping stones
Moby Dick Classic starts
Robinson Crusoe classic starts
Three Musketeers stepping stones
The Princess and the Goblin
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Tom Sawyer
A Pilgrims Progress
Favorite Jane Austen Novels
Perrault's Fairy Tales
Anne of Green Gables
Around the World in Eighty Days
The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin
Children's Stories from Dickens

Story of the World 3 with Activity Guide
Go along books -
American Revolution MTH
Amos Fortune, Free Man
Eyewitness Ancient China
Boston Tea Party
Carry on Mr Bowditch
Eyewitness Castle
Civil War on Sunday MTH
The Door in the Wall
Explorers News
Ginger Pye
Meet a thomas Jefferson
Night of the Ninjas MTH
Eyewitness North American Indian
Peter the Great
Pirated MTH
Pirates Past Noon MTH
Revolutionary War on Wednesday MTH
Sign of the Beaver
Squanto's Journey
Thanksgiving on Thursday MTH
Tigers at Twilight MTH
Who was Ben Franklin?
Witch of Blackbird Pond
You wouldn't want to be Mary, Queen of Scots
You wouldn't want to be Sick in the 16th Century
Norwegian Folk Tales
The Boy Who Held back the Sea
The Village that Vanished
The Cat who went to Heaven
Folk Tales from India
Russian Gypsy Tales
The Best Book of Pirates
The Gold Coin
Famous People of Mexico

Geography - home grown studies
Geography of the World
A Childs Introduction to the World
Around the World in 80 Tales
Material World
Maps & globes
Geography A to Z
Complete Flags of the World
Flags of the World sticker book

Science in a Nutshell kits fleshed out with science encyclopedias to form unit studies
The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia
The Usborne Internet Linked Science Encyclopedia
The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science
DK Science
Vision & Hearing kit
Body basics kit
Weather wise kit
Destination Moon kit
Energy and Motion kit
Snap circuits

Nature Study
Keeping a Nature Journal
The Nature Connection
Local field guides

Harmony Fine Arts - art appreciation, artist study, art creation, music appreciation, composer study all relating to our history time period

Institute for Excellence in Writing Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization

Swimming Lessons

Logic games and workbooks

Possum is almost 1!

2011-09-05T13:47:00.001+08:00

Can't believe how the last year has gone! To celebrate our little man turning 1 we are raising funds for Women's & Infant Research Foundation 'Angel Breaths' campaign. They intend to purchase a new ventilator with the funds. If you'd like to support us and help us meet our target, please follow the link to make a safe & secure donation which will go directly to WIRF.

http://www.mycause.com.au/mycause/raise_money/fundraise.php?id=32051

Quick Possum update

2011-07-20T17:59:00.001+08:00

He is now 6 months corrected. He just had a weigh in at 7.37kg which places him on the 25% for weight for his corrected age. He was also on the 25% for length for his corrected age. That has seen a massive improvement from the 3% line he was following before starting nocturnal oxygen therapy. He has also started rolling tummy to back.

Mid Year Review

2011-07-03T19:52:00.001+08:00

So it's July and it's time to have a mid year review just to check how things are going and see if we are on track.

Flossy -
She has completed Math Mammoth Addition & Subtraction 2B and has really cemented those concepts. She is about half way through Miquon Blue. I had planned on her being further along in Miquon but we needed to pit stop so the delay is to be expected. In saying that she has a solid understanding of multiplication covered in Miquon and is probably working on a late 2nd early 3rd grade level. We have shelved Kumon word Problems for a little while as it was presenting some concepts that we had not yet covered. We will be getting back into it in the second half of the year.

She has been motoring along in AAS3 and is almost done. She very rarely makes a mistake and really enjoys it. I'm hopeful that we will finished AAS4 and be part way through AAS5 before the end of the year. That would see only AAS6 & AAS7 for next year.

WWE2 has been going well. She narrates well and rarely makes a mistake with the copy work. I am starting to have her write the first sentence of her narrations. I'm thinking of changing things up a bit with writing and might take a look at Galore Parks Junior English books. I've also got a book about writing poetry on the shelf and we might have a go at that. We won't drop WWE2 just mix things up a bit. It's good keep it fresh.

REAL Life Science is proving a hit. We are right on track with that. I honestly feel that this is below her level. She isn't learning too much new material, but it is getting done and it is fun.

With SOTW2 we are a little behind. I'd like to see us do a few more projects in the second half of the year and be a little more consistent with narrations. I'm thinking of posting them here so she can see them published, she'd think that would be neat. She has been reading plenty of the go along books and enjoying them. She is also loving our literature selections.

We have not been consistent with MCT or GSWL. We need to change that moving forward. With MCT I'm going to have to think about how to be more proactive with it. It is enjoyable but I'm not sure if it's sinking in properly. I'm sure consistency will help. With GSWL we need to make a vocab chart so that we can remember all the nouns we are learning.

She has been swimming well and passed level 3.

Bugsy -
He is flying through ETC, he completed book 1 and is now half way through book 2. That's ahead of where I had planned him to be.

He is right on track with Horizon K math book 1. At this point I think we will switch back to Miquon at the end of this book and see how he handles it. If we need another pit stop book 2 is on the shelf.

Reading wise I had hoped we would have finally completed 100EZ but we still have a few lessons outstanding. He has been reading plenty though and that is coming along well. He seems to struggle with silent e words.

We have not been putting much time into AAS1 but will focus more on it in the second half of the year. I would like to see him complete level 1 by the end of the year.

He has been swimming well and making great progress with his kicking.

Differences between The Voyage of the Dawn Trade book and movie by Flossy

2011-06-30T14:24:00.001+08:00

The only thing that was different was that they didn't get captured as slaves the same way they did in the book. They didn't follow the blue star in the book. Eustace didn't sit on the mast in the book because he was a dragon and he didn't write 'I am Eustace' in lava letters. In the book they asked him was he Eustace and he nodded his head. He still could understand them even though he was a dragon. Aslan didn't change him back the same way he did in the book. In the book he took Eustace down to a well and then he told Eustace to take off his clothes, which means his skin. So he scratched his skin off and then he found some more skin, the same kind so Aslan made a deep scratch into all of Eustace's dragon skin and then he was a boy again.

Hawaiian Chicken

2011-06-26T20:23:00.000+08:00

This recipe makes enough for 4 family meals.

1kg chicken breast chopped in thirds
8 rashes of bacon diced
2 brown onions diced
1 green capsicum diced
1 medium tin of pineapple pieces drained
800g tin crushed tomatoes
2 jars tomato based pasta sauce
2 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons sugar

Brown onions and bacon then transfer to slow cooker.
Add all other ingredients and cook on low all day.
Shred chicken pieces with a fork and stir.
Serve with rice, pasta or dry crusty bread.

Eat for dinner tonight then divide up the remainder and freeze for another time.

Milestones for Possum

2011-06-25T20:02:00.001+08:00

Today Possum moved from his bassinet into his cot. He is a few days shy of 9 months old.

Also today, Possum started rolling again. Before he had heart surgery he had started rolling from his tummy to his back. After the surgery understandably he stopped doing it, but today he started again. He rolled both to the left and right several times this morning.

Mobilo

2011-06-25T14:34:00.000+08:00

Perhaps you remember Mobilo from your own school days? I certainly do :) To be honest I had forgotten what it was called until Spring last year when we visited friends and the kids played with their Mobilo non stop. After that I knew what was going on our Christmas shopping list! I spoke with my wonderful sister in law who bought the kids a large bucket to share for Christmas. Six months on and the kids are still playing with the Mobilo almost every day! It is so versatile. Here are some of their creation.

Flossy built this train to collect Little People and transport them around the house.

After watching Star Wars everyone was busy creating. They did a very impressive job!

Bugsy and his X wing.

Chicky and her tie fighter.

Do you have Mobilo? What have you and your family been busy building? We love to take a look.

Rainy Day Fun

2011-06-24T13:53:00.001+08:00

Generally the kids spend the entire afternoon outside playing but on a rainy day we pull out some games. Our favorites include Castle Logix, Pirates Hide & Seek, Sort n Shapes and Animal Lotto.

Chicky playing Sort n Shapes. This is the first time she has really got what the game is all about. Another developmental milestone!

Flossy playing Castle Logix. Everyone LOVES Castle Logix, even Russ and I.

Bugsy busy with Pirate Hide & Seek. This game is quite challenging. Bugsy is easily frustrated and doesn't last long but today he managed to keep it together and persevere through quite a few of the challenges.

Busy, but quite kiddos while Possum naps :) Hopefully tomorrow the sun will return and they will be back outside on the tramp.

Sharing a Story

2011-06-20T07:21:00.000+08:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Kat and Aaron through Possums journey in NICU. Their son Noah suffered Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy at birth and his prognosis is not good. You can read his story and find out how you can help these amazing people by visiting their blog http://noahsarkperth.blogspot.com/ or by visiting their Facebook page Noah's Ark (community). They will be holding an auction shortly to help raise funds to care for their son.

All About Spelling Review

2011-06-19T08:05:00.000+08:00

All About Spelling is as the title suggests a homeschool spelling program. It comprises 7 levels which do not correlate to grade level. Currently only the first 6 levels are available, the 7th level is due to be released anytime. An average student working for 10 mins per school day could probably complete 2 levels in 1 year.

This program uses rule based spelling instruction and strives for mastery. Eg - one rule learnt in level 1 is "c says /s/ before e, i & y". The student will then learn how to decide which /k/ to use at the beginning of a word trying c first then changing to k if the c makes the wrong sound. As the rule becomes firm and the child has practiced making the right choice it becomes an automated decision.

A whiteboard and tiles are used so that a young student doesn't tire and also to make the program more hands on. When starting level 1 you begin with a limited number of phonograms but as you move through the levels more and more phonograms are added until you have learnt them all. When displaying them on the board they are grouped together by type. Eg - the vowel teams are all grouped together, the consonant suffixes are all grouped.

Each level has 1 teacher manual. Within the manual there are steps. Each level has a different number of steps. Level 1 has 24 while level 3 has 28. At the beginning of each step there is review of previously mastered rules and phonograms and also rules and phonograms that still need mastering. The idea isn't to get bogged down here in the review just to make sure you do some daily.

The step is then presented on the whiteboard using the tiles. Only once the teacher feels the student is confident with the material should they ask the student to begin writing on paper. There are 10 words to spell at the end of the step and also dictation phrases and later sentences. If the student misses lots of words then they have not understood that step and should continue to work there before moving on. Only once mastery of that step is achieved should the student move on.

There is some flexibility with the dictation phrases and sentences. If the student finds the material easy and doesn't make any mistakes you might choose to only complete a third or half of the phrases/sentences. Similarly if they need more work there is plenty of material to expand the step.

This program is very teacher intensive. The student cannot be left to work on this alone at all.

We LOVE this program. It is explicit, very easy to implement and produces outstanding results!

** Please note that we do not receive any kick back for endorsing this program. We just like to share when things are working well for us. **

Beautiful Kids

2011-06-18T20:01:00.001+08:00

They are growing up so fast!

Home Oxygen for Possum

2011-06-17T14:52:00.001+08:00

Possum's last sleep study revealed that he has oxygen saturations that are too low whilst he is asleep at night so he has been put on home oxygen. What does that mean?

Boc deliver medical oxygen to our house once a month. Every night we connect the nasal cannular up to the regulator on the bottle and a measured dose, in this case 250ml per minute is delivered all night. In the mornings we disconnect him and remove the nasal cannular.

Here is Possum taped up ready for bed.

Because we are removing the cannular daily we have put duoderm on his checks to protect them. We then use fiximul to tape the cannular down. The fiximul is removed daily and the duoderm as needed. We have also trimmed the nasal prongs as they were just too long for his little nose.

He has adjusted very well to having his prongs in. He sucks his fingers and thumb and didn't really like the prongs being in his way the first night but has settled easily since then. Babies really are very adaptable.

At this point we are hoping that he will come off night oxygen sometime in the spring.

Family Update

2011-06-16T21:46:00.001+08:00

Flossy

She has been busy working hard on school. She saw the eye Dr again a couple of weeks back and there has been no change on that front. She will continue to patch for 2 hours per day, her script remains the same.

Bugsy

He been a very boisterous boy recently and is struggling with self control, but he is getting there. His reading is coming along in leaps and bounds.

Chicky

She has had a couple of head colds over the last month or so. Thankfully she has managed to keep her germs to herself and no one else has got sick. She loves to sit at the table and draw.

Possum

He has cracked 6kg now and is just moving into OO clothing. He recently had a sleep study to check on his apnoeas and it revealed that he continues to have low oxygen saturation overnight so he has now been placed on night oxygen. His hearing has recently been tested too as we were concerned that he may be deaf. The testing revealed that he has moderate low frequency hearing loss mostly likely caused by a fluid build up in his ears, so he will be having grommets put in later in the year which will hopefully fix his hearing problem. He is a happy baby and loves to play with his toys on the mat.

Vintage Readers

2011-05-07T11:15:00.000+08:00

Here is a link to a wonderful list of vintage readers all available free online.

Happy Heart Homeschooling Library

Bugsy is Reading!

2011-04-12T15:30:00.001+08:00

Had to share that Bugsy is finally reading. So far he has completed the first two sets of Bob books and the first set of Nora Gaydos readers unassisted for the most part. He is catching the reading bug and it is wonderful to watch.

6 months old

2011-03-31T20:11:00.000+08:00

Possum is now 6 months old!

He weighs 5kg.

He has found his hands and likes to suck his fingers and thumbs.

He was rolling from tummy to back 3 weeks ago but hasn't since heart surgery.

He has had surgery to repair bilateral ingroinal hernias.

He has had surgery to ligate a PDA.

He is still wearing 0000 clothes.

He has moved from newborn nappies into infant size, just in the last week.

He smiles a lot.

He has started cooing.

He has been hospitalised once since the initial discharge.

He remains on iron for anaemia.

He is on monitoring for apnoeas.

He breastfeeds well, but still every 2-3 hours around the clock.

Mostly he settles himself to sleep.

He loves being in the Hug-a-Bub.

Back to School

2011-03-29T13:28:00.000+08:00

School is back in full swing at our place :)

Bugsy is working on -

Horizon K math book 1

Explode the Code 1

All About Spelling 1

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, 30 lessons to go

Nora Gaydos Readers

Bugsy seems very keen at the moment and his reading is coming along smashingly! I've seen a huge difference in the last couple of months.

Flossy is working on -

Writing With Ease 2

All About Spelling 3

Miquon Blue

Kumon Word Problems 2

Getting Started with Latin

Grammar Island

Story of the World 2

Real Science Odyssey 'Life'

Currently reading The Chronicles of Narnia

Flossy isn't too inspired to work at the moment. I think she really enjoyed her time off last year and is finding the workload a little tough. It hasn't helped that we have been inconsistent over the last month with Possum's hospital stay. Hopefully things will settle down over the coming weeks.

Possum has emergency heart surgery!

2011-03-29T13:07:00.000+08:00

Just 2 weeks ago we went to a routine cardiac appointment only to be told that Possum had systemic pulmonary hypertension! He was immediately put on medication to reduce the pressures in his lungs and we were told that he would need surgery later in the year to fix his PDA.

Over the ensuing days Possum became breathless and wasn't feeding well. I took him to the emergency department and after consultation with numerous doctors it was found that the medication had worked too well and Possum had heart failure and pulmonary oedema.

We were transferred to the major children's hospital and after more discussion it was decided that Possum would have surgery to fix his PDA as soon as possible. The surgery was organised for the following day.

The operation went smoothly. Possum was cut under the arm about level with the shoulder blade. His lung was deflated and pushed aside and the PDA was ligated. He was ventilated for about 24 hours following the surgery and spent that time in PICU. During his time in PICU they weaned him off the sedation and morphine. The extubation was a little rocky for the first hour or so but after a couple of rounds of meds he was breathing on his own again, phew! He remained on supplementary oxygen for a further 24 hours. He resumed breastfeeding like a champ!

Possum in PICU

During our stay in the hospital it became evident that Possum has apnoeas when he is asleep. As a result we are now on apnoea monitoring when he is asleep and in his car seat. We have also now been told that he has a further heart condition, an ASD and we hope to find more out about that at our follow up cardio appointment in a couple of weeks time.

Possums journey

2011-01-15T13:05:00.001+08:00

30/9/10 Meeting Possum for the first time 865g.

Very sick, still ventilated.

First cuddle, 18 days.

Graduated to an open cot at day 28, also on full feeds, just over 1kg.

First try off CPAP onto PBF oxygen.

First cuddle with Daddy.

Still so tiny.

First bath.

Newborn hearing screen, passed :-)

First car ride, inter-hospital transfer.

Finally home in his own bed.

Bigger than his doggy, 3kg.

Finally home!

2011-01-15T13:01:00.000+08:00

For more than 15 weeks now life has been in complete upheaval. I am please to say that Possum and I are finally home and life is starting to resemble a new normal.

Possum spent 100 days in hospital and endured more procedures than I care to think about. His discharge summary is 4 pages long! He is one strong little boy! His out look is fabulous but he does have plenty of followup over the next 5 years.

He now weighs a hefty 3kg :-) I'll share some pics of our journey soon.

Possum's Story

2010-10-18T14:46:00.000+08:00

On the morning of September 27 I was lying in bed, awake, feeling Possum kicking. I commented to Rusty that Possum was kicking a lot and took his hand to feel my tummy. Right at that moment I felt a warm trickle and jumped out of bed for the toilet. By the time I sat down my pyjama bottoms were soaked and I said to Rusty I thought my waters had broken. We were both in disbelief. I was only 25 weeks pregnant!

I called the hospital and threw a few things in a bag whilst Rusty got the kids some breakfast then I drove myself in to the hospital. When I got out of the car there was a big gush, and at that moment I knew for sure that my waters had really broken. I think I had been in denial up until that point! I made my way into the hospital and found the maternity ward. I spoke to a lovely midwife who was most helpful and got me settled before the Dr arrived. They both made it clear that I had to be transported to our capital ASAP and they would call in the Royal Flying Doctor Service to airlift me. They did not have adequate facilities for a 25 week baby in that hospital and they were very concerned, given my 1 hr 15 min labour with Chicky that I might have the baby there.

I managed to phone Rusty and have him call my Mum and make arrangement for the kids and him to go to the city. Meanwhile I swallowed meds to stop contractions, was swabbed for Step B which I had with Bugsy and Chicky, had blood taken and had an injection of steroids to help Possum's lungs produce sofractin.

A few hours later I was transported via ambulance from the hospital to the airstrip, then flown to the city and again transported by ambulance from the airstrip to the major maternity hospital in our state. I was assessed and admitted on arrival, more blood was taken along with another swab and I was advised I was now on strict bedrest. That night I hardly slept a wink.

The next morning I was taken off for an ultrasound to check on Possum and make sure he was ok. He was ok, but the scan showed there was no amniotic fluid left and that Possum was a footling breech. Later that morning the team of Dr's assigned to me attended and advised that as Possum was a footling breech I would need to have a cesarean when the time came if he remained in that position. Further they advised as he was only 25 weeks it would need to be a classical cesarean as there wouldn't be enough room otherwise. I signed the consent required and asked what the averages were like for women in my position. How long did they normally last before the baby was born? The reality is generally they last not longer than 1 week. I received another injection of steriods to help Possums lungs too.

The following day, we are now at Wednesday 29 September. Rusty and I decided that if I made it to the following Tuesday for another wellness scan on Possum we would find out if we were having a girl or a boy. We also decided that if Possum arrived in the meantime we had a unisex name picked. Just aswell we had that discussion because at 3.45am the following morning I got up to go to the bathroom. When I got back into bed I felt a very strange senation, like there was something there that shouldn't be, then it started flapping about! I pressed the call bell as I was concerned and waited for a midwife. While I was waiting the flapping got worse and I grew more concerned. I hit the emergency bell and immediately half a dozen midwifes flew into the room. I explained that I could feel what I thought by this time must be a foot flapping about where it shouldn't be and they wisked me out and down to theatre in the blink of an eye. When we got to theatre they checked and sure enough there was a little foot prolapsed!

They had just enough time to give me a spinal block which ment I was awake for the operation and Possum was born at 4.04am. He was immediately taken to the Special Care Nursery for attention. His apgar scores were 6 and 8 so he was going ok, but going to need lots of help. He was 25 weeks and 3 days gesdation. Unfortunately Rusty missed his birth and arrived at the hospital as we rang to tell him it was a boy. I was advised later that even if he had of been at the hospital he wouldn't have been admitted to the theatre as it was a classical section.

The balance of Thursday is a complete blur. When they removed the spinal block they gave me a massive dose of morphine which had me fuzzy and asleep until 4pm. At that time I started expressing for my little man and when Rusty came back to the hospital that evening I visited the nursery and got to touch him for the first time.

And a funny note. Possum was due on Bugsy's birthday in January but he arrived on Chicky's birthday in September. He was determined to share!

Edited to add his vitals, oops!
Weight 865g
Length 34cm
Head circumference 23cm

Fav HS Programs

2010-09-23T09:27:00.000+08:00

I have found a useful bunch of programs that I am using as HS tools and thought I would share :)

Anki - FREE memory system software, we are just getting started with this

Planbook - lesson planning software, LOVE this

Delicious Library 2 - library catalogue system, can't believe I didn't know about this one sooner

Year 3 (Draft Plans)

2010-09-18T12:20:00.000+08:00

*Please note this is a work in progress. Various updates will be made throughout the remainder of 2010 and all of 2011.*

Learning areas, curricula and resources for Year 3 (8yo) to be addressed in a formal manner -

MATH

Miquon (should already be finished with this, but if not complete)

Kumon Word Problems

Activities for the AL Abacus

Life of Fred Fractions

Singapore 3 or 4?? probably 4

Hands on Equations

LANGUAGE ARTS

All About Spelling (should complete this year)

Writing With Ease (should complete this year)

Michael Clay Thompson Town Level?

Bravewriter Arrow?

Mosdos Ruby Level?

Independent reading :

HISTORY

Story of the World Vol 3 (Early Modern Times)

Story of the World Activity Guide

Supplemental reading (Book basket) :

SCIENCE

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding K-2

Going deeper where needed with Real Science Odyssey Life, Earth & Space and Chemistry

Snap Circuit 100

Continuing this from Year 2 (The Real Science Odyssey programs are 1 year each) probably adding in Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding 3-5 & Real Physics (if released yet)

EXTRAS

Getting Started with Latin (should complete this year)

Galore Park Latin Prep 1

Meet the Masters (Art program)

Logic & puzzle books

Violin (lessons plus The Violin Book Series)

Playdough

Puzzles

Wedgits

Cooking

Singing (Sing Books)

Educational Videos Online FREE

2010-09-18T11:14:00.000+08:00

Don't we HSers love that word, FREE :) Over at TWTM people are often talking about the Magic School Bus Videos and Bill Nye The Science Guy. Well, I do remember the Magic School Bus from when I was in school, but Bill Nye?? Anyway thanks to the lovely people over there I now have links for a number of educational videos online which are absolutely FREE. My kiddos enjoyed their first episode of Magic School Bus this morning, they are begging for more! We will try out Bill Nye next. Here are the links -

Magic School Bus Videos

Bill Nye: The Science Guy

Newton's Apple

NeoK12

Year 2

2010-09-15T13:10:00.000+08:00

Learning areas, curricula and resources for Year 2 (7yo) to be addressed in a formal manner -

MATH - drawing from

Professor B math

Rightstart math games

Activities for the AL Abacus

Miquon

Kumon Word Problems

LANGUAGE ARTS

All About Spelling

Writing With Ease

Michael Clay Thompson Island Level

Shared reading :

Chronicals of Narnia
Little House Series
The Jungle Book
Parables from Nature
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
The Secret Garden
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Through the Looking Glass
50 Famous Stories Retold
Black Beauty
The Adventures of Robin Hood

HISTORY

Story of the World Vol 2 (Medieval)

Story of the World Activity Guide

Supplemental reading (Book basket) :

Otto of the Silver Hand
Canterbury Tales
Beowulf the Warrior
Marco Polo for Kids
Joan of Arc
Days of Knights
Knight at Dawn
Viking Ships at Sunrise
Story of Islam
Good Queen Bess
Ancient Celts
Galileo
Who Were the Vikings?
Muslim Child
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas
Knight
The Girl Who Lost Her Smile
Viking Tales
Liang and the Magic Paintbrush
Baboushka and the Three Kings
Sundiata
The Orchard Book of Roman Myths
Favorite Celtic Fairytales
Bard of Avon
What were Castles for?
The Ch'i-Lin Purse
Indian Tales

SCIENCE

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding K-2

Going deeper where needed with Real Science Odyssey Life, Earth & Space and Chemistry

Snap Circuit 100

EXTRAS

Getting Started with Latin

Logic & puzzle books

Violin (lessons plus The Violin Book Series)

Playdough

Puzzles

Wedgits

Painting

Drawing

Cooking

Singing (Sing Books)

Weekly Report 4/9 - 10/9

2010-09-10T20:14:00.000+08:00

We took a break from formal schooling this week but did attend Homeschool Group and Violin Lessons.

Dolphin Discovery Centre

2010-09-03T20:15:00.000+08:00

Today we visited the local Dolphin Discovery Centre. The session was conducted by a marine biologist who has been working with the bottlenose dolphins in our area for the past 10 years. He was very knowledgable and quite a funny guy. The kids really warmed to him and got heaps out of the session. They are keen to head back soon so that we can see some dolphins. Unfortunately we visited at the wrong time of the day. Here they are with their certificates. once again thanks go out to one of the local Mum's for organising this wonderful event! Thanks also to the sponsors who enabled our visit to be FREE.

Weekly Report 28/8 - 3/9

2010-09-03T19:44:00.000+08:00

MONDAY

Together -

Read aloud When I'm Feeling Lonley

Read aloud from Brer Rabbit Book

Read aloud C13 Detectives in Togas

Flossy -

Read Ancient Rome & Pompeii

Completed MR D-10, D-11, D-12

Completed Kumon WP1 (20) Q8-10

Completed WWE1 W23 D3&4

Worked on AAS3 S6

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 The Roman Builders

Read, Discussed & Narrated SOTW1 The Roman Gladiators

Bugsy -

Worked on Kumon Uppercase Letters

Worked on MO E-17

Worked on AAS1 S12

Worked on Kumon 1-30 (29)

Chicky -

Shapes & Colours Book

Playschool Activities

TUESDAY

Together -

Read aloud When I'm Feeling Lonley

Read aloud from Brer Rabbit Book

Read aloud C14 Detectives in Togas

Flossy -

Read Inca Book

Completed MR E-26, E-27, E-28

Worked on Kumon WP1 (21) Q1-5

Completed WWE1 W24 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S6

Completed SL Sci K W16

Bugsy -

Worked on Kumon Uppercase Letters

Worked on L59 100EZ

Worked on MO E-17

Worked on AAS1 S12

Worked on Kumon 1-30 (29)

Chicky -

Shapes & Colours Book

Playschool Activities

WEDNESDAY

Together -

Read aloud When I'm Feeling Lonley

Read aloud from Brer Rabbit Book

Read aloud C15 Detectives in Togas

Flossy -

Read Ancient Rome & Pompeii

Completed MR E-29, E-30, E-31

Completed Kumon WP1 (21) Q6-10

Completed WWE1 W24 D3&4

Worked on AAS3 S6

Read, discussed & illustrated Paddle-to-the-Sea C8

Bugsy -

Worked on formation of '5'

Worked on L59 100EZ

Completed MO E-18

Worked on AAS1 S12

Worked on Kumon 1-30 (29)

Chicky -

Shapes & Colours Book

Playschool Activities

THURSDAY

Together -

Read aloud When I'm Feeling Lonley

Read aloud from Brer Rabbit Book

Read aloud C15 Detectives in Togas

Flossy -

Read Ancient Rome & Pompeii

Completed MR E-32, E-33, E-34

Completed Kumon WP1 (22)

Completed WWE1 W25 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S6

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Gladiator School

Bugsy -

Completed L59 100EZ

Completed MO E-19, E-20

Worked on AAS1 S12

Worked on Kumon 1-30 (30)

Chicky -

Shapes & Colours Book

Playschool Activities

FRIDAY

Together -

Read aloud When I'm Feeling Lonley

Read aloud from Brer Rabbit Book

Read aloud C16 Detectives in Togas

Flossy -

Read Ancient Rome

Completed MR E-35, E-36, E-37

Completed Kumon WP1 (23)

Completed WWE1 W25 D3&4

Worked on AAS3 S6

Completed SL Sci K W17

Bugsy -

Worked on Kumon Uppercase Letters

Worked on L60 100EZ

Worked on MO E-21

Worked on AAS1 S12

Worked on Kumon 1-30

Chicky -

Shapes & Colours Book

Playschool Activities

Weekly Report 21/8 - 27/8

2010-08-27T19:29:00.000+08:00

We took a break from formal school this week.

Child Restraint Legislation is Changing!

2010-08-25T19:33:00.000+08:00

From 1 October 2010 Child Restraint Legislation is changing in our state. I am continuously amazed by the number of people who choose not to correctly restrain their children when travelling in a vehicle! This legislation applies to ALL children under 7 years of age. Please take a look here and make sure you comply, please also spread the word!

And just for everyone's peace of mind. Flossy is currently restrained in a Safe n Sound Maxi Rider booster seat with Protecta Harness. Bugsy is currently restrained in a Safe n Sound Maxi Rider booster seat with Protecta Harness. Chicky is currently restrained in a Safe n Sound Royal Convertible Restraint in a forward facing position.

Update on Rusty at the Bowls Comp

2010-08-24T16:39:00.000+08:00

Unfortunately Rusty didn't progress any further. He made it to the second round, so the final 16. We are so proud! He played some whopper bowls and rose to the challenge.

Rusty at the Aussie Indoor Bowls Championships

2010-08-24T09:49:00.000+08:00

Rusty is away at the moment competing in the Australian Mens Indoor Singles Bowls Championships. He is one of 3 representatives from our state competing against a total field of 32 men. Here are some links to pics of him in action. He won this game, the first round so has made it through to the round of 16. Waiting to hear the results from day 2, go Rusty!!

ETA - All the links I provided were wrong :( Bowls Australia changed all their files around after I spent hours locating the ones of Rusty (there were hundreds!). I don't have the energy to do it all again so I've just removed the links.

Weekly Report 14/8 - 20/8

2010-08-20T19:13:00.000+08:00

MONDAY

Together -

Read aloud We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Read aloud from The Brer Rabbit Book

Read aloud C11 Detectives in Togas

Flossy -

Read The Gobblin and the Grocer

Completed MR C-20, C-21, C-22

Completed Kumon WP1 (18) Q5-8

Completed WWE1 W22 D3&4

Completed AAS3 S5 dictation sentences

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 The Roman Gods

Completed SL Sci W15 D2

Bugsy -

Worked on L57 100EZ

Worked on Kumon Uppercase book

Completed MO E-16

Completed AAS1 S11 phrases

Completed Kumon 1-30 (28)

Chicky -

Alphabet Book

Playschool Activities

TUESDAY

Together -

Read aloud We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Read aloud from Brer Rabbit Book

Read aloud C12 Detectives in Togas

Flossy -

Read Eggs & Chicks

Completed MR C-23, C-24, C-25

Worked on Kumon WP1 (19) Q1-4

Outlined, composed and completed letter to penpal

Completed SL Sci W15 D3

Bugsy -

Worked on L57 100EZ

Worked on MO E-17

Worked on AAS1 S12

Worked on Kumon 1-30 (28)

Chicky -

Alphabet Book

Playschool Activities

THURSDAY

Flossy -

Read Ancient Rome & Pompeii

Completed MR D-5, D-6

Completed Kumon WP1 (19) Q5-8

Completed WWE1 W23 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S6

Bugsy -

Completed L57 100EZ

Worked on MO E-17

Worked on AAS1 S12

Completed Kumon 1-30 (28)

Chicky -

Alphabet Book

Playschool Activities

FRIDAY

Flossy -

Read Ancient Rome & Pompeii

Completed MR D-7, D-8, D-9

Completed Kumon WP1 (20) Q1-4

Bugsy -

Worked on L58 100EZ

Chicky -

Alphabet Book

Playschool Activities

New Wheels

2010-08-17T18:48:00.000+08:00

Having a 6th member join our family in the near future has seen the need to upsize our family vehicle. After much consideration we finally decided on the VW Multivan. This is an awesome vehicle with plenty of room for everyone. We are very pleased with our new purchase!

Weekly Report 7/8 - 13/8

2010-08-14T07:25:00.000+08:00

MONDAY

Together -

Read aloud We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Read aloud Brer Rabbit

Read aloud Detectives in Togas C9

Flossy -

Read The Snow Queen from Anderson's Tales

Completed MR C-14, C-15, C-16

Completed Kumpn WP1 17 Q5-8

Completed WWE1 W21 D3&4

Worked on AAS3 S5

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 The Power of Rome

Bugsy -

Worked on L56 100EZ

1-10 counters

Worked on AAS1 S10

Worked on Kumon 1-30 27

Chicky -

Alphabet book

Playschool activities

TUESDAY

Together -

Read aloud We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Read aloud Brer Rabbit

Read aloud Detectives in Togas C10

Flossy -

Read The Snow Queen & The Little Match Girl from Anderson's Tales

Completed MR C-17, C-18, C-19

Completed Kumon WP1 18 Q1-4

Completed WWE1 W22 D1&2

Completed AAS3 S5

Completed SL Sci W14 D3 & W15 D1

Bugsy -

Completed L56 100EZ

1 - 10 counters

Worked on AAS1 S10 phrases

Worked on Kumon 1-30 28

Chicky -

Alphabet book

Playschool Activities

After a great start to the week we spent the rest of the week laid up with head colds :(

Kumon

2010-08-10T16:05:00.000+08:00

These 2 books are my absolute favourite pre-handwriting books! Both Flossy and Bugsy have worked through these before moving onto formal handwriting books and now it is time for Chicky to start.

We begin with the colouring book. It has the child colour a small part of a larger picture then draw a line from a dot to a star navigating some obstacles. By the time we are about halfway through the colouring book they are generally ready to add in the Tracing book which focuses on having the child draw within lines to make shapes like circles and diagonal lines.

Playschool Activities 3

2010-08-08T19:36:00.000+08:00

Another week, another set of Playschool draws. Here is what's install for Chicky this week.

Draw 1 Wedgits.

Draw 2 motor skills activity. There are dried split peas in the container on the left. Chicky can spoon them into the smaller containers on the right and back again.

Draw 3 animal match game. Each of the pieces face down has an animal picture which matched the main board. This is from a Galt Animal Lotto game.

Draw 4 build a bug. This is from the game Beetle, the pieces fit together like a puzzle.

Draw 5 activity 1 from Kumon Colouring Book. More to come on these books, I love them! This will be a completely new activity for Chicky but I am sure she is up to it. She likes to draw and has her pencil grip down so we will see how she goes.

Draw 6 a 12 piece Bananas in Pyjamas puzzle.

Weekly Report 31/7 - 6/8

2010-08-07T13:06:00.000+08:00

MONDAY

Together -

Read aloud Possum Magic

Read aloud The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit

Read Aloud Detectives in Togas C5

Flossy -

Read The Flying Trunk & The Ugly Duckling from Andersons Tales

Completed MR B-4, B-5

Completed Kumon WP1 15 Q8-10

Completed WWE1 W20 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S4

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Rabbit Shoots the Sun

Bugsy -

Worked on L54 100EZ

Worked on AAS1 S10

Chicky -

Numbers book

Playschool activities

TUESDAY

Together -

Homeschool Group

WEDNESDAY

Together -

Read aloud Possum Magic

Read aloud The Completed Adventures of Peter Rabbit

Read aloud Detectives in Togas C6

Flossy -

Read The Ugly Duckling & The Nightingale from Andersons Tales

Completed MR B-6, B-7, B-8

Completed Kumon WP1 16 Q1-4

Outlined, composed and wrote letter to penpal

Read, discussed, narrated & illustrated Paddle-to-the-Sea C7

Bugsy -

Worked on L54 100EZ

Worked on MO E-15

Completed AAS1 S10

Completed Kumon 1-30 25

Chicky -

Numbers book

Playschool activities

THURSDAY

Together -

Read aloud Possum Magic

Read aloud The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit

Read aloud Detectives in Togas C7

Flossy -

Read The Nightingale & The Snow Queen from Andersons Tales

Completed MR B-9, B-10, B-11

Completed Kumon WP1 16 Q5-10

Completed WWE1 W20 D3&4

Completed AAS3 S4

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Romulus & Remus

Completed SL Sci W14 D1

Bugsy -

Completed L54 100EZ

Completed MO E-15

Worked on AAS1 S11

Worked on Kumon 1-30 26

Chicky -

Numbers book

Playschool activities

FRIDAY

Together -

Read aloud Possum Magic

Read aloud Brer Rabbit Book

Read aloud Detectives in Togas C8

Flossy -

Read The Snow Queen from Andersons Tales

Completed MR B-12, C-12, C-13

Completed Kumon WP1 17 Q1-4

Completed WWE1 W21 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S5

Completed SL Sci W14 D2&3

Bugsy -

Completed L55 100EZ

Completed MO E-16

Worked on AAS1 S11

Completed Kumon 1-30 26

Chicky -

Numbers book

Playschool activities

Flossy's New Haircut

2010-08-04T19:39:00.000+08:00

Playschool Activities 2

2010-08-01T17:18:00.000+08:00

Chicky LOVED her draws last week! I have decided to rotate some of them weekly which will give her a good opportunity to try each of the draws over the week. It will also let me see which ones she is drawn to and which she passes on.

So, what's in the draws this week?

Draw 1 is pattern blocks (same as last week).

Draw 2 is pom-pom motor skill activity (same as last week).

Draw 3 is a counting and motor skill activity. There are 12 'eggs' (pingpong balls) to put in and out of the egg carton. If Chicky feels inclined she can also match the colours up as there are 6 of each. I will number the 'eggs' as soon as I find my Sharpie.

Draw 4 is a counting activity. Each cup is numbered and there are just the right number of pop sticks. The plan is to work with 3 cups in the beginning and build up to 10 as she becomes competent over the next few months.

Draw 5 is a threading activity. A pipe cleaner and 5 beads with small openings.

Draw 6 is Play-Doh with 3 animal shapes and a small cutting knife.

Weekly Report 24/7 - 30/7

2010-07-31T09:44:00.000+08:00

TUESDAY

Together -

Read aloud The Little Rabbit

Read aloud The Complete Stories of Peter Rabbit

Read aloud Detectives in Togas C2

Flossy -

Read The Little Mermaid, Andersons Fairy Tales

Completed MO X-2, X-3, X-4

Completed Kumon WP1 15 Q2&3

Completed WWE1 W19 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S4

Read, discussed, narrated SOTW1 The Nazca Drawings

Completed SL Sci W13 D1&2

Bugsy -

Completed L52 100EZ

Worked on MO E-15

Worked on AAS1 S10

Completed Kumon 1-20 21

Chicky -

Shapes & Colours book

Playschool Activity draws 1

WEDNESDAY

Together -

Read aloud The Little Rabbit

Read aloud from The Complete Stories of Peter Rabbit

Read aloud Detectives in Togas C3

Flossy -

Read The Wild Swan, Andersons Tales

Completed MO X-5, X-6, X-7

Completed Kumon WP1 15 Q4&5

Completed WWE W19 D3&4

Worked on AAS3 S4

Read, narrated and drew Paddle to the Sea C6

Bugsy -

Worked on L53 100EZ

Worked on MO E-15

Worked on AAS1 S10

Completed Kumon 1-20 22

Chicky -

Shapes & Colours book

Playschool Activity draws 1

THURSDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO X-8, X-9, X-10

MO book completed, yay!

Violin lesson

Busgy -

Violin lesson

FRIDAY

Together -

Read aloud The Little Rabbit

Read aloud from The Completed Stories of Peter Rabbit

Read aloud Detectives in Togas C4

Flossy -

Read The Wild Swan, Andersons Tales

Read The Flying Trunk, Andersons Tales

MR B-1, B-2, B-3

Completed Kumon WP1 15 Q6&7

Outlined and wrote a letter to penpal

Read, discussed and narrated SOTW1 The Heads of the Olmecs

Bugsy -

Completed L53 100EZ

Worked on MO E-15

Completed Kumon 1-20 23

Worked on AAS1 S10

Chicky -

Shapes & Colours book

Playschool Activity draws 1

Growing Up

2010-07-27T12:55:00.000+08:00

Flossy has just turned 6 and over the last few months she has been growing up fast, hitting someone of those all important childhood milestones.

- She had her first adult tooth erupt (behind the baby ones!)

- She learnt to ride her bike without training wheels

- She lost her first baby tooth

- Both her drawing and handwriting have had very dramatic improvement

Playschool Activities

2010-07-24T16:19:00.000+08:00

Whilst planning out school for next year I have been seriously thinking about Chicky and where she is at. I can see that she is going to require some one on one instruction (soon) in the same way the Bugsy did when he was ready to step up from toddler to little scholar :p Something seems to happen in my house right around birthday 3!

Whilst pondering all of this someone posted a thread on TWTM looking for manipulatives to keep their toddler happy/busy whilst they did school. I took a gander at that thread and found a link to this blog post, a blog I used to follow when Bugsy was smaller.

So I was inspired! And here is what I have set up for school on Monday for Chicky. It only took a few minutes.

This is the Ikea Trofast draws I chose to set up in.

Draw 1 has pattern blocks. There are plenty more designs under the fish.

Draw 2 has a little art & craft. 1 sheet of paper, 3 block crayons, 1 glue stock, 10 pre-punched hearts & 10 pre-punched flowers.

Draw 3 has bead threading.

Draw 4 has Wedgits.

Draw 5 has a motor skills activity. You use the spoon to transfer the pompoms from the container to the ice-cube tray and back again. To take it one step further you can colour match as you go. Chicky wouldn't leave this one alone when I set it up. Obviously tickled her fancy.

Draw 6 Play-doh with geometric shapes and a small cutting knife.

I will leave her to choose which activities she would like to do and for how long. The only one she will need supervision for is the art & craft. Can't wait to see how it goes!

Weekly Report 17/7 - 23/7

2010-07-24T13:28:00.000+08:00

Chicky has been unwell over the weekend which resulted in an overnight hospital stay. She is on the mend now. I have a head cold so am not at my best either.

This week we did things a little differently trying to catch up a bit on our content areas which have slipped behind over the past few weeks where we have been out and about so much. Hopefully things will settle down a bit for us now!

TUESDAY

Flossy -

Completed SL Sci W10

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Greece's War with Persia

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 The Greek's fight each other

WEDNESDAY

Flossy -

Read, narrated, drew Paddle-to-the-Sea C5

Completed SL Sci W11 D1&2

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Philip & his son

THURSDAY

Flossy -

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Alexander's Invasions

Completed SL Sci W11 D3&4

Completed MO T-5, T-6, T-7

Completed letter to penpal

FRIDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO T-7a, T-8, T-8a

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 The Death of Alexander

Completed SL Sci W12

Weekly Report 10/7 - 16/7

2010-07-17T13:24:00.000+08:00

MONDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO S-4, T-1, T-1a

Completed AAS3 S3

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 The Golden Apple

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-13

Read aloud a reader

Completed AAS1 S9

WEDNESDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO T-2, T-2a, T-3, T-4

Completed letter to penpal

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-14

Worked on L52 100EZ

More new materials arrive

2010-07-17T12:52:00.001+08:00

This week we received -

Story of the World 2 : The Middle Ages

Story of the World 2 Activity Guide

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding

So now that I have these in my hot little hands I will be pre-reading and planning for next year. A somewhat mammoth task as I plan out our go-alongs and materials at the same time. Flossy has also requested a more exciting notebook so I will be searching for some pre-made goodies or going the whole hog and making up some pages myself.

Weekly Report 3/7 - 9/7

2010-07-10T13:18:00.000+08:00

We spent a fair amount of this week travelling so school was light on.

THURSDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO H-6, L-2, L-3, L-4, N-1

Completed AAS3 S2

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Life in Sparta

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Life in Athens

Bugsy -

Completed Muggins K geometric sample

Read aloud a reader

Chicky -

Lines up crayons

Drawing

FRIDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO N-2 to S-3

Worked on AAS3 S3

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-12

Completed L51 100EZ

Worked on AAS1 S9

New Puppy Jasper

2010-07-08T14:42:00.000+08:00

We picked up our new puppy Jasper yesterday. He is a 7 week old whippet. Here are a few snaps of his first night with us. Our other dog is Indy. She is a 10 month old whippet.

Weekly Report 26/6 - 2/7

2010-07-03T13:10:00.000+08:00

Gosh, I have got really behind with my weekly reporting so I am going to try get down the academics today for the last few weeks.

TUESDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO G-7 & G-8

Read aloud The Runaway Bunny to Chicky

Completed WWE W18 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S2

Read, discussed & narrated SOTW1 Cyrus the Great

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-10

Worked on Websters

Chicky -

Drawing

WEDNESDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO H-1 to H-5

Violin practice

Completed WWE1 W18 D3&4

Worked on AAS3 S2

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-11

Violin practice

Worked on Websters

Read aloud a reader

Chicky -

Drawing

Homeschooler Conference

2010-07-02T13:59:00.000+08:00

This weekend I am going to my very first Homeschooler Conference, yay! Rusty will be home with the kids while I head off to the city for two nights to attend. Hopefully I will come away having learned something new. Very excited!

Weekly Report 19/6 - 25/6

2010-06-26T09:59:00.000+08:00

SATURDAY

Much of today was spent recovering from our trip to the city yesterday.

SUNDAY

Flossy read, discussed and narrated SOTW1 Homer with Rusty.

We went on an awesome nature walk this afternoon. We walk along the river quite some way. We stumbles across some interesting plants and spotted some birds in trees and ducks on the river. It was such a lovely day!

MONDAY

Together -

SSL C5

Read aloud Vole (Virtue)

Flossy -

Completed MP F-9 & F-10

Completed WWE1 W17 D3&4

Worked on AAS3 S2

Read aloud SOTW1 The First Olympic Games & narrated

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-5

Completed L50 100EZ

Worked on AAS1 S9 8 words

Handwriting

Chicky -

Worked on L4 100EZ

TUESDAY

Flossy -

Completed MO F-11 & F-12

Outlined, composed and wrote a letter to a penpal

Completed Sl Sci W9 D1

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-6

Read aloud 2 readers

Chicky -

Drawing

WEDNESDAY

Together -

SSL

Flossy -

Completed MO G-1 & G-2

Outlined, composed and wrote a letter to a penpal

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-7 & E-8

Read aloud 1 reader

Worked on Websters

Chicky -

Drawing

THURSDAY

Together -

Read aloud Paddle to the Sea C3

Flossy -

Completed MO G-3, G-4, G-5, G-6

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-9

Read aloud 1 reader

Chicky -

Drawing

FRIDAY

No school today. We had a busy day running errands. Flossy got a new pair of glasses. Bugsy got a haircut. We all got something nice for lunch. We visited our local school supply shop who have an awesome end of financial year sale on and picked up some bargains.

My motivation was very low this week. I think I have been feeling some pregnancy tiredness. I am almost 12 weeks along and travelling well so hopefully the tiredness will pass quickly and we will be back to full steam ahead.

Nature Walk

2010-06-21T12:57:00.000+08:00

Weekly Report 12/6 - 18/6

2010-06-19T11:21:00.000+08:00

SATURDAY

We spent most of the day working on the house cleaning, washing etc.

SUNDAY

The kids convinced Russ to take them bike riding. Well, they rode and he jogged :-) Flossy came home able to ride her big bike all by herself! A very big achievement for her. The bike is a little big, her feet don't touch the ground so she needs assistance with starting and stopping but she has the peddling and balance down, yay!

MONDAY

Russ was home today but we decided to school anyway as we already had plans to take Thursday and Friday off. School with Daddy is FUN!

Together -

Read aloud St Francis (Virtue)

SSL C4

Read aloud C1 Detectives in Togas

Read aloud C1 The Magic Faraway Tree

Read aloud The Runaway Bunny

Flossy -

Completed MO F-4, F-5, F-6

Completed WWE1 W16 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S1

Completed SOTW1 Greece Gets an Alphabet

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-3

Completed L49 100EZ

Completed AAS1 S8

Chicky -

Played with c-rods

Worked on L3 100EZ

TUESDAY

It was a very raining day today. The kids got started with a game after breakfast and it was hard to pull them away. They were itching to get back to it so we had a light school day. When the creative juices are flowing best to let them :-)

Together -

ALGF L4

Flossy -

Completed WWE1 W16 D3&4

Worked on AAS3 S1

Bugsy -

Worked on L50 100EZ

Worked on AAS1 S9

Chicky -

Played and played and played!

WEDNESDAY

Together -

Read aloud Visitors (Virtue)

SSL C4

Read aloud C2 The Magic Faraway Tree

Read aloud 1/2 The Little Mermaid, Andersons Tales

Read aloud When I'm Feeling Loved

Flossy -

Completed MO F-7

Completed WWE1 W17 D1&2

Worked on AAS3 S1

Bugsy -

Completed MO E-4

Worked on L50 100EZ

Worked on AAS1 S9

Chicky -

Drawing

THURSDAY

We headed out to our friends house for violin lessons and lunch. Everyone had a great time. We stopped by an orchard on the way back for a crate of pears. Really loving all the farm fresh fruit at excellent prices!

FRIDAY

We set off early for the big smoke. We stopped at a friends for a big play and lunch. Everyone had a wonderful time catching up. Then we headed out to the hills to meet a litter of puppies, their Mum & Dad and the breeder. We had already secured a pup from this litter but we needed to pick out our little guy. They were all so cute! 2F and 4M, they were 4 weeks old. We had already decided to take a boy so that narrowed the field a little. We chose Jasper and he will be coming home with us in about 4 more weeks.

New Curricula - First Impressions

2010-06-15T12:19:00.001+08:00

In the last two days we have received in the mail Writing With Ease 2 and Getting Started with Latin. These are for late this year or next year whenever we finish up what we are currently using. I thought I would share my first impressions.

WRITING WITH EASE 2

This is a significant step up from Writing With Ease 1 which we are currently working through. The copywork selections are longer and the children are introduced to dictation. The selections are somewhat difficult. This is not a graded text so Level 2 is not necessarily designed to be used by a Year 2. I can see that an older child (Y3 or Y4) would have little difficulty with the dictation exercises but I personally feel that your average Year 2 would find it difficult, mostly because of spelling issues. I am hoping that Flossy will find it the appropriate challenge. I certainly don't think she will struggle in any way but I don't see us doubling up lessons as we have been doing with Level 1. Looking through the book I like the way SWB encourages beginning summarising skills which is one of the main reasons we are using this writing program.

GETTING STARTED WITH LATIN

From the moment I open this book to take a proper look at it, I love it. It is such a gentle, systematic approach to learning latin and it makes me wonder why we have bothered with Song School Latin and Minimus to date. They have both been fun programs, don't get me wrong, but this book is 'really' learning latin if you know what I mean. I can't see a problem moving through 1 lesson per day but should we need to slow up it will be very easy to do so. Most lessons have 10 sentences to translate from latin to english. The grammar instruction looks solid and the writing requirement is minimal. This book is excellent value for money and the audio is available free from the authors website, what more could you ask for? One thing to note is that your child really needs to be reading well, I would think a middle school level at least. Not a problem for us, but not all Year 2's would be ready. (I guess that is where Song School Latin comes to it's own, your child really doesn't need to be reading at all to get something out of that program.)

So on face value these are both winning purchases.