Friday 13th!

 

I am relieved to report that nothing disastrous has occurred during this traditionally superstitious day. We also had a lie in till 6am, which really makes all the difference. 

The girls were hot off the press this morning, straight after their pre breakfast snack of milk and salmon, they were clamouring to continue the farm project. Kira wanted to re watch the video on hay making, and Sophia was fascinated to watch the process of milking a cow. Both girls preferred seeing hand milking by a farmers wife and asked a lot of questions. The milking machine scared them a little, they were not convinced it wouldn't upset the cows. Sophia was also keen to see an angry bull in action, and Kira was fascinated to learn that there is an even more powerful breed than the bull...oxen. 

We are hurtling through this first book, it will be finished by Sunday, which lines up nicely to start book two next week. I am reviewing daily with them and they are eagerly retaining the information. I have certainly learnt a lot this week as well in the life of a cow.

Sophia finished 8b Peter and Jane today, woo hoo! Awesome job. It is always a moment of celebration when she finishes a book, she's learnt to read 91 new words during this book. Roll on the first day of 9a tomorrow! Kira finished an English workbook today aged 4-5. She flew through it but found it fun.

Kira had some practice at telling the time which she really enjoys, she knows how to tell the time between o'clock and half past the hour so far, recognising she needed to know how to count in multiples of five first. 

My girls respond well with the following technique: building upon previous information. We start off with a small amount of information and we add to it daily, whilst reviewing what we have covered previously. So she learnt o'clock, then 5 past, then 10 past etc. 

Similarly she's learning her multiples of three at the moment and she knows, 3, 6, 9 12, 15, so far, 18 and 21 will join the pattern next. My girls like languages, patterns and codes. If you can describe a subject using those terminology, you're golden. 

They were impatient to get outside today but I try and be conscious of the neighbours and we don't go out till 9am, and eventually it was time! I joined in with garden time today, playing tag whilst taking it in turns to carry Sophia and Xander in my arms whilst jogging (I won't lie and say run) around the swing set. Nothing beats hearing your children giggling as you join in their games, Sophia found me demonstrating star jumps hilarious. 

We also have a game where I sit in the sun on a kitchen chair (marvelous times), and we playing Simon says with physical activities. 'Simon says run round the swing set 5 times.... Perform 5 star jumps.....gallop around the garden like a horse (obviously the sound of the animal is enthusiastically performed whenever an animal is involved)..... Hop like a bunny..... Fly like a butterfly..... The list is endless. They call an end to it by collapsing on the ground huffing and puffing. Xander joined in today which was lovely to see. 

Sophia chose to watch shows on her ipad and copy out the subtitles for her handwriting practice today which was a first. She did a good job. Kira did her reading lesson by reading the subtitles out from the cow videos. Reading practice literally can take place at any time in any format. Kira likes taking the time to read out the instructions in her workbook first, rather than me just telling her what she needs to do. She will ask for further clarification if she needs too, but most of the time she just gets stuck into answering the question.

Sophia is beginning to embrace the role of reading in her day to day tasks, where last year it was merely an activity in and of itself. She would read her reading book which is a tool to extend her vocabulary and she may also have read a book for pleasure before bed. This year she is acknowledging that there are words in her colouring magazines, on jars of food and on fliers that come through the door and she'll attempt to read them. Xander dipped in and out of a few books, saying the odd word but he wasn't really interested despite the fact he initiated the activity. 

Free time rolled by and mini lego sets kept their attention for a good while, with Sophia completing the first 7 steps very quickly. It was an afternoon of duplo as well and Kira soon discovered a fun game of building towers to the height of different toys. 

Sophia has rediscovered art in a massive way. She started last year off strong with drawing and then the obcession waned and she moved on to her next interest. She throws herself heart and soul into her hobbies and then drops them in a blink of an eye. Her particular focus at the moment is incorporating words that she knows how to spell into her drawing, or just randomly writing on her free time which makes me very happy. 

Xander was tied up with his new spiderman toy most of the day,  travelling through the house on repeat, swishing the toy through the air and making up stories. His vocabulary has really developed recently. He also is far more aware of his world now, and will make random comments to show he is understanding the environment around him. I coughed at one point, and he asked 'Mammy are you sick?'. It would not have even registered with him a few months ago. 

It's been another great day, just a typical home day, free from emergencies and drama. Bring on tomorrow.