Life is a Highway - it’s the journey, not the destination

Yesterday was a house bound day. M decided to make use of the snow around and generally played about but A started the day with a slightly dodgy tummy and so was a little more subdued. It didn’t get her down too much, but she just didn’t venture outside.

At some point M made some reference to hydrogen, I can’t remember why now but anyway he was looking at a poster of the periodic table I put on the wall recently and so I decided to show him Periodic Table Videos. He was quite impressed by the hydrogen blowing up in that And it was a newer one than when I last looked. We looked at a couple of other ones, Nitrogen and he mentioned it was what was used in his racing cars (Nitrous Oxide) so we discussed it being Nitrogen and Oxygen a bit and googled why it made the cars faster. We looked a bit at Carbon, A was quite excited that a diamond is a form of carbon. Finally I showed them Lead as I knew it had a bit about it not letting radiation through it and we’d looked a bit at radiation at the science museum last week. So of course it then leads on to a ‘do you remember in The Simpsons when…’ conversation!! (one episode they were spared effects of radiation through lead paint or something). I should really think about writing my own Simpsons based curriculum…

Once we’d looked at that I mentioned that I had seen an experiment I would ike to try from an e-mail we get from the Krampf Experiment site. It was about the iron in fortified cereal and trying to separate the iron from it so you can see it. It worked really well. I was a little doubtful, but definitely some iron filings in there!

Since we were in a science-y mood they took out their kit and did some messing about with it. I had been making soda bread in the morning too so said to A to try some yoghurt mixed with Bicarb to see what it did as that was what happens in the bread. Need to refill almost everything desperately in the kit now!!

I think the next part was ‘then we had lunch!’

In the afternoon I think M stropped over some reading, oh and yeah I stropped at him over some maths. We did some twist and check multiplication cards. We’re still on easy multiplication here, 2’s, 5’s & 10’s. So we chose the 5’s. He was just not getting it and I was more annoyed at him not saying that he didn’t understand, then failing to pay any attention when I was trying to explain and still not getting it but deciding it didn’t matter and he’d done enough to warrant a game on the playstation. Hmm. I got out our Math U see blocks and looked at it all again with him. He just goes into some sort of different child mode though when we do stuff like this and I can tell he is struggling to concentrate. Argh. Anyway, I was so sure he understood the concept of multiplication but now well I’m not so sure. Need to look into it more and think of a good way to approach it with him. We can clash so much and he’s sensitive about it anyway

When James got back we popped to get some essentials like milk and er some Meccano I had reserved from Argos! I had looked at the vintage set before Xmas and have just seen it was half price so grabbed it. So in the evening we did some of that. A was the most into it which was surprising, M was already dreaming about different models he could make. Instructions? who needs instructions??

It was our 2 year anniversary too last night so James and I watched Hancock and ate lots of curry and chocolate.

Today we were up v. early to go to a dr appointment. Then before I knew it it was time for us to go to Shirebrook nature reserve. Quite impressed at the turnout considering the snow. We all headed with sledges to the nearest hill and had a fab time. The ranger tried to sneak in some science about how some things slide better with weight or not if some kids were waiting for turns on the sledges but the kids all just took turns and played together so it never happened. Unfortunately A’s tummy started playing up again even though I thought she was better and we had to cut short our time there. A shame really as in the afternoon they were supposed to be chopping down trees and M really wanted to do that.

Some pics to brighten the blog:

So we came home and did some more Meccano, reading and some skip counting practise. Before bed we read The Tree of Life: The Wonders of Evolution as A has been asking lots of questions about where people come from. She wasn’t convinced so I told her that not everyone believes it and some believe that God made everyone. She thinks this is a much more plausible explanation Our library has a few books on creation so might be an idea to have a read through lots of different things for her.

Saturday started fairly early as we wanted to get along to Old Moor RSPB reserve in time for the start of the Big Garden Birdwatch event. We arrived just in time for them opening the doors to it and so got stuck straight in. We decided to not do the actual birdwatch at the reserve as we figured a whole hour doing that straight might be too much but we headed out to the hide with one of the staff members to look at the birds anyway. There’s a lot of hides out on the water sides but this one looked out onto an area they had lots of bird feeders on. We saw absolutely loads which was fab as we don’t get much in our garden back home. Goldfinches (or strawberry faces as A calls them!), chaffinches (M’s fave), robins, tree sparrows, a willow tit and lots of great tits. M really enjoyed watching them all, as did A but all of a sudden she wanted to go off and do something else.

There was some crafts going on inside so we did some painting. Mostly using some bird stencil shapes. Both M and A wanted to make the the right colours and they all looked really good. When we’d done way more than our fair share of painting we had a v. quick walk round the reserve. We didn’t go too far really. The kids were annoyed that the hides were full of people with no room for them to look. Downsides of weekends I guess. So we went back to the original hide to do some bird bingo. We had to get 4 birds in a row to claim a prize. It was much harder this time and we were wishing we’d done it earlier. Eventually we got the lot and M chose himself a set of wildlife top trumps cards and A chose a bird book. Nice prizes

We headed for an afternoon at work. My dad was ok with the kids being there so I spent the afternoon in a supervisory role helping the kids do some ‘work’. Stacking shelves and quality control, the latter being their favourite!! They did about 30 mins and then sat with magazines and then later on spent their wages back in the shop

Sunday should have been better than what it was. I woke up expecting it to be raining but actually it stayed dry all day. We wanted to do a geocache but James was feeling a little tired and so we stayed in most of the day. We did do our birdwatch though. I split it up into 15 min intervals for the kids and they took it in turns to watch. We didn’t see too much some house sparrows, blackbirds, a magpie and a pigeon. I think it was a little windy tbh. I wanted some peace later in the afternoon and did my own little one where I added some great tits and a robin to the count.

We introduced James to Memoir 44. He really liked it, but M was getting in such a strop when he thought he would lose. I think a bit of perfectionism is getting in his way! They ended up winning anyway *rolls eyes*

Today we had no plans. We played some yahtzee, M was much better at losing this time! I won the first game between A and I and A won the 2nd game with all of us. The kids spent some time playing some weird game jumping round the living room and having to avoid obstacles. Perhaps too much Raven watching? M finished his first magic tree house book, think he read 4 or 5 chapters today rather than the normal 1 *rolls eyes* A sat and looked through the whole of Mouse Guard. She was so quiet and enthralled in it I decided it would count as reading. She’s doing so well atm I really don’t want it to be a chore for her.

They played on some games later, both of them have nearly completed the games that they bought after Xmas. A is playing Littlest Pet Shop on the Wii and M is playing Need For Speed: Undercover. At least their money was well spent! We then went shopping, bleurgh, came home and watched some rubbish about the World Rally Championship.

Oh and hopefully will find out more about the Young Archeaologist club soon as have finally managed to get through to the lady who runs it. Apparantly they have spaces

Apparantly yesterday has been dubbed Blue Monday and I was certainly in a gloomy mood when I woke. No real reason, just wasn’t at my best.

We spent some time looking at a load of (more) RSPB stuff that came through the post, loads of posters, colouring stuff and a teachers pack I’ve yet to look at thoroughly. We filled out the forms for the Climate and Wildlife Action Awards and filled up the bird feeder that also came (our free gift for joining the RSPB) and put it outside. We don’t tend to get many birds in the gardens even though there are loads about. I wonder if there is too much competition around with all the gardens We’ll persevere though and we do get some blue tits on the bird feeders we had already. Not many though A and I also tried a little activity of making an ice mobile which unfortunately didn’t work too well when we tried to finish it up today.

Kids read some more Magic Tree House books and looked at the Dinosaur Non Fiction companion book which arrived. A decided she didn’t want to read the 1st book in the series and wanted to go to the Dolphins at Daybreakbook (unsurprisingly ). She is doing so well with her reading. I’m so impressed by how she’s getting on at the moment, she read the first 2 pages of that book so well. It probably doesn’t sound much as she *is* 7 I suppose but I’m really pleased that she’s getting there. She’s not been the same as M who could always sound out words and work them out, she just couldn’t do it and with M I was sure it was just a matter of time and waiting for him to want to do it. With A I’ve just been quietly wibbling and hoping she’d get there. Feeling much better about it right now.

We read some number devil. All about prime numbers (or Prima Donna numbers as it calls them). Talked a bit about remainders in division and I think it’s going in. No major confusion yet anyway.

Today I was supposed to be going to the home ed group but I woke in a ugh mood and decided against it. M wasn’t too bothered and A was complaining of a sore tummy (same recurring ache - doesn’t stop her eating crap though!) so felt better once the decision was made to stay home. We watched some CBBC - serious ocean and something about dingoes. A is really enjoying animal programs at the moment, must get my Life of Mammals dvd’s back for her. We’ve been watching Zoo Days on channel 5 when we remember too. Much better than *another* simpsons repeat!

We listened to the Jeremy Vine show on the radio and the kids were really excited to hear 2 people they knew on the radio. Led to some conversations about how some people want to have more checks in home ed etc. Oh and whether we had famous friends. Lol!!

We did more e-mailing to friends. I set up M an e-mail account too. A played lots on her Littlest Pet Shop game and M dissappeared to play some racing games. I finally switched everything off to watch the Inauguration of Barack Obama. Felt more involved than that sounds though!

Got a call about getting A into Badgers so we’ll be going along to see how that is on Thursday. Hopefully she’ll like it

today was a bit better

Slept late again but I can cope with that. I did a couple of read alouds, a story from the 50 famous stories book and also something about snow from an old Enid Blyton Winter book. Was quite interesting if only about the assumption that if you lived in the North you’d definitely get snow There was a bit about frost on the insides of windows too which doesn’t happen too much these days too.

The kids played around a bit, was quite amused with their game of ‘cops’ as they’d been eating donuts and the donuts had played a central part in it all. I do think we watch a bit much Simpsons sometimes

A and I cut out, laminated and played a bit with a skip counter I'’d had printed out and sat on the shelf for ages. It’s nice and a different way of practising the skip counting. Oh I remember what else happened then. A got very upset at the thought of certain friends not being at Melrose so we thought about what would make it better (and moving nearby unfortunately is not an option but the only thing she wanted!) and settled on writing a letter to the said friend which we later posted. I’d roll my eyes but it’s really nice she’s got these little friendships as I know there would have been times that I’d wonder if they’d end up friend-less with home edding. That’s certainly not proved itself so far anyway.

M and I had a look at the first page of a book I’d had on the shelf for ages (hmm things being on the shelf is a bit of a theme here!) It’s called Win A Grand Prix (Using Maths) and I bought it as a way of trying to interest M in *anything* lol. I think when I got it I thought it was a little too much for him, but on looking at it again I figured it was probably doable with me guiding him. So we brought it out and did the first page which was looking at distances from circuits to your home city of Monaco and then we had to work out by how much further one place was than another. I let him use a calculator for doing it as I wasn’t too interested in the calculating going on but more the working out from the text what we needed to do. He really enjoyed doing it, getting the info and working out the answers. And M never enjoys maths so This Is Good.

A had a go at it all afterwards and she needed a bit more help but again enjoyed it. Realised she doesn’t tend to know how to work out which number is larger with bigger numbers (5772 and 6148 for example) so maybe we can work on that. I have ordered the Zoo Vet book in the series as I think it will appeal to A’s obsession with animals at the moment. I think it was a book people set at one point and it’s a shame I didn’t get the lot as they are nice, different kind of books.

*edit* Aha! Found the red set which I think is for older kids - here

:)

Violins are going down well. Although I do wonder at my own ability to teach them both, visions of eventually getting them lessons (if they decide they want to) and the teacher saying I’ve been rubbish! Ah well. They arrived last week and until I got some form of book to learn it I’ve been googling bow holds, watching you tube videos and basically just letting them have a go at playing the strings. Our book arrived this weekend so yesterday we had our first ‘proper’ lesson which was rhythms being clapped then plucked then bowed. M took one look at the book and proclaimed he wouldn’t be able to do it as it had ‘notes on the page and I don’t know what they mean!’ A was enthusiastic. Both did well with it all, but A struggles to get a good sound sometimes from the bow and was beating herself up about it saying she was no good They’re not normally that competitive but she definitely doesn’t like struggling with this, which is a shame as I think she has really good musical ability. Anyway, today we practised the same thing again, but she decided she’d just stick with plucking and she was so much happier with it all so saved for today.

Had a bit of a maths day today too due to having done none all week (Mon was a wash out as wasn’t feeling well, yesterday we just didn’t get round to any). Looked at rounding numbers, not sure if that wooshing sound was the wind or it going straight over their heads lol! I feel much better with maths at the moment, but sometimes I think I just either give them far too easy stuff or way too difficult things. Just don’t seem to be able to aim and hit the right level for them. Or at least it feels like it. We played a game from the Games for Math book and also kids requested Junior Monopoly. I put new batteries in their watches so we can learn about time. Oh and they both did a sudoku puzzle (at M’s request!!! - thud)

Need to make it to the library tomorrow so ought to find out their books.

well, it seems to have been a while! I meant to update at the end of last week but things turned against me. Last week started with a trip to the theatre to see Hamlet in a Shakespeare for Kids production. Really enjoyed that, but Alex didn’t really enjoy the ghost of Hamlets father and it scared her for a while after.

The rest of the week was taken up with the Film Education week which I’d foolishly booked too many! I think I got carried away, by Friday I was filmed out But we did see The Simpsons, Bridge to Terabithia (kids loved this and we immediately ordered the book when we got home), Charlottes Web and The Little Polar Bear 2 (That was a complete load of rubbish!!!). In between all that we had another trip to the home ed group which I’m feeling much better about. The kids are really enjoying it and I’m being braver Kept up with our Ambleside Online readings but really did very little else education wise!

Saturday we had a birthday party at Barbara’s which was lovely. M was feeling rather ill by the evening, but I put it down to a long day and much excitement. Unfortunately by the time we got home he’d been sick and was up the rest of the night being ill. Sorry if anyone got it. Hope not.

Sunday, M just flaked out and Alex and I went to see some football with my dad. It was Doncaster Belles (ladies team). A was fine for about 20 minutes and then just wanted to go off an do something else, namely get in with the teenagers that were hanging about rofl! She has no attention span at all.

Monday and Tuesday, M was still bad, but by Tues he was pretty much better, but we didn’t risk going to the HE group which was a shame. James was ill Tue and Wed and so had a day off. Typical, just before our holiday he’s ill so we have less money. Argh! We’re doomed when it comes to holidays this year. We’re half thinking about a trip to Venice for our 10th anniversary of being together, but I’m not sure I dare plan anything.

So again this week education wise I don’t feel we’ve done too much, read our stories and done a small bit of copywork each and a little bit of maths. Trying to work on sums like 2 + _ = 5. Half of the time they are fine with them but sometimes, esp M, they just look at the numbers and add up what they see. So today we looked at them again but I concentrated on showing them what ‘=’ actually means and shwoing that it has to balance each side. I’m not sure they got that before.

Off out in a mo to take M to buy A a birthday present. My last day of having a 5 year old. Sniff.

well I suppose it’s not even over yet, but there we go! I’d been feeling ill all the 2nd half of last week with some kind of virus (thankfully no-one else has had it yet) and this week I’ve just felt wiped out. So tired. I normally get up really early with James nowadays but haven’t done all week, I’ve just needed to sleep. Feeling much better today though

So all week, we’ve been a bit lax with anything too heavy workwise. I’ve been keeping up with our reading from AmblesideOnline, we’re on week 4 now, which went well and made me feel like I’ve not wasted the time. M wanted to read the War Boy book I blogged about before so that’s been our history this week. Which reminds me, was supposed to put it in the timeline book - shall do that later this afternoon. Have hardly done any maths, although did a lesson from MUS this morning that went down well. I also got a book about infinity for them called The Cat In Numberland which although we haven’t read yet, looks really good. They’re both kind of obsessed with infinity atm! Also read Katie and the Mona Lisa to keep some art appreciation going But all fairly relaxed tbh.

Wednesday we went out to the nature reserve home ed meeting which was really nice. Managed to speak to some other people. I feel like I’ve been around for a bit and know a few people by their faces, but I don’t know them well enough to chat so sometimes I feel a little awkward at groups. But getting better. Went off to my mums afterwards for a change of scene listening to Bindi Babes (Alex’s choice) on the way. Yes we have more audio books on the go Not so many this time, 3 each. A is getting more into them too.

I’ve been quite enjoying watching M read a few more things lately. It’s been over a month since I decided to stop the reading of ORT books every day and take a step back to see how things would go. I never said anything to M about why, but when he turned round to me one day and said that he gets all confused in his head when he tried to read I took it as meaning I was probably doing the right thing. He doesn’t ever ask to practise reading, but he picks up comics often and will attempt reading lots there. I don’t think it feels as hard for him. The other day we were getting petrol and he read ‘Have you checked your oil?’ only pausing to check he had ‘checked’ right. Ok hardly earth shattering, but what I liked about it was he wasn’t doing it for anyone but himself and that’s how he generally is, doing it for himself. Oh I saw this Artemis Fowl Graphic Novel and think it looks fab. Might have to get it.

And now I’ve lost my train of thought as the kids were fighting over the playstation so have been sent upstairs. Humph.

Math Playground Good for word problems

Timez Attack Game

Skip counting and Multiplication printables

and one in which I’ve felt completely detached from the whole world. I get days when all I want to do is sit and thrash out the things going on in my head and today was one, but I never had the chance. It also didn’t help that I had an awful nights sleep, with a really horrible dream. Set me up really badly.

But anyway, I managed to trim some bits in the garden and fill the green bin up, it is so overgrown and I dread anyone coming to check up on the house (we must get a check soon - been here nearly a year). So a little bit better, but really I wasn’t in the mood for it. Kids tidied their room after a lot of prodding and Alex did some of a maths workbook of her own accord. She did about doubling numbers and matching numbers to words.

Watched the GP qualifying and then headed round to FIL’s for the afternoon and for tea. Was a welcome break from having our 2 out in the street. It’s just getting worse, yesterday the boy who we have problems with was trhowing A’s scooter around and has managed to break it Why must one stupid obnoxious little 8 year old ruin everything? I mean I hate the house here anyway, I’m covered in bruises from knocking into things cos nothing fits right in the house and there is just no room, but it did feel nice that at least the kids had friends, could do the whole playing out thing and everything. But argh, I’m just hating it all atm. Kind of wishing winter and bad weather

Watched Stuart Little and Italian Job then home and baths before bed. Seemed ages ago that though. We’ve nearly finished the Stuart Little book and we had a little history and geogrpahy tonight in the form of Warm as Wool story (M recognised Pennsylvania from the Magic Tree House books - must check where it is on the map!) and more Maths in Tally O’Malley.

Supposed to be going out for a drive somewhere nice tomorrow but as car just been fixed and has cost a further £100 maybe we won’t. can’t face a day in the house though I don’t think

which is why I haven’t blogged. I have been keeping notes of all our educational stuff in a notebook as I feel like a fraud blogging what we’ve done if actually what we have done is only a tiny proportion in between a really fraught couple of days. But having the notebook helps me, I dunno why but writing it down physically is much better for me than typing. Only lists though, I’ve never actually written a diary - typing much better for that!

Today has been slightly better as we started with maths and some reading before I asked them to get dressed. If I wait till after they always get distracted by something and then I get stressed waiting for them. I’m not sure it’s a good habit to get into though, but it worked today. We did some place value from the Math U See (they really like this) and then I read some of M’s Bone comic to him. The idea was him to follow the words, but I was going too fast for him. But I think it will be helpful for him anyway as he’ll get the gist of the story and be able to work it out next time he looks at it.

We then got dressed and made our way to the library to get lots of audio books like I said below and I also picked up some comics for M. A Simpsons one and an Asterix. Watching him sit down and really enjoy a comic makes me feel a little better about the reading thing. I asked him the other day if he wanted to read something himself and he said his brain gets too confused if he tries to read. I need patience, but it’s hard, and I’m fighting feelings that I wish he was into ‘proper’ books. But then I see him picking up words here there and everywhere and I’m sure he’ll get there eventually and getting there with a love of books still intact would probably be preferable.

We went to Magna after the library which was the first time since before the holidays that we’d made it inside. There was a new exhibition all about sports and so we were on that for a bit riding the bikes and kicking goals. Good fun. Then off to the other parts which were pretty much empty, the way I like it! I was very good and packed a picnic so we went to the outdoor playground to eat that. Unfortunately it wasn’t long before it was full of school children, lots of them. A local school has discovered asbestos in its roof so the kids were having classes at Magna but that meant that their lunch break was time in the outdoor playground. It was soooo busy and my 2 didn’t know what to do!

It was getting warm so we got the kids changed into sunsuits and they went into the water bit which is just loads of water jets. No school kids there They had loads of fun, only the 2nd time we’ve made it in and I’ve realised there won’t be many more opportunities once it gets cold so will try and go again if the weather holds a bit longer. We won’t get membership next year as they’ve changed the rules now where once you get membership you still have to pay £1 each every time you visit, which kind of defeats the object for me I think.

Home and patch/computer time then play outside with gits on the street time.

We’re reading Stuart Little at night time which I’m not really sure about, but the kids are enjoying so I guess it must be ok. I’m trying to read some Charlotte Mason books I’ve got which I’m really enjoying again (even though they’ve been read before), they’re making me feel much more inspired which is just what I’ve needed the past few days.

Oh and I’m sure Marcus has just had a growth spurt after last weeks grumps and sore achy legs, he’s def looking much taller today!