Blog
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My Daybook: November 7th, 2015
Outside my window… it looks promising for a sunny day, this week though we’ve had a number of days teaming with rain. Just as well we are not roofing at present after all I am thankful… for the safe and mostly trouble free arrival of our friend’s baby. She had a rough time with her first baby post-delivery and was quite scared this time. Praying that this birth and babymoon is a healing time for her I am thinking… about joining the periscope craze. I’m not normally one to willingly open yet another social media account however periscope had me immediately keen as, well it’s all about talking and that’s…
- Blog, Extensions, Extensions - Deck/Verandah, Extensions - External, Extensions - Roofing, Extensions - Structural
Chances Of Roofing Have Improved
You know for certain that ‘it’s really going to happen’ when the materials start arriving:):) Front wall here, ready made for speed. The walls all have to be ‘built up’ higher to match. Always soo exciting when you can see the next stage of a project is closer to being a reality. Though beginning to be a little daunted when I realise that the girls and I are going to have to hoist these ‘babies’ up to our waiting team on the roof. Praying now it doesn’t rain for the last two weeks of November. *Sharing with Nicole and Bec over at The Builder’s Wife
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All About Reading: Pre-Reading
At the end of last year I used All About Reading Pre-Reading with our then six year old, our first experience of using a scripted reading program after years of teaching children to read without one. We are extremely happy with our decision and believe we have finally found ‘the missing key’ to our children’s previous reading experiences. We are currently using All About Reading Pre-reading with Bass, our four and a half year old, and are impressed anew of the ease and effectiveness of this program. Bass is our youngest child to begin reading, but he is keen and for him it’s a game. Prior to teaching Jem to…
- Blog, Book Reviews, Home Education, Home Education - Language Arts, Home Education - Leaping into Literature, Learning
Leaping Into Literature: A Less Intense Week
In some respects our Leaping into Literature focus was a little less intense this week, we read far fewer picture books than last week. Although our focus remained on reading, it was more in the nature of our budding readers reading to me rather than me reading to them. I’m finding the most effective method of ensuring reading progress is to make it a ‘family affair’, our emerging readers and new reader all reading at the same time. Imagine children snuggled up in various cosy spots at the same time, that’s what’s working, the togetherness factor. Individual Reads: Michelangelo(16) The Tournament at Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice – John Flanagan Princess (14) Began a few…
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Surviving Owner Building
October the 20th and the subsequent two weeks were long circled in our calendar. This was the day we had long waited for and worked hard towards, completing projects in order so this, the ‘next big step’ could happen. We made many plans and excitedly talked about it to anyone remotely interested. PC had organised two weeks off work and one of our City sons was set to come home and help for that time period. The next big step? We were to build the front wall of the ‘old’ house up to the same height as the ‘new’ house and re-roof our ‘old house’ to match the ‘new house’. As with…
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Reading to Teens
Do you read to your teenagers? I’ve just begun reading to our teens after a hiatus of years. Over the years I’ve read aloud to our middle and younger children (mostly) but for various reasons I haven’t been reading to our teens. This has bothered me for years and I’ve yearned to change the situation but have been griped by an inertia to do so. What was the catalyst for change? I was downloading Sarah’s podcasts when the title Reading Aloud to Older Children (still haven’t listened to it) caught my eye and I was instantly determined and inspired to read to our teens. We began that afternoon and have continued since. Why can’t our teens…
- Blog, Book Reviews, Home Education, Home Education - Language Arts, Home Education - Leaping into Literature, Learning
Leaping into Literature: Third Time Round
This is our third year to embark on our annual Term 4 adventure; Leaping into Literature. A time when we immerse ourselves in picture books, and chapter books for the older children. This ties in well with our focus this term, literacy; reading, writing and spelling, which deserves a whole post in itself, but suffice for now, we’re seeing wonderful results. To ‘free up’ time for picture books we omit history, science and geography from our studies, though in reality we cover these in our picture books anyhow. Our library cards are nearly maxed out, with 12 cards in the family and a capacity of 20 reservations per card, we’re already in the 200s! As our…
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My Daybook: October 14th, 2015
Outside my window… it’s early morning, so a clear sky, however I wonder if the afternoon will bring storm clouds again. The season of summer storms appears to be beginning early this year, this is of concern as our intention is to begin a new building project this weekend, re-roofing our ‘old house’ to be in uniform with the ‘new’ I am thankful… to be well again. After a fortnight of sicknesses of varying lengths for different family members, it’s wonderful to be out of bed and eating again, to be slowly gaining energy I am thinking… about picture books. Traditionally in Term 4 we celebrate ‘Leaping into Literature’ (three years…
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A Week with Only Our Littles
Last week was an unusual week due to an unprecedented event, the only children we had at home were our youngest two, who are 4 years & 21 months. Our middle four children were away visiting Grandma and cousins and whilst our adult daughter and nearly adult son were in residence, the focus was on our littles. To adjust to the sudden loss of the majority of playmates we added some ‘extras’ to our week. We participated in a Lego competition and enjoyed a morning at a local park in town. We slowed down and concentrated on our little ones and experienced rather a relaxed week. It was…
