TT1 – same as usual, pretty good, fairly unorganised but kids enjoyed it just the same. They have started a monthly newsletter which announces the splitting of the group into age bands – 0-2.5years and 2.5-5 years. Which obviously would be an issue if they had not told me today that they feel Scarlett is better suited to the older group despite being a few months adrift of 2.5 yet. Not sure if that is cos they know it would pose a problem to split the two of them, or if I should be ashamed that she would obviously be disruptive with the younger ones or just to be proud of my advanced child ๐ Whatever, it would not work if I had to split them so I’m glad, and if it means they get to be loud, play rougher games and I don’t have to keep shrieking ‘mind the babies’ at them when they play ‘ready steady chase round the room screaming’ then I’m happy ๐ Not sure who else out of the group will be over 2.5 tbh – infact a quick scan round the room today revealed at most one other candidate, so we either get the place to ourselves next week or we all get the chance to meet some new friends ๐
TT2 was also good – we were late due to this going on in the building opposite and there being nowhere to park for emergency services vehicles and police taping off the area. So Davies had to run in as the session had already started – which he did quite happily ๐ Scarlett and I did a Dora puzzle, read two Dora books and one on creepy crawlies then went in to watch the end of Davies’ session. She also did a bit of running around and fell over. She allowed me to cuddle her but amusingly cried for Davies – some half an hour later when he finished his TT2 and came over with his sticker she told him all about it, he kissed her hurt finger better and have her a cuddle, elicting ‘awws’ from all around ๐
Both of them behaved really badly when we got home – but tbh I think it was me and Ady shouting at them while trying to do other things that was at fault rather than them ๐ They did enjoy a very happy half hour playing with their bubble machine which I bought a while back (after seeing Karen’s at Melrose and the kids loved the one at TT1).
Davies had another maths breakthrough today – he was playing with some wooden numbers with pegs (can’t find a link – basically 20cm high wooden die cut numbers 0-9 with the relevant number of removable pegs on each) we got from someone on MP ages ago. He brought in 0, 6, 7 & 9 and managed to put them in order, then brought in the rest and fitted them in the right places ๐ ๐ ๐ Then we put the 1 and the 0 together to make 10, moving up to 20 and then up to 29 – he really seemed to grasp the concept of that so must, must, must do more and follow it up. It was time to go to TT2 so we couldn’t do anything further at that point.
We have been listening to this in the car for the last couple of days and Scarlett totally loves it (although track 2 sends her to sleep – note for next retail splurge a cd player for her room to be used during those 2am wake up calls! Ooh forgot to mention she slept through again last night ๐ ) and Davies is enjoying deciding what emotion the music triggers in him and what instruments are playing. I have a couple of charity shop kids guides to instruments books which I really must dig out and look at with him too. Grr even our autonomous approach is requiring me to get off my arse ๐
Think that’s about it – and I am on very full glass number 3 of wine so although I am sure they was stacks more I had full intentions of blogging in the interests of me spending some time with Ady, Chris getting back to his life and me airing my drunken silliness in the privacy of my own home as opposed to the relative privacy of my passworded blog I will bid you all goodnight. Goodnight xxx
Oooh, weird juxtaposition of photos!
Comment by jax — 11 March 2005 @ 11:12 pm
whatd’ya get then?
Comment by Nic — 11 March 2005 @ 11:14 pm
OT Nic, but just to let you know I posted your parcel this morning. Too heavy for 1st class, so it went parcel post which is supposed to take a couple of days longer…
Comment by Jules — 11 March 2005 @ 11:15 pm
s’ok – will let you know when it gets here. Who am I kidding – you’ll know when it gets here by the pic of Tarly wearing her Dora outfit posted on the blog ๐
Comment by Nic — 11 March 2005 @ 11:18 pm
I’m sure when we move we could arrange a meet up at a museum or something in London though! chris lived in brighton when we met, so love the the area. You are so nice to me on my blog!!!
Do you think you are truly autonomous, or semi structured? I’ve decided we are prob semi structured, but as SB gets bigger, may well slip more into autonomy as she developes more of the skills required [primarily reading!]
Comment by helen and chris F — 11 March 2005 @ 11:33 pm
nice cos i like you ๐ wouldn’t bother otherwise (I am actually a right bitch, just a good mate if I care about someone ๐ )
London sounds good ๐
I think we are not quite autonomous but coupled with my inherant laziness and ‘leave them to it’ type style of HE / Parenting we are more likely to lean that way ๐ I do think that once they are reading and writing we will become ever more so though – I am getting quite passionate about children learning what inspires them as opposed to what someone else feels they should know as time goes by…
Comment by Nic — 11 March 2005 @ 11:38 pm
skills required for autonomy are not to have been to school in the first place. I am quite convinced that was our downfall when it comes to the natural inquisitiveness that my eldest daughter simply lost in those two years. Have kicked myself a lot over that one.
Nic, saw Tiegan yesterday in the Dora outfit, it is gorgeous. Look forward to seeing Tarly in it too ๐
Comment by Sarah — 12 March 2005 @ 7:29 am
Sarah I think you are totally right. I have thought before that making the decision to HE long before they reach school age makes it easier in many ways. Neither us or the children have taken on any of the mindsets of doctrines of school – and it’s long ago enough that me and Ady were at school (even longer for him ๐ ) that we have long since forgotten them.
And because neither child has been to preschool either we have remained untouched by that whole system, which makes autonomy seem like a natural way – simply carrying on what we already do as opposed to trying something radical. (That is not to say I am not without my wobbles about workbooks at times!). Don’t really grasp what a key stage 2 is, not sure what SAT stands for, will never appreciate the concept of homework and never ever dread a parents evening ๐
Comment by Nic — 12 March 2005 @ 8:01 am
Marcus absolutely hates it when I stick Mozart on. He goes mad at me! I got Listen Learn and Grow with Mozart a while ago but I can never let it go past song 1 without screaming. *sigh* He does like our Peter and the Wolf CD, which also has Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra on it so if we get that far along it it’s a nice on to listen to and learn about the instruments.
Comment by Kirsty — 12 March 2005 @ 2:25 pm
i actually initially felt more formal, but as we sink into it – partic when i categorise things we do, i am becoming more semi structured. what we’ll prob do is have some worksheets [as sb enjoys them] in a folder for her to pick out and do, and topics prepared around to be looked at, but leave it to her as to when/if theyre done and see how we get on. just gradually working my way!!
Comment by helen and chris F — 12 March 2005 @ 3:19 pm
C’s never been to school but she really doesn’t seem to thrive on the autonomous approach. She did do a couple of mornings a week at preschool but that was very autonomous and she never did many of the ‘activites’ there, just played with her friends. I think it depends very much on the child, but she just doesn’t suggest things to do and a string of autonomous days makes us all grumpy.
Comment by Jan — 12 March 2005 @ 4:32 pm
Hmm, interesting – perhaps it is as much a personality thing as anything else then? Having said that, after a string of autonomous days here it’s usually me who’s the grumpiest. And then on the other hand it really annoys me when I’m constantly asked ‘what are we doing today/tomorrow/next Friday, Mum?’, as if I’m the one who makes all the choices about what we do. Grrr, you can’t win ๐
Comment by Sarah — 12 March 2005 @ 6:26 pm