feeling better
as we’ve done some good bits of HE today.
oh I remember I was supposed to blog something else Marcus did. We’ve been doing quite a bit of number practising lately after I fretted about him not being able to count to 20. I think he’s almost there with it now, just requires practise I suppose. Anyway, he brought in some paper the other day, drew a grid on it and wrote 10. Then he said he was going to count in 10’s and with a bit of help got started with the first few and then he spotted the pattern and was able to do the rest up to 140 with minimal help. PMM 
Yesterday we tried a card game getting 2 cards (1-9) and making them into 10. Seemed quite long as I keep expecting them to just *get* it and remember the number bonds. Anyway Marcus wanted to do it again today - strange how the most boring and simple games are loved eh? - and he decided to do numbers adding to 9 so we did that and he did so much better. He’s remembering what makes that number before and trying that. And it’s all number counting practice too
Did a bit of reading practice after and he seems to have had a similar brainwave about words in that if he’s read it before perhaps he can remember it rather than just sounding out again. He’s coming along nicely with it all. We’re practicing with the Sonlight “I can read it” books which some people I know have hated, but tbh they seem to be doing the job right now. I mean he’s still not hugely enthusiastic, he doesn’t scream about wanting to learn to read NOW, but he’s very happy to do some reading practice most days so it’s not been a struggle.
Marcus then wanted to do another card game so I taught him a simplified version of patience which he loved. Must learn more card games!!!! I don’t know any others!
So feeling much better about HE. I’ve been really down about the whole thing and have even been contemplating school. Not because of education, but because I feel that almost every day we run around doing errands and not doing anything decent. I just wonder sometimes if they’ll look back on their childhood and think what a boring life they led 
Sounds like things are going well and it doesn’t sound boring to me. We used to play the 2 cards adding up to 10 (or whatever) game as “snap” once he was getting the hang of it. Another simple game we play is 3 sets of 3 - deal out 9 cards each and turn the top card of the remainder over. Take turns to take either the top card of the discards or the top one of the pile and throw away a card from your hand. First to get 3 sets of 3 cards the same wins.
Comment by Kath — March 15, 2006 @ 8:22 pm
Kirsty, you have all gone through a major life change! A bit of running around isn’t going to harm the children. They won’t hold it against you.
We play that card game after Pea’s maths tutor (not that he ever has yet!!)recommended it.
Comment by Roslyn — March 15, 2006 @ 8:37 pm
how about word snap? Print off 2 sets of words he should be able to recognise or easily sound out (JP “tricky word lists” spring to mind) and play snap. He only gets to “win” the cards if he reads the word rather than screaming snap! You can also play “Go Fish” with them too.
Comment by Katy — March 16, 2006 @ 8:39 am