tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380833754194335752024-03-05T22:11:22.398+00:00Sparks of MontessoriLearning to give a love of learning.come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-39772753219351483052014-11-27T11:07:00.001+00:002014-11-27T11:10:25.162+00:00Getting creative and dealing with mess!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SmuhcMHsiam2TiQwQ7mUlMLk-l_l8m5cTJPgqghA_IjsXl3F6gE3_KKQeGdUWAp_vrrpZ9IS1BkgueT0WKf2EziUe995scYo-coT0jiftYP5faix-MuNfrmzbuw_zbO4-Jxo4R1-MBbX/s640/blogger-image--87499237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SmuhcMHsiam2TiQwQ7mUlMLk-l_l8m5cTJPgqghA_IjsXl3F6gE3_KKQeGdUWAp_vrrpZ9IS1BkgueT0WKf2EziUe995scYo-coT0jiftYP5faix-MuNfrmzbuw_zbO4-Jxo4R1-MBbX/s640/blogger-image--87499237.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ahxCs52HoqGQCbZuWb6sGq7ugCu1i6hmJuLejyiWosBidGpoGk6RKWqMdm_VClQhNf9MCHNs6pEi14J2hyrn0KcB1nPLd6k591RHvUr9X0X98mMY494RVN8BSywksEpZxllkdO2NTNgu/s640/blogger-image--829251602.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1RQGddDNHjGgH1lOeD-oxbXTpt4R_BjgWlTswcW6F-bRuDjPDl5JHf3Wx-bB9FaRG4QDUn-kNNjbW9QWLipoPnjtCpA4LbtjJvXInmIx1m6uMf8vwg7CaX-b6YWgY2gkTGB-GYYkn4Wj/s640/blogger-image--2030083513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1RQGddDNHjGgH1lOeD-oxbXTpt4R_BjgWlTswcW6F-bRuDjPDl5JHf3Wx-bB9FaRG4QDUn-kNNjbW9QWLipoPnjtCpA4LbtjJvXInmIx1m6uMf8vwg7CaX-b6YWgY2gkTGB-GYYkn4Wj/s640/blogger-image--2030083513.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXyGRGD2QxHgcrcntzrlBtTMSLFx3dPAB6cxEQOD0OIlwIdD9erSz-TFLlk9txDbUGmSNVN0zpaTwS_JfZon6t6CWu7448rn5Rzvnp5vs9t9awYnTADdELMij0rmyBnVivLdWWwSmKOWD/s640/blogger-image--2067562381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXyGRGD2QxHgcrcntzrlBtTMSLFx3dPAB6cxEQOD0OIlwIdD9erSz-TFLlk9txDbUGmSNVN0zpaTwS_JfZon6t6CWu7448rn5Rzvnp5vs9t9awYnTADdELMij0rmyBnVivLdWWwSmKOWD/s640/blogger-image--2067562381.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CR7pGmQ4fiH8bH4GUsxKwcpjpt8d0zvo94U6GdaCDPM_oQS9btpF0VJwGGXiuyl0fX_xJEo03fcsf9JVQ7ZOQWKSM5H6zMT8tyQJRFQIdxJn5R38Y6_JepS3668MAGxVWi_EF24HDyNb/s640/blogger-image-1203444075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CR7pGmQ4fiH8bH4GUsxKwcpjpt8d0zvo94U6GdaCDPM_oQS9btpF0VJwGGXiuyl0fX_xJEo03fcsf9JVQ7ZOQWKSM5H6zMT8tyQJRFQIdxJn5R38Y6_JepS3668MAGxVWi_EF24HDyNb/s640/blogger-image-1203444075.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7AHFe4JXu6uidlTVR79mkCwaWIPkBCQ4HHarLVB3sdF4wC15WK3KPFdzJ9VoXaXNXWyyN2y0D07RZ7Yy1nA2F6Jt8CgXcIV_poxhY98wBilJScXODPpH0U5cG_Iiqn3g-whXVoFfXzIv/s640/blogger-image--550181629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7AHFe4JXu6uidlTVR79mkCwaWIPkBCQ4HHarLVB3sdF4wC15WK3KPFdzJ9VoXaXNXWyyN2y0D07RZ7Yy1nA2F6Jt8CgXcIV_poxhY98wBilJScXODPpH0U5cG_Iiqn3g-whXVoFfXzIv/s640/blogger-image--550181629.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQjMr7oVSHqe50EYDjh7ss8X2GfltlCrK14BgaoNcwuL6hLNNWn8vaf7Esrq9BNBWGBo40U0p6nz26oZfNo50bX-hqfr966TEBaGFEijIPQfAoIqKyBuIt_jbg9N2wIh30hF8fYSWJUb3/s640/blogger-image-701981596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQjMr7oVSHqe50EYDjh7ss8X2GfltlCrK14BgaoNcwuL6hLNNWn8vaf7Esrq9BNBWGBo40U0p6nz26oZfNo50bX-hqfr966TEBaGFEijIPQfAoIqKyBuIt_jbg9N2wIh30hF8fYSWJUb3/s640/blogger-image-701981596.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Rogue has been in art and craft mode recently pretty much to the exclusion of all else! It's all good though, all that play dough squishing and paint brush wielding is great for hand strength, coordination, developing creativity and concentration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I like to encourage independence in art and craft by having everything (yes even paint) accessible to the kids. I know that sounds mad and I agree that sometimes, fairly often really, it does lead to quite big messes, but it is so good for them to be able to act on that creative impulse that I think the benefits outweigh the cons. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ways to cut down on the mess:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1. Have very small paint pots. We use tiny little pots to decant our paint into and on top of that I teach them to only fill them halfway. I think a big pot just invites the squeezing of the entire bottle of paint and that lovely squidgy mess of brown mixing that happens! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2. A place for everything. We used to have a box, one very big box with everything in it. Of course, whenever anything was needed the entire box would get dumped out to find it. Now we have things separated into small draws and jars and we can just get what we need out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3. Make cleaning up fun. Ok, so I know this is going to sound really naff but sometimes the simplest things work the best. We have an old cloth and I have drawn a face on it, he likes to eat paint off the table and he eats really noisily (think Cookie Monster esq.). Yup, that's it... Rogue thinks it's really fun to be the paint eating monster cloth! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, I started writing that list thinking I would have lots to share but that's about it. Fact is I have a tiled floor and an old table and the kids don't often wear smart, valuable clothes so a bit of mess doesn't bother me that much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy crafting! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1MiuXmIXGKPB5Sy-2_IhpBgBKLPjyOt0-z3xemz2eY0L9lLB8VtThh9A8PlpYVsEK7WKisQbxICLS3Dozm4DUbEtWBXFBsZ8gAuZOXsyQ5FlnS-wYJqP5WPisYqSCUuoRppmaJPPnueS/s640/blogger-image--1537488606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1MiuXmIXGKPB5Sy-2_IhpBgBKLPjyOt0-z3xemz2eY0L9lLB8VtThh9A8PlpYVsEK7WKisQbxICLS3Dozm4DUbEtWBXFBsZ8gAuZOXsyQ5FlnS-wYJqP5WPisYqSCUuoRppmaJPPnueS/s640/blogger-image--1537488606.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-38782559514698798082014-10-24T12:56:00.001+01:002014-10-31T06:27:26.767+00:00Equivalence material<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pOdse2DRWgqlsHaAmr-87VCVpahxBnvzlZoUh0i3m20O8ge6DbaIlDRp6x-w3HyAjBMTw63YcyuEQ_qU46me3ILjzTyX4CAkInscnGzj0LdAEvw1QVRFF5nqjeScRc-fujcACK_Ky9ax/s640/blogger-image--1446579920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pOdse2DRWgqlsHaAmr-87VCVpahxBnvzlZoUh0i3m20O8ge6DbaIlDRp6x-w3HyAjBMTw63YcyuEQ_qU46me3ILjzTyX4CAkInscnGzj0LdAEvw1QVRFF5nqjeScRc-fujcACK_Ky9ax/s640/blogger-image--1446579920.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have to be honest, I was daunted by this material. It is big, it's expensive, it's extremely precise and it seems to only be available from neinhaus which is even more expensive than normal expensive. My only option really was to make it, but, as mentioned before, it's so precise! The whole point of it is to be exact, shapes that are congruent are 'exactly' the same.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I thought about several materials, thick card was first, very thick card like mount card was next but I wanted the pieces to have real depth to them. Corrugated card was a strong contender and I may even go there if I have to remake any but I avoided it because of its tendency to squash on the corners. In the end I went for foam board, it is good because it cuts cleanly, but not ideal because the edges can crumble if you're not careful. It's saving grace was the price tag, £4.99 per board and I used 2, so £9.98 total compared to over £260 just for the square figures from neinhause. Of course they are amazing quality, made from iron, durable, exact and so on, but really, £260!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5Im-Qh_j3ifdG0KjJdAbw78gGKdcOhBBh0s9ktkaEr-X8INL9ymgJDdy4WGSgUBpPUACMv1U-YBzlkqp3tl7BIwocb5czn9xlQMVMxQ6jzAKXaxAF4ycsEVaVqyzaMSzkNgwhHhd2AlT/s640/blogger-image--1097308407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5Im-Qh_j3ifdG0KjJdAbw78gGKdcOhBBh0s9ktkaEr-X8INL9ymgJDdy4WGSgUBpPUACMv1U-YBzlkqp3tl7BIwocb5czn9xlQMVMxQ6jzAKXaxAF4ycsEVaVqyzaMSzkNgwhHhd2AlT/s640/blogger-image--1097308407.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I made the square figures, the triangle figures and a circle for learning the parts of a circle (chords, arc etc). First I cut 14 squares (14 x 14 cm), then I very carefull measured, drew and cut out the centre shape. Making sure all the squares were the same and all the triangles were the same. I made these as precise as possible using a ruler protractor and set square. Next I just cut up the centre pieces into half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth pieces. I say 'just' but it took ages, as you can see they are not exactly exact but they are very close and I am happy with them. I then stuck the frames down onto some mount card I had around and then finished it all with a few coats of spray paint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The very small pieces are a little bit delicate but this is an elementary material so it should be fine and so far the coats of paint have stopped any of the crumbling edges. I think that it will be strong enough to cope with my children but it probably wouldn't survive several classes full so I can see why the schools buy the iron.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlwUhd1lW-n9FiWpYnOfpKImvB5mtMpJ6CDkDu6uo7Co_GZDDphycwfuom-lfKpHDqMLkdEG4wCfkoS0S5lh9qK1Dh8txx-ygrPtfAjkXF5VnT2RubwtvzAejfN16d8_9UeBaeOFTgxQu/s640/blogger-image--236543774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlwUhd1lW-n9FiWpYnOfpKImvB5mtMpJ6CDkDu6uo7Co_GZDDphycwfuom-lfKpHDqMLkdEG4wCfkoS0S5lh9qK1Dh8txx-ygrPtfAjkXF5VnT2RubwtvzAejfN16d8_9UeBaeOFTgxQu/s640/blogger-image--236543774.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-89557903358018294982014-10-20T09:48:00.001+01:002014-10-24T12:30:30.191+01:00Days of learning - elementary<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wow, a flurry of new interests and activities this week. Binx has been desperate to get on the computer for some time now but I was holding back while I searched for some good content, we are not by any means ready to just let her loose on the internet. Khan Academy has filed that gap for us, I certainly haven't explored the whole site yet but what we have used is amazing. Binx has been doing the maths and the computer programming. I was happy to see her doing maths but amazed to see her progressing through the computer programming at such a rate. This is something I have zero experience in and could never have taught her but here she is (only 3 days in), creating shapes, colours and using variables in code. She is practicing all four operations, graphing, plotting points, and pretty advanced algebra formulas and best of all she doesn't even realise it because it is fun! I was getting left behind by the whole thing so I created an account so I could learn too. As a parent/educator you get progress reports including how long they spend doing each thing, which areas they are focusing on and which areas they need help in. I think we are quite late to the party here because Khan Academy has been around for a good while but we are excited to be joining in now. Note: no one paid me to review this site, I am just a mum and a homeschooler and we like it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCjefghcYJTrp5yXCQWuiIQT_j4Z19fbX4fFjlsK46KSoMqi1ZTH3JzYgDDbRMIOrTurpab6Y-CwXgOxFlTVL2fgoEdJYXnEZazcJJBV1D81lYZbG9AJfA95_TiJfdQQlrMRD-467Bla5/s640/blogger-image-2098026556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCjefghcYJTrp5yXCQWuiIQT_j4Z19fbX4fFjlsK46KSoMqi1ZTH3JzYgDDbRMIOrTurpab6Y-CwXgOxFlTVL2fgoEdJYXnEZazcJJBV1D81lYZbG9AJfA95_TiJfdQQlrMRD-467Bla5/s640/blogger-image-2098026556.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Of course, the more traditional materials still continue, below was a lesson on suffixes which involved the invention of many random words and was pretty fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2PdPaF-BrdCX9f7Hcmv2BR9MYCqYYLn3R32DJ5XZNVhfzVF6_783fI-n6pFWwmSFtbmTsg3S3LqXK-VcmtiVDxspmLQWBfVNfvDf2nVV88sGTW62thN8frldOqy_viXg1ChR0QaAndr-/s640/blogger-image--886783950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2PdPaF-BrdCX9f7Hcmv2BR9MYCqYYLn3R32DJ5XZNVhfzVF6_783fI-n6pFWwmSFtbmTsg3S3LqXK-VcmtiVDxspmLQWBfVNfvDf2nVV88sGTW62thN8frldOqy_viXg1ChR0QaAndr-/s640/blogger-image--886783950.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We explored different types of mountains and how they are formed several weeks ago and this week binx revisited it and created posters showing the main types of mountain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i7dsL8kDOIMDlnXBFjpxUhFxOGN8EtWfBXfmXobXgU8YnPNvSvmfnaNYpAnTfmOt6ioB42mw-cB0n8yjqvEL4ytHugykdV08U6iQbHbSs-d3VK1PfeYviycWxZNFPyfoIf_8iWRbGh5s/s640/blogger-image--360278059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i7dsL8kDOIMDlnXBFjpxUhFxOGN8EtWfBXfmXobXgU8YnPNvSvmfnaNYpAnTfmOt6ioB42mw-cB0n8yjqvEL4ytHugykdV08U6iQbHbSs-d3VK1PfeYviycWxZNFPyfoIf_8iWRbGh5s/s640/blogger-image--360278059.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Story of the World has been great for history and projects this week had binx building a ziggurat out of blocks and painting a shirt to make a kind of dress coat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVQO8be3X35X0UORs-n5TpN8PF47uqoHbMGqzxeB58JzZv6PZF01_vAMFc6LoedLgJ9A98p0g-OwZY0-ZQiicIbvLO2hxgeyJkrXQSTtNs6PKw38c2Ys_c_kDEUlzURM9_s-GCeR5wkd6/s640/blogger-image--1730637030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVQO8be3X35X0UORs-n5TpN8PF47uqoHbMGqzxeB58JzZv6PZF01_vAMFc6LoedLgJ9A98p0g-OwZY0-ZQiicIbvLO2hxgeyJkrXQSTtNs6PKw38c2Ys_c_kDEUlzURM9_s-GCeR5wkd6/s640/blogger-image--1730637030.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here she is exploring a lesson on ways of combining. We mixed water with salt and water with copper sulphate to show solutions, water mixed with chalk dust to create a suspension, sand and iron filings made a mixture (that could be separated with a magnet), and bicarbonate of soda and vinegar gave us a chemical reaction. The albums that we are using have many chemical reactions shown but I can't seem to get hold of the chemicals because I am not a "proper" educational establishment and I don't have a license. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0_N1TIlHOWN6QAytsyEgIFYfaDOL95OIg0I1AwmaTk06-uLUWi6pKkVrgG8rfS47vD8wG6TkEKv_IKowujAEnb07dTOfOWUb6iX_recyTpni1eqmEnSr84Pr9LKDpdA5enjsTXsz-9mx/s640/blogger-image--2080636599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0_N1TIlHOWN6QAytsyEgIFYfaDOL95OIg0I1AwmaTk06-uLUWi6pKkVrgG8rfS47vD8wG6TkEKv_IKowujAEnb07dTOfOWUb6iX_recyTpni1eqmEnSr84Pr9LKDpdA5enjsTXsz-9mx/s640/blogger-image--2080636599.jpg"></a></span><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0_N1TIlHOWN6QAytsyEgIFYfaDOL95OIg0I1AwmaTk06-uLUWi6pKkVrgG8rfS47vD8wG6TkEKv_IKowujAEnb07dTOfOWUb6iX_recyTpni1eqmEnSr84Pr9LKDpdA5enjsTXsz-9mx/s640/blogger-image--2080636599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiUCdQvLyzjvBYFMJB9xxpw7vLUotYJxQGHTM6ihFqTUgGwxxebirYthPGcG4rODPgaBYouu5zi3bWPOcW2iWjovH0_UM6pq7y9L30tJ6Weat94o5rhrGgnevqqVNmcCpkJ6lthdyMw6B/s640/blogger-image-1651569491.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;">Quite a lot of maths got worked on this week. Addition and subtraction on the bead frame, the division board, multiplication of fractions and this fun work on square numbers. While drawing out these squares binx said out loud "I think I get this!" in a really excited voice, and that is what it's all about.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-77502471190321461502014-10-13T22:30:00.001+01:002014-10-13T22:34:48.242+01:00Days of learning - primary<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ezWxbvZEoYzlG7r67ICqZMkDDU6HxyTSsnYuXMgV1HfN4JHaqCcTFZh9mJyfveqS8mSe8b9ib4oE8kRRqWQnCjq8uMjHaiPdBhrUHwzp74Iyu_Q06iu6RHlGn5ornD7jn95ALTq9V9wV/s640/blogger-image--311956767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ezWxbvZEoYzlG7r67ICqZMkDDU6HxyTSsnYuXMgV1HfN4JHaqCcTFZh9mJyfveqS8mSe8b9ib4oE8kRRqWQnCjq8uMjHaiPdBhrUHwzp74Iyu_Q06iu6RHlGn5ornD7jn95ALTq9V9wV/s640/blogger-image--311956767.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Caring for an animal is always included in a montessori classroom. Usually they start with a fish and take responsibility for feeding it and cleaning it out. We don't have a fish but we do have 2 dogs, 2 rabbits and a hamster in the house. The kids have always been involved in helping to look after them, including feeding, cleaning and loving them! Over the last couple of weeks though, rogue has been so excited about the rabbits. The one he is holding in the picture is called Benjamin Mittens and we have another called Teasel Thumper Cuddles, (all our bunnies have had long names, I really don't know why!). For the last week then it has been his job every morning to give the rabbits their food, check their water and say good morning to them. He is very proud of the responsibility.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvJeNlA-NN6r4VkzdQ1-1sIAa0wcl6YUi_lhh6K9ztJ6ri_13XwMeUVRqK0hxhmTT_Oy8Rh37JBK96OEr1F3SdzoocpPuWw00-Iqbw5hPhEOPtfHWV_kUSlvdHysqqJxRplhmhlUfZFkN/s640/blogger-image-1334147648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvJeNlA-NN6r4VkzdQ1-1sIAa0wcl6YUi_lhh6K9ztJ6ri_13XwMeUVRqK0hxhmTT_Oy8Rh37JBK96OEr1F3SdzoocpPuWw00-Iqbw5hPhEOPtfHWV_kUSlvdHysqqJxRplhmhlUfZFkN/s640/blogger-image-1334147648.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Binx was working with grammar boxes this week so rogue decided to get involved by climbing right up on the table to examine the grammar symbols. I gave him the large stencil (binx was using the smaller one for her work), and he spent some time matching the symbols to the correct space in the stencil. He then wanted to draw some of the shapes using the stencil and cut them out. He is a bit young to draw using the stencil so I had to hold it down for him. His cutting out was pretty good. He drew the shape in the middle and then sheared the edges off gradually until he got close to the lines and then rounded the corners. He is doing the circle below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXK1YqnkApZsYvU6huq4Q9R0A7jzq56SokxCgXP63DAxynIu7nOTiha9BQPWxq34w6rInjR1rFuXvmqobUUUTXdqnIYTRS0WlRUcFmyhZpgkV7o0WJhss26wjKRIp7KOgIcJKz2TKDPyeU/s640/blogger-image--600918656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXK1YqnkApZsYvU6huq4Q9R0A7jzq56SokxCgXP63DAxynIu7nOTiha9BQPWxq34w6rInjR1rFuXvmqobUUUTXdqnIYTRS0WlRUcFmyhZpgkV7o0WJhss26wjKRIp7KOgIcJKz2TKDPyeU/s640/blogger-image--600918656.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhMRaFB1nWnhWVb0zSxc0M26OCfOQBI-hbEdJ2kL3eUpUrMXjh-LFhr_upH1h__jwFlW7aTsF5wpa3_R8W_DAyMf_3oqUZEL5IVnqCCDz4aU7_xKpDxqNkhozkMim4SaqaG1yCZeKbt04/s640/blogger-image--1294067459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhMRaFB1nWnhWVb0zSxc0M26OCfOQBI-hbEdJ2kL3eUpUrMXjh-LFhr_upH1h__jwFlW7aTsF5wpa3_R8W_DAyMf_3oqUZEL5IVnqCCDz4aU7_xKpDxqNkhozkMim4SaqaG1yCZeKbt04/s640/blogger-image--1294067459.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A favourite work that gets used a lot is matching the small pictures to the large pictures. I am going to add 'old calendar' to my montessori materials hunting list right now because I really need to make him a different set of these while he is still enthusiastic about it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The box below was actually sold for holding tea bags but it is perfect for sorting. At the moment it just has a colour on a sticker in each compartment and then craft sticks with the colours on for sorting. I will change this often for different sorting tasks. I'm also thinking if I can find another of these boxes they would be perfect for spindle boxes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifz7sQpnMrLmzCDZGjobgQ9ShMgw7x1q6pfIVZl8PQ5SerqqC8MtU-Rgs_Pht2_DQAS-vYHNJ0mLXrnI7_mD5_BkoixiIbTZYQJKiWqINxesr-PgZWsrIA3masYeqOB0tsQyZUZmqgrJ2S/s640/blogger-image-1231615189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifz7sQpnMrLmzCDZGjobgQ9ShMgw7x1q6pfIVZl8PQ5SerqqC8MtU-Rgs_Pht2_DQAS-vYHNJ0mLXrnI7_mD5_BkoixiIbTZYQJKiWqINxesr-PgZWsrIA3masYeqOB0tsQyZUZmqgrJ2S/s640/blogger-image-1231615189.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I introduced transferring water with a baster this week. A big hit, after he got over the fact that the water was green! Honestly, I thought that would just be a bit of fun, you know, make it a bit more interesting, but while I was trying to show him what to do he just had to keep on (and on) asking, 'why is the water green?', 'what does green water do?', 'does green water taste nice?', 'can the dogs have green water?', you get the picture! Lesson learned, do not introduce new activity and new colour of water at the same time! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaIAnwzoggRwioYFQe5U72WUUmQHnqkhfwGBKm5FYKMOsCsdIIK7xI9RcelCTBznhwhQ2tj0mEpDygWTZqHfPsmKWekK2xhxJbEn6uz68cFWnEUnlztEAoOH_RjvUIKpGxjxZJxPRUYSq/s640/blogger-image--193347065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaIAnwzoggRwioYFQe5U72WUUmQHnqkhfwGBKm5FYKMOsCsdIIK7xI9RcelCTBznhwhQ2tj0mEpDygWTZqHfPsmKWekK2xhxJbEn6uz68cFWnEUnlztEAoOH_RjvUIKpGxjxZJxPRUYSq/s640/blogger-image--193347065.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My biggest success of the week was the binomial cube. I think I managed to stumble my way into presenting this at just precisely the right moment in his development. He was so impressed by the sides of the box folding down that he let out a little squeak even though he was trying so hard to be really still and quiet to watch. He paid attention the whole time I was showing him and then proceeded to repeat it himself three times in a row just like the presentation. He didn't even try to build a tower which is what he usually does with everything even remotely block shaped. It seemed to be just the right level of challenge without being frustrating and he was so satisfied with folding the sides of the box back up. Isn't it lovely when things just work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcFsGg9Qi66rL0OUryb-bOs0AQY2aDrKaqYbvYXw2W0Pf0Y4Y0SGf5rtly9OecxTHFKPSw8vL5hSkiXJ1PYfEgGTA5HVs8HGePI_CkuMhFab6HlLeGgsz64eR9cVRHUgtjmOs-Wc0xylb/s640/blogger-image--1632813948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcFsGg9Qi66rL0OUryb-bOs0AQY2aDrKaqYbvYXw2W0Pf0Y4Y0SGf5rtly9OecxTHFKPSw8vL5hSkiXJ1PYfEgGTA5HVs8HGePI_CkuMhFab6HlLeGgsz64eR9cVRHUgtjmOs-Wc0xylb/s640/blogger-image--1632813948.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The orderliness of montessori seems to be occurring at other times too. He was getting his duplo bricks out at the weekend and on auto pilot just went to get a tray to put his 'work' on! Anything that keeps the bricks in one place is fine by me! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyycS95rXRgzjaSjkc0eoaX4TU2KKu6jULBkDtYs34P_SZdDXnrRewSxIIzajN88sqpZm_GRuuYjUVdNbEutruSGsEuGF6csZQs6InW5tlMhTMXAvgfJPbUM5H0RHIU41aCMLtiFIX56hk/s640/blogger-image-117602006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyycS95rXRgzjaSjkc0eoaX4TU2KKu6jULBkDtYs34P_SZdDXnrRewSxIIzajN88sqpZm_GRuuYjUVdNbEutruSGsEuGF6csZQs6InW5tlMhTMXAvgfJPbUM5H0RHIU41aCMLtiFIX56hk/s640/blogger-image-117602006.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-21486483230680662052014-09-22T10:00:00.001+01:002014-10-12T09:24:18.160+01:00Sandpaper globe<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO37LrUGQcst_-6IPIIzQM7UiyqgS0krbBU18DoVcp-wPaRq8txUCI-a0L9ywhMOPGBLDUQZDxcf4fo_3c9luXnu0kQpE0GVNbdTfWz2fxZcFBmmlI1WE-HL6wt4q87BOOTpUspW-NTDC/s640/blogger-image-1563858183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO37LrUGQcst_-6IPIIzQM7UiyqgS0krbBU18DoVcp-wPaRq8txUCI-a0L9ywhMOPGBLDUQZDxcf4fo_3c9luXnu0kQpE0GVNbdTfWz2fxZcFBmmlI1WE-HL6wt4q87BOOTpUspW-NTDC/s640/blogger-image-1563858183.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The primary montessori globes are extremely cool but also come with a hefty price tag, I wanted to create one but all the tutorials I found were using actual sandpaper cut out and stuck onto a globe. I haven't tried it that way and I guess it must work because lots of people have done it but I thought it would be very laborious and also difficult to stick a 2d cut out onto a 3d globe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoilUptOTgOW97SIdGV_FnC2geyvqHnTiLAyCC7IpUqxuj8FXXBETmbtOEtf1aopTa7xsYrGjV4qjxFCWDRqzlphci5Ls4CdrMM6Qv2iznHykKCOrC7hz_n1NficY_aT9zkdr8ssDQsx-/s640/blogger-image-2074284068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoilUptOTgOW97SIdGV_FnC2geyvqHnTiLAyCC7IpUqxuj8FXXBETmbtOEtf1aopTa7xsYrGjV4qjxFCWDRqzlphci5Ls4CdrMM6Qv2iznHykKCOrC7hz_n1NficY_aT9zkdr8ssDQsx-/s640/blogger-image-2074284068.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My method was to get a very cheap globe from a charity shop and paint the seas blue and the land a light brown. This took about three coats. I used acrylic so it dried fast. I then mixed some playsand with quite a lot of glue and used a tiny brush to paint that on to the land. I then left it over the weekend to get really hard and it's fantastic. The land feels really textured compared to the smooth sea and none has rubbed off yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I went back to the charity shop and found another small globe (even cheaper this time because the stand was broken) and I painted that one like the continents globe with the sea blue and each continent a different colour. Binx made a stand for it by painting the inner tube of a roll of tape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb1Eux5PECXA7mrgvmapKFNJx6jr1VMGLz4TJFWDYHcOKEBVfOeHOCJnmX1TL3BoXMT72JoXt1lPXG8gJbxMf0JuWAZaE86-O57AlkKU9OfCVHudc0lKpN0vWhCg9QiXxaHfo7_hyphenhyphenv4ah/s640/blogger-image-1395919679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb1Eux5PECXA7mrgvmapKFNJx6jr1VMGLz4TJFWDYHcOKEBVfOeHOCJnmX1TL3BoXMT72JoXt1lPXG8gJbxMf0JuWAZaE86-O57AlkKU9OfCVHudc0lKpN0vWhCg9QiXxaHfo7_hyphenhyphenv4ah/s640/blogger-image-1395919679.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm very happy with these, I think I spent £3 on the first globe and £1.50 on the second.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-3589014285799543232014-09-22T09:59:00.001+01:002014-09-29T11:57:55.569+01:00Days of learning - elementary<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lots of good work on the bead frame this week. Binx has been working on addition of 4 or 5 addends in the ten thousands. One (of the many!) thing I love about the montessori materials is that really complicated processes are achievable and enjoyable because of the way they are taught. Just being faced with a huge addition sum on paper might have been intimidating but because we got to know the bead frame and worked through the steps then it is just a natural progression and before you know it you are working on problems that seemed really difficult before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuDl-hIJRN_32zEgUKuAOPKFHAtQYe8dAOiFVf0xQj1r55fxn8zyVLyByaMtPBa2637NKmnqqWxNqnq8AXjpYuOJsR64EyMLDYW21tt3Kk44pv8XmbYMDxsrBUH0lBPUe_6o8IgvdXK2q/s640/blogger-image-1768907879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuDl-hIJRN_32zEgUKuAOPKFHAtQYe8dAOiFVf0xQj1r55fxn8zyVLyByaMtPBa2637NKmnqqWxNqnq8AXjpYuOJsR64EyMLDYW21tt3Kk44pv8XmbYMDxsrBUH0lBPUe_6o8IgvdXK2q/s640/blogger-image-1768907879.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Binx is working on learning division facts here, this is an activity designed for younger children but she wanted to revisit it because she still has difficulty recalling division off the top of her head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu2q-h91FwVgFGvb9ijLe2R03XHW-ou088YhrCGioAc7SK2kpta-bLXr6-6B4Gx7O1f_StnZ2_FVqJR8Q3v2ritf968Xp9rj7rspqKaVg1OG3M3yq0lniTAJzMnv-yVMbFcxBapJogt0T/s640/blogger-image-2143590826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu2q-h91FwVgFGvb9ijLe2R03XHW-ou088YhrCGioAc7SK2kpta-bLXr6-6B4Gx7O1f_StnZ2_FVqJR8Q3v2ritf968Xp9rj7rspqKaVg1OG3M3yq0lniTAJzMnv-yVMbFcxBapJogt0T/s640/blogger-image-2143590826.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We read a good book about Van Gogh this week and that set off an impromptu art session that everybody got involved in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl60615glgStjwIb4rzDdph4K0QNIe4GZP_lq33XqoKXLmfncIqYMFqyJlb0ZYQCyttVv8zVO-ztPZO0J4ZAfrR4Xyupw9UXcRyoMVTe2GBXexxVS73lWthNQmgGbQxz8aU2se7-09LzI/s640/blogger-image-1498057928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl60615glgStjwIb4rzDdph4K0QNIe4GZP_lq33XqoKXLmfncIqYMFqyJlb0ZYQCyttVv8zVO-ztPZO0J4ZAfrR4Xyupw9UXcRyoMVTe2GBXexxVS73lWthNQmgGbQxz8aU2se7-09LzI/s640/blogger-image-1498057928.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOsknBFJEZaChKShMho8LLJW686uwXgutxh0NOb42bq3tCG91g0AL_BVZytrhQyAg0C0WsXWSWAWqSn3vDSwgxCskaxnlpGL5J3GRel_17BRTG886QI5KSYuirEEYHy6bMFweQeIFgKZj/s640/blogger-image--1407388999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOsknBFJEZaChKShMho8LLJW686uwXgutxh0NOb42bq3tCG91g0AL_BVZytrhQyAg0C0WsXWSWAWqSn3vDSwgxCskaxnlpGL5J3GRel_17BRTG886QI5KSYuirEEYHy6bMFweQeIFgKZj/s640/blogger-image--1407388999.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looking at the notation of squares of numbers in a very hands on way. Sneaking in some times tables practice too! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRFN9Hnmu-UceBODNCWUT8GrvVl3UlJWv8LwaNnMZd2yo1DL4rgoaW4Set0CvE9QJ4EiqAUkioNjQL_36pP5ff9qqcy8UmIvWKbwKG0ZHA1DZ5vaXaFQ4Ds9jxqEmszKqJn-Y-2v6sg1d/s640/blogger-image-289748544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRFN9Hnmu-UceBODNCWUT8GrvVl3UlJWv8LwaNnMZd2yo1DL4rgoaW4Set0CvE9QJ4EiqAUkioNjQL_36pP5ff9qqcy8UmIvWKbwKG0ZHA1DZ5vaXaFQ4Ds9jxqEmszKqJn-Y-2v6sg1d/s640/blogger-image-289748544.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMJjf8N2AHDsoLQ-CY0qMr7U4FvY6d8LRpM6tIYKwuAbSy2uvIvOYL4dO4LTwcLV_O8T8xRuvjC4QTpgfDrurjAJt0mdzRzdSvrXPcfXt1KAhtB0S3b2xsgKruYIBPSrbgela1OZh4sNI/s640/blogger-image--1917096847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMJjf8N2AHDsoLQ-CY0qMr7U4FvY6d8LRpM6tIYKwuAbSy2uvIvOYL4dO4LTwcLV_O8T8xRuvjC4QTpgfDrurjAJt0mdzRzdSvrXPcfXt1KAhtB0S3b2xsgKruYIBPSrbgela1OZh4sNI/s640/blogger-image--1917096847.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Binx is always one for the science experiments so I usually do them at the end of the day because I know she will spend ages on them. After looking at the properties of solids, liquids and gases last week we looked at solids in more depth today. We looked at the properties of rigid, elastic and plastic solids (using a ping pong ball, a sponge ball, and a ball of clay), and we also looked at how a solid can be made to change by applying weight. The experiments involved changing the amount of weight, and also the length and thickness of the solid. Lots of fun! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjszQtt8qa73st4buLVnSgwFXrgASe-PN9QlZlmGgQ_sc1nciM4D2C03vD_-glbdQUDbNBUPMy0QP7a8clmgEvO7IAUOHNL6h7DwjC7Tv_tbeYfLSz4eBfyy1cLthDi343JCdg3akIDfqo/s640/blogger-image--1554540548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjszQtt8qa73st4buLVnSgwFXrgASe-PN9QlZlmGgQ_sc1nciM4D2C03vD_-glbdQUDbNBUPMy0QP7a8clmgEvO7IAUOHNL6h7DwjC7Tv_tbeYfLSz4eBfyy1cLthDi343JCdg3akIDfqo/s640/blogger-image--1554540548.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfbvM1rERvqStRADUM7jfAvneQYNqS2Ns11eQnitIqQkKNAPQLtocKnA4X6fpVzqbbz4NjfD91oZVZRtvaiMVFXC7-vGn1RP2MeXD8ycWQxUVJvlMyouEBHEL3Sw3ei7Atv8FBFBA8P5W/s640/blogger-image--1967405423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfbvM1rERvqStRADUM7jfAvneQYNqS2Ns11eQnitIqQkKNAPQLtocKnA4X6fpVzqbbz4NjfD91oZVZRtvaiMVFXC7-vGn1RP2MeXD8ycWQxUVJvlMyouEBHEL3Sw3ei7Atv8FBFBA8P5W/s640/blogger-image--1967405423.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-92040612283850585222014-09-22T09:56:00.001+01:002014-10-07T15:20:21.842+01:00Days of learning - primary<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Rogue has been working on loads of practical life exercises this week, as well as some sensorial work. He is still loving the cylinder blocks, I don't blame him actually, I find them really appealing as well! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94t3UUIGAVTWkLfV3Kq-LJnFyZs-D_PjVx9XFD1Ynynsi1XW9POhSu8sR6h3Jo_6Z9JCdrlTdQQlx6ad42jZBzRAHnD_1JeJIGlKX6CozLMk3ihw3sOSLMcJlpVOK6jHGr81OAAnYOmtI/s640/blogger-image--43399614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94t3UUIGAVTWkLfV3Kq-LJnFyZs-D_PjVx9XFD1Ynynsi1XW9POhSu8sR6h3Jo_6Z9JCdrlTdQQlx6ad42jZBzRAHnD_1JeJIGlKX6CozLMk3ihw3sOSLMcJlpVOK6jHGr81OAAnYOmtI/s640/blogger-image--43399614.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I made a button snake for him last weekend and that has been a big hit too. It is basically a ribbon with a button on each end and squares of felt with a slit cut so you can put the button through. I made this because he was getting frustrated and struggling to do up buttons on his jacket so I thought he could do with the practice. I have made three sets with gradually smaller buttons and felt. This is the largest one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0DbeAyQI5otRzRPgNR1qQ0P7da4lacQnsOxOyvmqE47-7C82iWHMLqD_k9w8HFHbs94yQg96KO05XiW8xGjVdByyf5M8Ql8u5X9r3AJcpJr9Xi7v71oB99lGp6dBuY6vHfEjU9dGtT6b/s640/blogger-image-880618130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0DbeAyQI5otRzRPgNR1qQ0P7da4lacQnsOxOyvmqE47-7C82iWHMLqD_k9w8HFHbs94yQg96KO05XiW8xGjVdByyf5M8Ql8u5X9r3AJcpJr9Xi7v71oB99lGp6dBuY6vHfEjU9dGtT6b/s640/blogger-image-880618130.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One evening rogue sneaked off to the school area and I came in to find this! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipHgzrxvlEqGuvuhZqiJ_j7K_G6z2-cA-GppEsNPWtUWas75HpdKBUll7oNmGS1y2jLoEnWcyM0WljAfTNol7630yF10k5MRGoT3AJVuzcwEXeeLpNXacwLeuXE6qmACGHmzufAqimrP0/s640/blogger-image--219459149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipHgzrxvlEqGuvuhZqiJ_j7K_G6z2-cA-GppEsNPWtUWas75HpdKBUll7oNmGS1y2jLoEnWcyM0WljAfTNol7630yF10k5MRGoT3AJVuzcwEXeeLpNXacwLeuXE6qmACGHmzufAqimrP0/s640/blogger-image--219459149.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbYEjcFfcyYOvl8WUj_Ug0YmJ3EmPeYgHIljhZS662hyaqDGWy0pp77xpmhvdF2kYEAnFDLlNLFA0H-z5uGxs6qNXR7iLUsZXbpl1sl0lNwqo-vMik4ve908H7147I39eux31q5yWn48V/s640/blogger-image-587966152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbYEjcFfcyYOvl8WUj_Ug0YmJ3EmPeYgHIljhZS662hyaqDGWy0pp77xpmhvdF2kYEAnFDLlNLFA0H-z5uGxs6qNXR7iLUsZXbpl1sl0lNwqo-vMik4ve908H7147I39eux31q5yWn48V/s640/blogger-image-587966152.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I tried introducing hole punching for the first time. I drew dots on the paper for him to punch over. He had lots of fun punching holes, but not on the dots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYUt2SnZWestgm0LAR69-t8xdTHqNbosmgH-_phGVxyxAT9BxiOr52rGRAjonqffP_zJmiYhyphenhyphenaHuYWD6OBGNvqGUSv-BGDYZim8t0igEwACl5TZiXAGc0VdzaGB6dyW8HPh4gCEN_J03G/s640/blogger-image--2018195877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYUt2SnZWestgm0LAR69-t8xdTHqNbosmgH-_phGVxyxAT9BxiOr52rGRAjonqffP_zJmiYhyphenhyphenaHuYWD6OBGNvqGUSv-BGDYZim8t0igEwACl5TZiXAGc0VdzaGB6dyW8HPh4gCEN_J03G/s640/blogger-image--2018195877.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The pegboard came out again. He loves this activity and I am always intrigued by the very regular patterns he makes, never random.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlg801T_VYYSsq71AjEvg9Waxj9s0K73bFqwjuFDqcWXvrSms14upAYDW68cZVrq51CGBaDvrEt8ApaMKBgadB5J27VOFl8pwXN1ByKXcys1XtPRdpsswzZ_Uv6FisfKK2t3hyxS0YLRIy/s640/blogger-image-1900610142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlg801T_VYYSsq71AjEvg9Waxj9s0K73bFqwjuFDqcWXvrSms14upAYDW68cZVrq51CGBaDvrEt8ApaMKBgadB5J27VOFl8pwXN1ByKXcys1XtPRdpsswzZ_Uv6FisfKK2t3hyxS0YLRIy/s640/blogger-image-1900610142.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Of course he had to get involved in his big sisters investigation of solids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGTu1Xgdo-DaoOnJtpdpQ2n3LVZIXTt1YOdoTHwm6lvgjZhR9IJmJ5_oLBuxIl4VNKvc-Vw51nPBBimhjshc_BKPkCKdINKUuDsg5VWhaqaXVhra6HUD2bWxogKv4LyPLUi0iFDYvcCiS/s640/blogger-image--1709792182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGTu1Xgdo-DaoOnJtpdpQ2n3LVZIXTt1YOdoTHwm6lvgjZhR9IJmJ5_oLBuxIl4VNKvc-Vw51nPBBimhjshc_BKPkCKdINKUuDsg5VWhaqaXVhra6HUD2bWxogKv4LyPLUi0iFDYvcCiS/s640/blogger-image--1709792182.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This pegging activity was new this week too and he concentrated for ages on it. Really worked the muscles in those fingers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBOUGgmTrsPQ3dU-IgfZaV_w0nk6-jl6UjszwKLrd0f4i9S2WrdVKpRGDvugKVSK_qQQBsBcmv4_ZstUyVJI89ViFVbYxrE0dtHgyhPLzb51v1_zpOhkZYmtdn52p7zii8lD6UQ544aZr/s640/blogger-image-1635166290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBOUGgmTrsPQ3dU-IgfZaV_w0nk6-jl6UjszwKLrd0f4i9S2WrdVKpRGDvugKVSK_qQQBsBcmv4_ZstUyVJI89ViFVbYxrE0dtHgyhPLzb51v1_zpOhkZYmtdn52p7zii8lD6UQ544aZr/s640/blogger-image-1635166290.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Scooping macaroni with a tiny sieve. He did this very slowly, enjoying the sounds of the macaroni hitting the bowl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouCpvgAjJmuewqHR7OSop5qWy-mtb7CU4j4sJp1S5WxA-VuQLcbWBz5a1xV63B09wuSl5TZwMMvhGU41n0Q5VosanquNpSRw4Cb38Jl7LwqzqgTh63CqUtql4VxqXVOllSyfNfC2_U-ry/s640/blogger-image--1478039068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouCpvgAjJmuewqHR7OSop5qWy-mtb7CU4j4sJp1S5WxA-VuQLcbWBz5a1xV63B09wuSl5TZwMMvhGU41n0Q5VosanquNpSRw4Cb38Jl7LwqzqgTh63CqUtql4VxqXVOllSyfNfC2_U-ry/s640/blogger-image--1478039068.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-26173669166682122152014-09-15T14:18:00.001+01:002014-09-19T11:20:05.802+01:00'Sandpaper' letters<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The sandpaper letters are a classic montessori material for teaching letters. The trouble is they are pretty expensive for textured flash cards, so I made my own. I didn't have any sandpaper and I like to use what I have already if I can so here is the method I used.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">First I just cut up some old mount board I had into roughly A5 size rectangles, and painted them pink and blue (21 pink and 5 blue). When that was dry I drew a big letter on each just lightly in pencil and when I was happy with it I went over it in sharpie, making the lines thicker. The letters are over to the right because Rogue is definitely more right hand dominant but if you have a left handed child you would want to position the letters more to the left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWWdhPdErDFaCk3Yarm-fGyJRoUZLUgrVw6BkNP5O9dpy61_RhRwQlOiGvNOz1Lzgl9-myCeRS-KS99jqD9u2-uTkv03fwt2PCK7Bsvv30QwpYnV75NSzeUJ_bqI000bSyXIhI-Jqi3EA/s640/blogger-image-2102911016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWWdhPdErDFaCk3Yarm-fGyJRoUZLUgrVw6BkNP5O9dpy61_RhRwQlOiGvNOz1Lzgl9-myCeRS-KS99jqD9u2-uTkv03fwt2PCK7Bsvv30QwpYnV75NSzeUJ_bqI000bSyXIhI-Jqi3EA/s640/blogger-image-2102911016.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next I mixed some glue, black paint and glitter together. I used up old pots of glitter, mixing all kinds of colours and then used the paint to try to take some of the shine and colour off. It worked surprisingly well actually. The texture was very thick, like wet sand.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnlKlhLd9LNJ_Lf1RwDVIEFqOSeK4UzoQeNEoFJreYu41AzRaH4p7-IPAcRNNb38NcocPbToA5_k4Kxl9HyMGdoMK002g-YtcgsrwM2ExxAbYzCEPosMwb0nGqjLvO3_Gqz0ekl6c0iIE/s640/blogger-image--1374729687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnlKlhLd9LNJ_Lf1RwDVIEFqOSeK4UzoQeNEoFJreYu41AzRaH4p7-IPAcRNNb38NcocPbToA5_k4Kxl9HyMGdoMK002g-YtcgsrwM2ExxAbYzCEPosMwb0nGqjLvO3_Gqz0ekl6c0iIE/s640/blogger-image--1374729687.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next I used a small brush to paint a line of this mixture into the centre of the lines of the letters. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-AOeInOjhYYqCoPji0-0MChHuEnBZYZn_Fg0o1evlJPNWrHqJONEQQq9hL8Tfp6RsuBylmTEy81CfN5ZBaXcOZbj8nDh7yC3VsNQzj4mqUzZzHW5V4OodK8OSDiSi9O-QWHAp-HUcKal/s640/blogger-image--37535444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-AOeInOjhYYqCoPji0-0MChHuEnBZYZn_Fg0o1evlJPNWrHqJONEQQq9hL8Tfp6RsuBylmTEy81CfN5ZBaXcOZbj8nDh7yC3VsNQzj4mqUzZzHW5V4OodK8OSDiSi9O-QWHAp-HUcKal/s640/blogger-image--37535444.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This has worked really really well, once it was dry it had a really good texture just like sandpaper and bits don't come off when you use them. Sandpaper is great but this has worked brilliantly for us and it came at my favourite price - free!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnBUDL7WJ5EZYt4zO5qVFXqsDBwppIJzfuIQi0PcWxqrIi7h9t89gTtDTSRz1RdwXx0WmUHfBMW1P0wnj78zRb143bwTiRDYM0t6Csqp_Q3KJkOFuHZ23BHWy3MfNwlRN6u5NMjaGQ0UB/s640/blogger-image--1030199072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnBUDL7WJ5EZYt4zO5qVFXqsDBwppIJzfuIQi0PcWxqrIi7h9t89gTtDTSRz1RdwXx0WmUHfBMW1P0wnj78zRb143bwTiRDYM0t6Csqp_Q3KJkOFuHZ23BHWy3MfNwlRN6u5NMjaGQ0UB/s640/blogger-image--1030199072.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-80623620026510176262014-09-15T11:07:00.001+01:002014-09-17T10:07:52.468+01:00Days of learning - primary<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwGUTvqJTomZldmk52wEFiW4vBnlTSVAR091SgL4-sL35Gp7ZeH8eGTj_D4gnz9cZPc-xMbjos43gWyiHkHAMHcV6GfTkUBuEy85B8nqBJVtVviJ68cTDrg21XOqXunepFr1m-j8QBSaa/s640/blogger-image-31721528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwGUTvqJTomZldmk52wEFiW4vBnlTSVAR091SgL4-sL35Gp7ZeH8eGTj_D4gnz9cZPc-xMbjos43gWyiHkHAMHcV6GfTkUBuEy85B8nqBJVtVviJ68cTDrg21XOqXunepFr1m-j8QBSaa/s640/blogger-image-31721528.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Rogue enjoyed using the pegboard for quite a long time. Whenever he uses this he always puts the pegs in lines or blocks, never just a random sprinkling of pegs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF77_l3Z2j55ihnqTdTyfCiAaOkNjXcf18tartolNgyQAUEBpKps07vBbtDU-ouH15W1dz-PzNvYxwIxphZgtjooqd48xGBoDUsyWuZ3S1iBoCy3YoazcpgnksPVUYjTfpepyZ7OQlIxO/s640/blogger-image-1087440194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF77_l3Z2j55ihnqTdTyfCiAaOkNjXcf18tartolNgyQAUEBpKps07vBbtDU-ouH15W1dz-PzNvYxwIxphZgtjooqd48xGBoDUsyWuZ3S1iBoCy3YoazcpgnksPVUYjTfpepyZ7OQlIxO/s640/blogger-image-1087440194.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Carrot grating proved a bit difficult so I think we will have to practice grating with something softer. No fingers grated though so that's a bonus!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WHNTCpu3ot_4dk_wo6NB48uLAjabPrX7Zu0X1R6ldalzn-0Vfdi0gukGyynYqVVsRTugzTALKGSs8qQikQUetQeEG1kCemeSqQ1FJdegVFH4y1_-_rsF8RFiqGMnkqZfDPS-GwLric6H/s640/blogger-image--675854697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WHNTCpu3ot_4dk_wo6NB48uLAjabPrX7Zu0X1R6ldalzn-0Vfdi0gukGyynYqVVsRTugzTALKGSs8qQikQUetQeEG1kCemeSqQ1FJdegVFH4y1_-_rsF8RFiqGMnkqZfDPS-GwLric6H/s640/blogger-image--675854697.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a new activity that I put out, pouring pecans into a bowl and then using the small ladle to put them back into the jug. Simple, but entertaining.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdpP3G_NoC6wqMXbRgS60JjyYp0ZGutOeex4Hdb_nYmYY74r4JxUJSB-08ULizoXrOZfQmXEkHSJx9C_k-3WSyitdIN4fwFnv2gpk8D9RgTpTx6ZGZUhMUEgq8h_7XtAY6COn85iGyXIA/s640/blogger-image-999221287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdpP3G_NoC6wqMXbRgS60JjyYp0ZGutOeex4Hdb_nYmYY74r4JxUJSB-08ULizoXrOZfQmXEkHSJx9C_k-3WSyitdIN4fwFnv2gpk8D9RgTpTx6ZGZUhMUEgq8h_7XtAY6COn85iGyXIA/s640/blogger-image-999221287.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I got out cylinder block 2 this week and as it looks the same when they are all in he was pretty surprised when he picked up the widest one and found that it was really thin! He tried the two blocks together and really enjoyed that, it seemed to be just the right level of challenge for him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrnEab1TwH3gyDWQXpBQIfR12t8uOB2FJrWhk5d9mwoLkcG2aWda5P5miL859BKAJx_LWvhe9RbjrNHaO5m-Ca1glRT8O2Ds4ahwmCjQZ5cbWvnmcF-3-BSZIaFoZrtqSU_AEA8t6nujn/s640/blogger-image-1647865316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrnEab1TwH3gyDWQXpBQIfR12t8uOB2FJrWhk5d9mwoLkcG2aWda5P5miL859BKAJx_LWvhe9RbjrNHaO5m-Ca1glRT8O2Ds4ahwmCjQZ5cbWvnmcF-3-BSZIaFoZrtqSU_AEA8t6nujn/s640/blogger-image-1647865316.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93JqRafMHzbFYxhdSa9ulIFPbJ3Eny5emqFdMkATGGO3qZmX3Ap0SXZMZ7D2daqfa_vwAzZlstwe-Lf_BeEc3noL4_3i_DMA3X781ZIFoSsqmdbs-mkHGwKtYRd1uLt359jmAkFkPmwS_/s640/blogger-image--1469629355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93JqRafMHzbFYxhdSa9ulIFPbJ3Eny5emqFdMkATGGO3qZmX3Ap0SXZMZ7D2daqfa_vwAzZlstwe-Lf_BeEc3noL4_3i_DMA3X781ZIFoSsqmdbs-mkHGwKtYRd1uLt359jmAkFkPmwS_/s640/blogger-image--1469629355.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> These bird pictures were cut out of an old calendar and usually calendars have little thumbnail images on the back of all the pictures so they provide a perfect matching game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKelOpQaAAjot8KGdZ6IqK4UVMj3V9gL8I5pTi6jZqfweIM2FZa5-r2e8RoNHC_5eEogpqw2TfgqLGPsHaiFj4qO7Teft41_XPEJc_gKEMs4m7kcPeUYal6pFfXy6B8DyTmroIkUtttVcj/s640/blogger-image-1897443960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKelOpQaAAjot8KGdZ6IqK4UVMj3V9gL8I5pTi6jZqfweIM2FZa5-r2e8RoNHC_5eEogpqw2TfgqLGPsHaiFj4qO7Teft41_XPEJc_gKEMs4m7kcPeUYal6pFfXy6B8DyTmroIkUtttVcj/s640/blogger-image-1897443960.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Rogue had fun exploring the 3d shapes. He just held them, tried to build with them and then experimented with rolling them. He discovered that the cube doesn't roll, the sphere rolls a long way, and the ellipsis is really really funny when you roll it!</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-47728611638406444682014-09-15T09:49:00.001+01:002014-09-15T11:01:51.455+01:00Days of learning - elementary<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijm4xy5NhRHJzmBxsCHcZoIr5T04g-e1l8PV_PoNBncmDta_iVUQo6wMJjJK-KMIcX1zf6obHFJ0njCCTfpI0iUJN9CoT73ZXOIJcoA-1rE3y4DVzimCUDyiui6B2r9WVc1VuzlfMs9iG/s640/blogger-image-1589509908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijm4xy5NhRHJzmBxsCHcZoIr5T04g-e1l8PV_PoNBncmDta_iVUQo6wMJjJK-KMIcX1zf6obHFJ0njCCTfpI0iUJN9CoT73ZXOIJcoA-1rE3y4DVzimCUDyiui6B2r9WVc1VuzlfMs9iG/s640/blogger-image-1589509908.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ok, so pretty much the day after posting all those pictures of our school room, I started seeing all it's imperfections and problems and got the urge to move it around. I am always moving the house around, my family are very understanding! I ended up moving the entire school room down to the kitchen and getting a lounge back. After our first week down there we are all really liking it, it is great to have access to the sink for practical life and science activities and there is more floor and table space. It took me about 14 hours to move everything but it was time well spent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv9y7ZiclyZ2_0WJxZZJfcZgAZTjT8NfhRFS4HFuteaWEeqGylv51OsZT_2ycvs5Sw7p3yrX9guj4v-vo44zSeaJ4y2NA-fI4LAzqzlyhYWTqkRBENQpg_NF_ZesEjit6cTLbmLMtyleY/s640/blogger-image-2103843147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv9y7ZiclyZ2_0WJxZZJfcZgAZTjT8NfhRFS4HFuteaWEeqGylv51OsZT_2ycvs5Sw7p3yrX9guj4v-vo44zSeaJ4y2NA-fI4LAzqzlyhYWTqkRBENQpg_NF_ZesEjit6cTLbmLMtyleY/s640/blogger-image-2103843147.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Binx used the hierarchical material this week, comparing sizes, labelling, discovering the families of numbers (simple, thousand, million) and how that relates to where we put the commas in numbers. She was very impressed with the size difference between the 1 cube and the 1,000,000 cube, so was I really, it's quite impressive to see it in such a hands on way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDU5xQ1q0HasACta12gK6satchfdN4oKuozMa6p0NzoCg_LA_MCxazao1_GBYaw19soHs5XjEU4-hBlhDk46jyi81TY1TTLE69iiQgdn6tRWi2KFGHQrFcshuzALjuNrIfLS8y997CbfAn/s640/blogger-image-1660128033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDU5xQ1q0HasACta12gK6satchfdN4oKuozMa6p0NzoCg_LA_MCxazao1_GBYaw19soHs5XjEU4-hBlhDk46jyi81TY1TTLE69iiQgdn6tRWi2KFGHQrFcshuzALjuNrIfLS8y997CbfAn/s640/blogger-image-1660128033.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On Wednesday, after 2 days using the hierarchical material, binx started using the large bead frame, practicing building large numbers and then reading large numbers that I built. We then did some addition to practice the exchanging of beads. This work was mostly just to get used to the frame and feel comfortable with 'reading' it.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NLSWBLQhMZSlbPkuMjwcpDesvQW9wqkqyUN-epi9VKtN-6-FE7vyaGhjQ-RSMFBVppjc4HndYJJ7HV2d6hYGQpbibqsUDjbhujhMCgqtTCb6eupznmlz6lOMdcTEmqlotQQmJpKZVVFq/s640/blogger-image--1604837176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NLSWBLQhMZSlbPkuMjwcpDesvQW9wqkqyUN-epi9VKtN-6-FE7vyaGhjQ-RSMFBVppjc4HndYJJ7HV2d6hYGQpbibqsUDjbhujhMCgqtTCb6eupznmlz6lOMdcTEmqlotQQmJpKZVVFq/s640/blogger-image--1604837176.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>We did some work looking at the composition of the earth. We looked at the different layers in terms of what to call them (barysphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere), and related it to the density experiment where you put the syrup, water and oil in a jar and you get the separate layers. This is because everything settles according to its weight so in the earth the barysphere is heaviest, then the lithosphere etc. As you can see from the picture below, we also looked at the relative thicknesses of each layer. Binx was pretty interested in the hydrosphere (water!) so we did an experiment to show how much fresh water there is in the world. You get a great big bowl of water which represents all the water in the world and you take about 4 tbsp and freeze it to show all the fresh water in the world which is frozen and then 2 tbsp which shows all the fresh water in the world that all living things have to share. All the rest of the water in the bowl is salt water. Pretty mind blowing actually. </div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wwpib0NAHIvXwTsM1R_0nv0_hSyypFSlYwCEgQnfR0-hW4YbGdA83wqnucq48HFcdPS4ztNZPqTeHb6DNvi3_VmTQkA-OR25wljWKPSjaTDZKFeHk8_Jvc_6gsGx9zwJ_-LfAoUaMOyT/s640/blogger-image-2033741112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wwpib0NAHIvXwTsM1R_0nv0_hSyypFSlYwCEgQnfR0-hW4YbGdA83wqnucq48HFcdPS4ztNZPqTeHb6DNvi3_VmTQkA-OR25wljWKPSjaTDZKFeHk8_Jvc_6gsGx9zwJ_-LfAoUaMOyT/s640/blogger-image-2033741112.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We have been learning to play Chinese chess. My parents brought this set back from Vietnam last year but we haven't played it until now. It is similar to western chess but with some important differences and some great pieces (we have elephants and chariots instead of bishops and rooks!). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBEumg7LWP4cunu431RT3kWNbc5lNsS2IQGg1ryDNLAA_sDSOBOc7GIDjwhwQMXtpAW06__sFtLFEwbsPX5aYoVJjB4oo86JexgpMhzRXQ2J4wMgOsgbig6Eu9X67GiC4wCsurob287qz/s640/blogger-image-1368406853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBEumg7LWP4cunu431RT3kWNbc5lNsS2IQGg1ryDNLAA_sDSOBOc7GIDjwhwQMXtpAW06__sFtLFEwbsPX5aYoVJjB4oo86JexgpMhzRXQ2J4wMgOsgbig6Eu9X67GiC4wCsurob287qz/s640/blogger-image-1368406853.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was busy with Rogue at one point and when I came back, Binx had made herself a den with a blanket over two chairs and was inside exploring an electronics set. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kG_ilev95Ja7ivsgi5QgpQRxF2kVJ4eNNIGk399-U6HFMjQBW3P8BVlb2laTDf9Zq7RnjzdJsKAS7fuAQCFHsPpEuOeSB4Dd8zhL0n9pob2lC0xKpOfVAcTX7_0pkv6GPSCJyTYGzdTM/s640/blogger-image--1498589016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kG_ilev95Ja7ivsgi5QgpQRxF2kVJ4eNNIGk399-U6HFMjQBW3P8BVlb2laTDf9Zq7RnjzdJsKAS7fuAQCFHsPpEuOeSB4Dd8zhL0n9pob2lC0xKpOfVAcTX7_0pkv6GPSCJyTYGzdTM/s640/blogger-image--1498589016.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We explored polygons and learnt some new quadrilateral names like the rhombus and parallelogram. Note: everyone should try to have a two year old present while learning the word parallelogram, lots of fun! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfERkMyZO04k6BDB17G3tpKoTXTy-VW_K0MM4Fr0Jdxd8GkCRuc_B5ITYBZKZM298nIna6nSKp_qqh1iuOdh6INVS5Lg6FEwS_XCrNghnHlEdfjJvHTqfLdy9PGqFrzliGxvkm7SZzKyfr/s640/blogger-image-141129177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfERkMyZO04k6BDB17G3tpKoTXTy-VW_K0MM4Fr0Jdxd8GkCRuc_B5ITYBZKZM298nIna6nSKp_qqh1iuOdh6INVS5Lg6FEwS_XCrNghnHlEdfjJvHTqfLdy9PGqFrzliGxvkm7SZzKyfr/s640/blogger-image-141129177.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We finished up the week with a review on the states of matter, solid, liquid and gas. This was mostly review work but we added in a few extras like changing a solid with heat, (melting wax), and making holes in the side of a tin to show how a liquid pushes sideways as well as down but a solid only pushes down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumLLl2LhYiFoN0wqExaD_tSpYsJcru_8eMcQoWPkQiuIAUas6MrZBqwTSOysGt4hQFzALTAMbADwG6-DirRyRqfG2wNUpbSxgDZQxIuDi_NL6C8tYu8QTKwfOuB1aWRYqzkDsX5nWFV0i/s640/blogger-image-1542971218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumLLl2LhYiFoN0wqExaD_tSpYsJcru_8eMcQoWPkQiuIAUas6MrZBqwTSOysGt4hQFzALTAMbADwG6-DirRyRqfG2wNUpbSxgDZQxIuDi_NL6C8tYu8QTKwfOuB1aWRYqzkDsX5nWFV0i/s640/blogger-image-1542971218.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-79517701802932553742014-09-09T21:40:00.001+01:002014-09-10T15:34:11.348+01:00Homemade hierarchical material<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfbWCUxX-AeRTlS8ScSVTov_JU6_acUcfWjeBwEGUwciw8ieM0ePqssJzdEXMo2Lmh7OXtWBJUzvHvUG0hTx_flIMSGhtKrjGBVu4DMiHpiqZrd2eMsa0nxFg9T7cjpK4ujb7SQTt2T5a/s640/blogger-image--318004951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfbWCUxX-AeRTlS8ScSVTov_JU6_acUcfWjeBwEGUwciw8ieM0ePqssJzdEXMo2Lmh7OXtWBJUzvHvUG0hTx_flIMSGhtKrjGBVu4DMiHpiqZrd2eMsa0nxFg9T7cjpK4ujb7SQTt2T5a/s640/blogger-image--318004951.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Last weekend, I made some hierarchical material. This is a hands on representation of the hierarchies from 1 to 1,000,000. This material is intended for use by children just starting elementary in a montessori school at age 6/7, with binx having just turned 9 she is a little old for it. However, having come to this a bit late, I wasn't sure where to start in the albums and I could see that in some areas she would be ready for later works but in other areas there would be significant gaps. Our way of dealing with it will be to start at the beginning and take it at her pace, if she already knows it we won't linger there and if she needs more time, she can have it. Anyway, I had noticed some confusion for her in the amount of zeros numbers had and also in how to say the names of really big numbers. All in all, that is why I spent 3 hours on Sunday afternoon taping cardboard together and covering it in tissue paper. Below you can see some of my process and that it really was cobbled together from random bits of cardboard. This material is available to buy very beautifully and precisely made (mine is not precise - can you tell!), out of wood...for several hundred pounds. Mine is imprecise, made of bits of card taped together and extremely old faded tissue paper, and it was free!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1t2UDclePentgpFWCUyoce5N0spWdO8qfj1T0T_dsVGEIWoNZXndvtTkMT9_U9kPU0iZSzh8hIItJ8dV_pdG8EHFUlQ1iVQWRqPD39lHEdzi7-JCFMOzU_rvRu0RBoRsXLwMYTPt99uL/s640/blogger-image-701743570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1t2UDclePentgpFWCUyoce5N0spWdO8qfj1T0T_dsVGEIWoNZXndvtTkMT9_U9kPU0iZSzh8hIItJ8dV_pdG8EHFUlQ1iVQWRqPD39lHEdzi7-JCFMOzU_rvRu0RBoRsXLwMYTPt99uL/s640/blogger-image-701743570.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sDfEa_LYXTmF1xJjQedZJujbmSjz8XYWhUsqMZ5IuEdJ-DNxHZFnXr2Hn8fpoq1UyK47wjMepAhcv933AcGDvdKuolzDkGrRC3fDdvy_tOGshP5YP0uDGR4zCVj_XqvTN3u71Jk6o4kZ/s640/blogger-image-1392124985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sDfEa_LYXTmF1xJjQedZJujbmSjz8XYWhUsqMZ5IuEdJ-DNxHZFnXr2Hn8fpoq1UyK47wjMepAhcv933AcGDvdKuolzDkGrRC3fDdvy_tOGshP5YP0uDGR4zCVj_XqvTN3u71Jk6o4kZ/s640/blogger-image-1392124985.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAprTsGqp_ydnQ89HZOtFTNkdTFYq75H96FQWwGoBHmgpeygd5BJPTOb0so6QcwXiU_heRlzibYxs7WG2OtV0IwOF9GvSIx4pWqR8Ox85naYWfXsvZHV7Q3NPwiLiBmwD_X8_XbK2edyxv/s640/blogger-image--699840133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAprTsGqp_ydnQ89HZOtFTNkdTFYq75H96FQWwGoBHmgpeygd5BJPTOb0so6QcwXiU_heRlzibYxs7WG2OtV0IwOF9GvSIx4pWqR8Ox85naYWfXsvZHV7Q3NPwiLiBmwD_X8_XbK2edyxv/s640/blogger-image--699840133.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also made these labels to go with it, colour coded the same as the hands on material. Later this week I will show the activities we did with this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQmiM0ooAoX9yN07zDuCO14tvPw06yWwD_RJJa12r8VwcexD6Eo2a52N-KyYyUox4SL_U2pK7bDgjzvm0uDpqZ6XsG1el-RYGkEPQh0aiRaQmHcYBHQAgvfSnIA3Ga2Sz7DcFQuG3Otyq/s640/blogger-image--130688559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQmiM0ooAoX9yN07zDuCO14tvPw06yWwD_RJJa12r8VwcexD6Eo2a52N-KyYyUox4SL_U2pK7bDgjzvm0uDpqZ6XsG1el-RYGkEPQh0aiRaQmHcYBHQAgvfSnIA3Ga2Sz7DcFQuG3Otyq/s640/blogger-image--130688559.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-42004513880847675952014-09-08T08:25:00.001+01:002014-09-09T21:25:11.333+01:00Days of learning - primary<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_dQsuZFxqa9VtP9D0os-HtCNh25VXgqKYyVZpxTOo0uYSiGoCjsswe55Cmf8maij4Oi0zc33c6vrOLYK2UyAel7DLZ8fDv_VFgR1CmMMEsQLKT79jMS_tUWux4SjfX3PeET3Xff2btEz/s640/blogger-image--1002005985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_dQsuZFxqa9VtP9D0os-HtCNh25VXgqKYyVZpxTOo0uYSiGoCjsswe55Cmf8maij4Oi0zc33c6vrOLYK2UyAel7DLZ8fDv_VFgR1CmMMEsQLKT79jMS_tUWux4SjfX3PeET3Xff2btEz/s640/blogger-image--1002005985.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Rogue loves working with the cylinder block 1, he does it several times a day. Every time I show it to him, I show him how to get the pieces out and put them down In a random order on the mat, and he watches carefully, even nodding to himself, and then when he gets them out, every single time he lines them up in order!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next photo is blurry but I just had to show the funny way he built the pink tower, and that he always has to get the bears out of his puzzle to come and climb the tower!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqpL-A1Ddf-v2sn1X9aT06WBRox3WMUglGQGxAJs86oifMSS8MVQeJdKRNmTiArLJwRP0SSq3JsecPnybHOEhfV6QvQegh4sJLb_gGwDi_n0xhyA45fk4lIfPPLTaeEc-LZJP2Cs2Y-JQ/s640/blogger-image--1212247116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqpL-A1Ddf-v2sn1X9aT06WBRox3WMUglGQGxAJs86oifMSS8MVQeJdKRNmTiArLJwRP0SSq3JsecPnybHOEhfV6QvQegh4sJLb_gGwDi_n0xhyA45fk4lIfPPLTaeEc-LZJP2Cs2Y-JQ/s640/blogger-image--1212247116.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GYZ1PlED8-V7scO0hEVJHlzZ9aYkGnLRZuRj_P2RtnJWRfP7YCAALmcn1_lMV3_rkQbJ6idbJGlcz7za5OHB7a-dZrO40eS3gd4cmDLytMbAcrF3oEi_zV-sy0IExsjJIVJLyuVqkmM4/s640/blogger-image-471812652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GYZ1PlED8-V7scO0hEVJHlzZ9aYkGnLRZuRj_P2RtnJWRfP7YCAALmcn1_lMV3_rkQbJ6idbJGlcz7za5OHB7a-dZrO40eS3gd4cmDLytMbAcrF3oEi_zV-sy0IExsjJIVJLyuVqkmM4/s640/blogger-image-471812652.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Rogue spent a long time exploring some lifecycle figures, lifecycles of a frog, a butterfly and a ladybird. We talked a little bit about what goes with what and what comes next but mostly he just played with them, including on the light pad which was lots of fun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW52OR-H-zIY0Aizw4TPPBGaDmHdaEytUMhed1M-X_4SGGMnWMzKJEf7cO_j-Qha33JbIF0dpAPi9MKHRTT3NP_T2Zgo4d0v2MdkjAJRK3mk1BUuRsYfCW0zNF_u4iZ8O4aolXPvKcvxDa/s640/blogger-image--434927189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW52OR-H-zIY0Aizw4TPPBGaDmHdaEytUMhed1M-X_4SGGMnWMzKJEf7cO_j-Qha33JbIF0dpAPi9MKHRTT3NP_T2Zgo4d0v2MdkjAJRK3mk1BUuRsYfCW0zNF_u4iZ8O4aolXPvKcvxDa/s640/blogger-image--434927189.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Just before bedtime I discovered he had sneaked back in to the school room to do some lacing! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClyecvW2INrTP1Ojbnnz9Oi3Oz0T3rv2DC-0OENxYJJ2mGjhWz7Dg6FoZhekDsK7GwEfjz8B98TID-pCiEZRUtJwsQ495iakG_fB-Y6dAYWek4Infm3D27BQ8X9OeZWPIqq45lLKiWCtl/s640/blogger-image-753718311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClyecvW2INrTP1Ojbnnz9Oi3Oz0T3rv2DC-0OENxYJJ2mGjhWz7Dg6FoZhekDsK7GwEfjz8B98TID-pCiEZRUtJwsQ495iakG_fB-Y6dAYWek4Infm3D27BQ8X9OeZWPIqq45lLKiWCtl/s640/blogger-image-753718311.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-41597248516272323292014-09-08T08:20:00.001+01:002014-09-08T08:24:10.799+01:00Days of learning - elementary<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Tf-aO_MvWoYBEGSdApoSnGj3QbUU0gVcCISClYu9vQJuNs9XpFrafJj9zp76LWhyphenhyphenQ0HETqrVzYv8Dj3K99DmsB5gb5Dq5dDhPZ0eEeb_Qn7CNKNiUJVNJwaErQa31qrhF04vjjaJsOEk/s640/blogger-image--1690386869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Tf-aO_MvWoYBEGSdApoSnGj3QbUU0gVcCISClYu9vQJuNs9XpFrafJj9zp76LWhyphenhyphenQ0HETqrVzYv8Dj3K99DmsB5gb5Dq5dDhPZ0eEeb_Qn7CNKNiUJVNJwaErQa31qrhF04vjjaJsOEk/s640/blogger-image--1690386869.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQhvRp4XJuuXUbmB0yUoPdzKFvwH4bJ5TNrcrkwhHHYDImWmXKWONMgP9rlRPhrAoJU98R5UZTi_uzTwW3oyhrWxZPpWUQnuJia5HkBBKrQ7Gq-YJXjqVzD0bnY5v8EuOmwH1K8HE5-Yt/s640/blogger-image-388672529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQhvRp4XJuuXUbmB0yUoPdzKFvwH4bJ5TNrcrkwhHHYDImWmXKWONMgP9rlRPhrAoJU98R5UZTi_uzTwW3oyhrWxZPpWUQnuJia5HkBBKrQ7Gq-YJXjqVzD0bnY5v8EuOmwH1K8HE5-Yt/s640/blogger-image-388672529.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAz0Vww7KaZ6qap8J1f7x8fxv-0pKXAKs4_yH3sD1DDsAXRJTpzXI8y0Ey0phXCTZ5qDgqFQ9CzCwSmT5Bicx2N5meNRjOAX88GuAGe1ILwJ93ItXufZpS4a5lVyrACsCYRG55RfhcIBXo/s640/blogger-image-1171448817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAz0Vww7KaZ6qap8J1f7x8fxv-0pKXAKs4_yH3sD1DDsAXRJTpzXI8y0Ey0phXCTZ5qDgqFQ9CzCwSmT5Bicx2N5meNRjOAX88GuAGe1ILwJ93ItXufZpS4a5lVyrACsCYRG55RfhcIBXo/s640/blogger-image-1171448817.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s4VvhWAQQcdv7gyK0-eWTQzPTRKmostAxvE9a7pb7gvB4wK9hdwyJ3TYcjS7H6ba3J6RbRMf6YDXvwyZFQTIxBJJ0_sNBqMtto4HC-VDBns4EYPHODoXpkdrUgNH5wvb7-4JEhMXkNwM/s640/blogger-image-1495710760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s4VvhWAQQcdv7gyK0-eWTQzPTRKmostAxvE9a7pb7gvB4wK9hdwyJ3TYcjS7H6ba3J6RbRMf6YDXvwyZFQTIxBJJ0_sNBqMtto4HC-VDBns4EYPHODoXpkdrUgNH5wvb7-4JEhMXkNwM/s640/blogger-image-1495710760.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHivV5-Us1h3Qhr58MKW9HglJsALqX6UI22m9EzJZ91WIZSY_hXzMbA7mEpk8E9F1FjtsmejPqStD0ET_G2ILyyapK5ya5uM-DTf6xTqLd1oEsa-KgtRqJAUCT1OrpJupGRWzYh6CxpcuQ/s640/blogger-image--368666124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHivV5-Us1h3Qhr58MKW9HglJsALqX6UI22m9EzJZ91WIZSY_hXzMbA7mEpk8E9F1FjtsmejPqStD0ET_G2ILyyapK5ya5uM-DTf6xTqLd1oEsa-KgtRqJAUCT1OrpJupGRWzYh6CxpcuQ/s640/blogger-image--368666124.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL98TR6muyzS_7XXxgdGAVliGsBw7t_W-YV3tO56_DQHOtzD6QTbh55_HezYbuD9TLnAysYp1XIV5BLyfLFyZ_jtXYUWrEcCsjKiT_TvNJ6W0X_3tYC6mhkNsP9TYthu6tJogyoEmx1UeB/s640/blogger-image--1991550506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL98TR6muyzS_7XXxgdGAVliGsBw7t_W-YV3tO56_DQHOtzD6QTbh55_HezYbuD9TLnAysYp1XIV5BLyfLFyZ_jtXYUWrEcCsjKiT_TvNJ6W0X_3tYC6mhkNsP9TYthu6tJogyoEmx1UeB/s640/blogger-image--1991550506.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Binx has had a pretty full week, these are just what I got pictures of - sentence analysis work, (she loves this and would do it all day, I feel like I have to come up with new sentences every single evening), exploring multiples with the bead chains, commutative and distributive laws, and spelling practice with a homemade small moveable alphabet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The classification with buttons came about because she was looking at the six kingdoms of living things and was concentrating pretty hard when she suddenly looked up at me and said 'but why?!' 'Why do we put everything in different groups?' For an answer,, I went and got the button box and dumped a load out on the rug then asked her to find me one particular one. Binx tried to just nudge them around to find it at first and then started sorting them into piles of different colours of her own accord. I had a minor fanfare going off in my head, but tried not to let it show! I just sneakily dropped a few ideas in here and there like, 'ooh, I wonder if you could split those white ones up anymore?' And pretty soon she had me writing her labels (still a reluctant writer!) for the classifying you can see in the picture. She ended up answering her own question when she said 'it's much easier to find it once I've sorted them out a bit' "lightbulb moment!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Last picture is of her experimenting with the thermic tablets, these are small pieces of different materials (wood, stone, metal, glass) which you can match together by feeling the differences in weight and temperature. I find it interested that she is still so interested in the sensorial equipment, she obviously doesn't repeat things over and over like a three year old would but she really seems to get a lot out of it. Maybe it's a sort of downtime activity as it does quite often follow a quite intense bout of learning, maybe it's just fun, or maybe it's a sibling thing (he's doing it so I want to as well?!), whatever the reason it's fine by me. I wonder if students at a montessori school get access to the younger students work? Anyone know?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-15652071998986755472014-09-05T16:24:00.001+01:002014-09-09T21:24:42.330+01:00First language shelf and other areasIn the last post I took you through some of the sensorial and practical life activities we have out and today I'm going to quickly show you another shelving area that is set up for rogue. (I will show you what binx is up to at some point, honest!)<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhaBVbuDs13phquuIPGBMU0hltGEzIYONEIvjS0QDdArosvFd30HfobrFjO9HnCzQOD_fnikrhhsvg7JAwffuyFVAua114rro8WVp7XP1ZTsvfD9ur8_2NBzYj6wYcVVTitv4MiTadDie/s640/blogger-image--832538434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhaBVbuDs13phquuIPGBMU0hltGEzIYONEIvjS0QDdArosvFd30HfobrFjO9HnCzQOD_fnikrhhsvg7JAwffuyFVAua114rro8WVp7XP1ZTsvfD9ur8_2NBzYj6wYcVVTitv4MiTadDie/s640/blogger-image--832538434.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We'll talk about the top shelf first which is language, the box on the back left holds my homemade sandpaper letters (not made of sandpaper - I'll post the process I used soon), at the moment it only holds the four that he is working on a, m, s, and t. Next to that is a white board where I write one of the letters. I usually change it each evening and he comes in each morning and tells me what sound it makes. Just in front of that are some little classification cards. He has to sort which objects belong in which room, (please be nice, I'm not an artist, I'm just trying to help my kids learn!). Next are some 'what-goes-with-what' sorting cards which were a free printable from montessori for everyone. And lastly on that back row are just some precut squares of paper for the 'metal' insets. So...yes...as you can see the front of that shelf holds our 'metal' insets, which I made from card! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQW378ScGEpcrHIgRym1X6i1Xt6I9zVip32lQLIqWVuEo-pTe_-THuUx2RU-6XaFU3UUCztQKCD0ohYUM-TplPmO1q8RJxl8kY_-aSE-491jYgdr9E-7H0VjAuHcpCmiQ5wvnD-BgLPwR/s640/blogger-image-1338302821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQW378ScGEpcrHIgRym1X6i1Xt6I9zVip32lQLIqWVuEo-pTe_-THuUx2RU-6XaFU3UUCztQKCD0ohYUM-TplPmO1q8RJxl8kY_-aSE-491jYgdr9E-7H0VjAuHcpCmiQ5wvnD-BgLPwR/s640/blogger-image-1338302821.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbfXtPlP_lCwE2YiYXUk6KePdUewltK-yV86Z9YhiInM6MmH5FWl07XkCFeRHnEvLXcHjyrDHxxtFn18lG5eF3rvDdKjgkH9vm9zDoUKYyt6NyAKmfBdsbEPhoR8lIH7A3sdEm1i5jT89/s640/blogger-image-1156381832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbfXtPlP_lCwE2YiYXUk6KePdUewltK-yV86Z9YhiInM6MmH5FWl07XkCFeRHnEvLXcHjyrDHxxtFn18lG5eF3rvDdKjgkH9vm9zDoUKYyt6NyAKmfBdsbEPhoR8lIH7A3sdEm1i5jT89/s640/blogger-image-1156381832.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYRraaFmVoVBLVHqkH0rW2Re1sT4tqAlunWMm3PRmRWoBY3J8A6EbMNumMYZnEhWDKmdswdamhprCqsGNOd09BpdhRdZA0xAe4WjZwV2uv4Ltdu0wD9d8gHg5yWbQdv9lz_7QS5RmLqXu/s640/blogger-image-905669048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYRraaFmVoVBLVHqkH0rW2Re1sT4tqAlunWMm3PRmRWoBY3J8A6EbMNumMYZnEhWDKmdswdamhprCqsGNOd09BpdhRdZA0xAe4WjZwV2uv4Ltdu0wD9d8gHg5yWbQdv9lz_7QS5RmLqXu/s640/blogger-image-905669048.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXATQ3UsY63lonCBMjA6CQHDW5wbYDeTRqvKDqFiNxQeZEpOVywKaghulQ6owa68lfVz1aMP6aK2WqMDsCamPHSbti2F4lcUOzFWduvNgOgIzG9gqxiU7WSNtbU8kONc2tiv91-zG7GPDs/s640/blogger-image-1682664237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXATQ3UsY63lonCBMjA6CQHDW5wbYDeTRqvKDqFiNxQeZEpOVywKaghulQ6owa68lfVz1aMP6aK2WqMDsCamPHSbti2F4lcUOzFWduvNgOgIzG9gqxiU7WSNtbU8kONc2tiv91-zG7GPDs/s640/blogger-image-1682664237.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The bottom shelf holds an A3 minisun light pad. The light pad is not a traditional montessori material but we love it loads. Next to it I change out different baskets of manipulatives to experiment with. At the moment we have, coloured perspex 3d shapes, some stain glass window effect shapes that I made from black card and coloured kite paper, red and green glass nuggets and stars and a selection of mirrors and clear prisms. This gets lots and lots of use every day, it's so much fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHEtEMDj9md5gaQKZ15uHdSRdmjbSx1zbuUIDlFICOgKY1nrWyJCbD-aKlc3wClbj-ZesCdNvGqoKc0baM-uy-kL1E2TrQNVDbAlusvWnivScQLYw4uvbMCddXyY4Htd_9CS3jDhGSdgy/s640/blogger-image-885583397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHEtEMDj9md5gaQKZ15uHdSRdmjbSx1zbuUIDlFICOgKY1nrWyJCbD-aKlc3wClbj-ZesCdNvGqoKc0baM-uy-kL1E2TrQNVDbAlusvWnivScQLYw4uvbMCddXyY4Htd_9CS3jDhGSdgy/s640/blogger-image-885583397.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgp18r-I_V_SJJmfPN1PDIOnxCfwMS4LjSWNuJQRp-g_AwJjM41mfHLZ6Kp5xk7wNOV7wMfA_zLb5OiCNweA0ISB767bVfeTp8xyy3NSqR1hQR7m4XEkJArxMdzcmPRrqVc7oc-NGhfVt/s640/blogger-image-1839284474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgp18r-I_V_SJJmfPN1PDIOnxCfwMS4LjSWNuJQRp-g_AwJjM41mfHLZ6Kp5xk7wNOV7wMfA_zLb5OiCNweA0ISB767bVfeTp8xyy3NSqR1hQR7m4XEkJArxMdzcmPRrqVc7oc-NGhfVt/s640/blogger-image-1839284474.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are a couple of other areas set up for rogue but they are less structured. There is a very small roll top desk that he can use if he wants. This has a few of his favourite puzzles on top plus another whiteboard for letter learning. There is a little draw under the desk which has some coloured pencils in and Inside the rooster box is a basket with another puzzle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VUxCdkF8_qpU8DdIzwee-GEs8J_Ld27LcsK3iizltfIhs7Tik23CuIsoSfKTLxn6kCERrr5C3b8L0ryrzHhlybqd6AnO3Ylyv_jwH3APh7L_5AsMchZhKndax5MSI5f2FmA32bfyVblF/s640/blogger-image-945291650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VUxCdkF8_qpU8DdIzwee-GEs8J_Ld27LcsK3iizltfIhs7Tik23CuIsoSfKTLxn6kCERrr5C3b8L0ryrzHhlybqd6AnO3Ylyv_jwH3APh7L_5AsMchZhKndax5MSI5f2FmA32bfyVblF/s640/blogger-image-945291650.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There is a small selection of books available all the time which I swap around frequently and also a basket of instruments which is not available all the time because it quickly descends into chaos! I think that is everything that rogue has going on at the moment but it changes so frequently, in fact I took these pictures last night and this morning I made something new for the language shelf and a simple colour sorting activity so regular updates will be needed. Any thoughts on improving my set up will be much appreciated.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-6474174152092752062014-09-05T15:02:00.001+01:002014-09-09T21:24:11.224+01:00On the shelvesAt the moment we have mostly sensorial and practical life activities out but we have a few language things too. Rogue developed a great interest in letters a month or so ago so I have been showing him a few sandpaper letters, we are taking it slow though.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcp-KK1j9UWfo6I6JT-u9I8uwdxCONt4RUo9fBqKSWWjuEuwQf0I5axtCQ8rjrBbqfzdVfMGrnb-Y0-aTNMQ9_LZIdlV18DPwKbNzgvLIXuOPOwqnT27pynm9QAorm54NpKIyiNlhDf0q/s640/blogger-image--175932027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcp-KK1j9UWfo6I6JT-u9I8uwdxCONt4RUo9fBqKSWWjuEuwQf0I5axtCQ8rjrBbqfzdVfMGrnb-Y0-aTNMQ9_LZIdlV18DPwKbNzgvLIXuOPOwqnT27pynm9QAorm54NpKIyiNlhDf0q/s640/blogger-image--175932027.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here we have sensorial and practical life. On the floor in front is the pink tower on a little stand I made. (I say made...it's a box upside down with a square of pink paper stuck on). The bottom shelf holds the brown stair and a bucket with matching bean bags.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I didn't get a photo of the little bags but they are very simple, all sewn out of the same fabric. There are 8 of them, (4 matching pairs), one pair have dry popping corn inside, another pair have 5 pieces of dry penne (large pasta) in, another pair are stuffed lightly with cotton wool, and the last pair have some nice crinkly (washed!) crisp packet! They are layed out on the rug and matched by feel and sound.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next shelf up holds these land, air and water cards. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxcVk6TzyR18Q7OtOVwyO4b4but4rOcvt-FbbH4zXa2ObCewXN9QWLVmzjgqNT7sCnOxqPs0wp7UoIQc7JrWcsyZCQt70GsZv0u4HDT_LHYvyydZoAHFpeQ-diMDjlBkEkX2ScZ0qUMlJ/s640/blogger-image-1896069867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxcVk6TzyR18Q7OtOVwyO4b4but4rOcvt-FbbH4zXa2ObCewXN9QWLVmzjgqNT7sCnOxqPs0wp7UoIQc7JrWcsyZCQt70GsZv0u4HDT_LHYvyydZoAHFpeQ-diMDjlBkEkX2ScZ0qUMlJ/s640/blogger-image-1896069867.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I couldn't find a place where the light didn't reflect off these but you can still see what they are. At the moment I don't have any storage to keep the title cards and the other cards separate so I have been trying to teach rogue to collect up the pictures in a random order and put them on one side of the basket and then to collect the title cards separately and put them in the other side. Sometimes happens!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSi7EZgW6ebGpnzXg6lzaqb5ZkxBSmX4T-SAr3ugwzZleevzQ_tAD829EvjBpmq7C5P40CQRR6Nnlq1nU0YJYqZP3DB8XtMKFmbatIIRf1ylzDmOEY3MhkYwY4nYspXxSHkWAanJ7T_nE/s640/blogger-image-952248524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSi7EZgW6ebGpnzXg6lzaqb5ZkxBSmX4T-SAr3ugwzZleevzQ_tAD829EvjBpmq7C5P40CQRR6Nnlq1nU0YJYqZP3DB8XtMKFmbatIIRf1ylzDmOEY3MhkYwY4nYspXxSHkWAanJ7T_nE/s640/blogger-image-952248524.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next to those on the middle shelf is cylinder block 1, this is a real favourite and gets taken out at least once a day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKissu1Vrtlf63BPNRP1xH6VIrlKDZEloWRYcAdx-W4RBKSOzs26Qzes0hoSFQWUMpWcNwcUC5z4gBlNQX5KunsFD7_ckiuB2d5kLGy16LXAxpGwedZ7DfsaROn7xHu4yoFiKTcPul5M-/s640/blogger-image--1694724804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKissu1Vrtlf63BPNRP1xH6VIrlKDZEloWRYcAdx-W4RBKSOzs26Qzes0hoSFQWUMpWcNwcUC5z4gBlNQX5KunsFD7_ckiuB2d5kLGy16LXAxpGwedZ7DfsaROn7xHu4yoFiKTcPul5M-/s640/blogger-image--1694724804.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the top shelf, first on the left is a tiny little tin which serves as our colour box one. It is super simple, just some rectangles of card in the three colours to match.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYtF0nkAXMO66u0lzAfMglS6CSZlWfxmww4HjWS6Dkd0nbGmumCDVOQLS5hCmyCWwI8HvG20fv1qU3newMV9jgDFya6QpxFY0cQpoSOk6RwyTT33r4EVNwwrV29KrVTEG26P4m80UwmmX/s640/blogger-image-2006571398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYtF0nkAXMO66u0lzAfMglS6CSZlWfxmww4HjWS6Dkd0nbGmumCDVOQLS5hCmyCWwI8HvG20fv1qU3newMV9jgDFya6QpxFY0cQpoSOk6RwyTT33r4EVNwwrV29KrVTEG26P4m80UwmmX/s640/blogger-image-2006571398.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are two practical life trays on the shelf next. The first is a little coin purse with matchsticks in which are taken out and 'posted' into an old spice jar with little holes in the lid. The lid then has to be unscrewed and the matchsticks put back in the purse. Lots of fine motor skills there. The second is a classic, using tongs to put the wooden cubes into a paint palette.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobpcYXUd-lIRkSX9A2KeYLtkayggEo8v5KBLX8Vd1CqehKNi6-0QU0QsORsWfdWwtu-0ZveeGd6bMnRnfp_8c33OtOUtwf4gItPl8qqgdXlqytasmrF3IVntC316wv5l_5I6s3bJ1zTYu/s640/blogger-image--1385375545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobpcYXUd-lIRkSX9A2KeYLtkayggEo8v5KBLX8Vd1CqehKNi6-0QU0QsORsWfdWwtu-0ZveeGd6bMnRnfp_8c33OtOUtwf4gItPl8qqgdXlqytasmrF3IVntC316wv5l_5I6s3bJ1zTYu/s640/blogger-image--1385375545.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8vvQ9UxqvmwXWP2-C4j15ScAx0WfqExpQbbtDk9y1NhRvCZaZYGovSs4hGDkwFDEpueX9KBSZqumKYaA_kgG73bSf60Ly_wishEEB47V0PkHQgoz-TiYybq4rZ_6Nqd4Z3BWpjTbhceP/s640/blogger-image-926008941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8vvQ9UxqvmwXWP2-C4j15ScAx0WfqExpQbbtDk9y1NhRvCZaZYGovSs4hGDkwFDEpueX9KBSZqumKYaA_kgG73bSf60Ly_wishEEB47V0PkHQgoz-TiYybq4rZ_6Nqd4Z3BWpjTbhceP/s640/blogger-image-926008941.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next is a stacking, bear puzzle which rogue loves, he does the puzzle on its own but also brings them out regularly to climb the pink tower! And last are some big beads for lacing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkm8Z5tc8RwOGu5ImaACJvo5fPaaz4DTTp_D_SAjQu49t0qSx9C7Tl5zrV1j3DUZRYgqKgoC0BT1408PxXEgkez22Y_Tb8ExDlx90ueXsbmi4238yUq0qZP7_m6jo3cz2vCSxxBmJ1VTO/s640/blogger-image-2046726448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkm8Z5tc8RwOGu5ImaACJvo5fPaaz4DTTp_D_SAjQu49t0qSx9C7Tl5zrV1j3DUZRYgqKgoC0BT1408PxXEgkez22Y_Tb8ExDlx90ueXsbmi4238yUq0qZP7_m6jo3cz2vCSxxBmJ1VTO/s640/blogger-image-2046726448.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUNVJSU3qaWNM_EWMQ3i3izoL_pKZOXVgGnjb3GqyC-9EpTtsf0aCu-vw_BOtG0FR9_8JF8-YUhJ8LGBW1FGB_L0jkRvqTeiVxF1QfzfIEoHT_2k1GUJpDfg5uwOEH-kPCh1U7wx2jAjH/s640/blogger-image--2093554459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUNVJSU3qaWNM_EWMQ3i3izoL_pKZOXVgGnjb3GqyC-9EpTtsf0aCu-vw_BOtG0FR9_8JF8-YUhJ8LGBW1FGB_L0jkRvqTeiVxF1QfzfIEoHT_2k1GUJpDfg5uwOEH-kPCh1U7wx2jAjH/s640/blogger-image--2093554459.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are some language things out and a couple of other areas I'd like to show you but this post is long enough so I will do that tomorrow.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-36266936788731302562014-09-04T09:56:00.001+01:002014-09-04T13:27:00.576+01:00Prepared environment<div><br></div>This is an area I struggle with quite a lot and I am constantly revising and changing our space. The fact is we don't have a big space and I am teaching two kids in totally different stages, meaning that we have quite a lot of stuff. <div><br></div><div>At the moment we have taken over the living room. I mean it, totally taken over! We no longer have a living room, we have a sofa in a schoolroom. In the past we have used the kitchen (too many distractions), and a tiny little room which only fit one person in (obvious issues there). The living room is working well in that we can all be together with easier access to the things we need to use.</div><div><br></div><div>So, here goes...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gEU5QFGp2Q-HVm19Nstu4Ch-7GiGCfDWGSLgGSPadZlDcwNj0y6OKo10Tp8YHgmw78D058Kid1NsS_5risVha_fFZ3Gu-lS4Wf-urUtH2vIOaBX9hHlNe5vesf6LL1W9qzuXARcwT3ko/s640/blogger-image-627659509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gEU5QFGp2Q-HVm19Nstu4Ch-7GiGCfDWGSLgGSPadZlDcwNj0y6OKo10Tp8YHgmw78D058Kid1NsS_5risVha_fFZ3Gu-lS4Wf-urUtH2vIOaBX9hHlNe5vesf6LL1W9qzuXARcwT3ko/s640/blogger-image-627659509.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(No, that's not a paint effect! This house has some pretty serious damp issues that we are working on but are as yet unresolved. We work with what we have and try really hard to ignore how horrible the wall looks.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I discovered that I can't get far enough away to take a picture of the whole room, so here I am just outside the door! On the right outside the door is our entry and you can see our coats and bags hanging up there. Inside the room is the sofa on the left (with dog head just visible!), the green shelves and orange cupboard have rogues things on, the clear draws are for binx's work (she uses the workbox system), and just in the shot you can see the back of a white chair which is where her desk is. Over in the corner is the printer, and a cupboard where we keep office supplies, pens, paper, laminator and other things like that. The paper plates hanging up are a craft binx did when she was looking at the layers of the atmosphere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgau5WmdTW6S4ESPEXy8HThXfMDGwa6UVJ336da3vSGrLF_swUjiG0GAX4OkDtCgTq3aD-ra86eJQBIZgf75aU67tB5Z3VdqGuM-wlBwvuT2dGdxXMALL4MtmP4sDYri2GT0yWI808L8HQ7/s640/blogger-image--962681418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgau5WmdTW6S4ESPEXy8HThXfMDGwa6UVJ336da3vSGrLF_swUjiG0GAX4OkDtCgTq3aD-ra86eJQBIZgf75aU67tB5Z3VdqGuM-wlBwvuT2dGdxXMALL4MtmP4sDYri2GT0yWI808L8HQ7/s640/blogger-image--962681418.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This picture is taken from the other end of the sofa. You can just see that green shelf and orange cupboard in front of me, and you can also see how mini the room is! The shelving unit on the right goes: top shelf - mostly maths equipment that binx uses occasionally and rogue won't need for a long time, second shelf - my notes, folders of ideas, some curriculum that binx uses and a box of spare glue, tape, pencils etc, third shelf - some botany puzzles and cards and a bird puzzle, fourth shelf - for rogue, language things, insets and a few sandpaper letters, fifth shelf - light pad and manipulatives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I will go into more detail as to what is on the shelves soon but for now I wanted to give a general overview. My main concerns are that it is crowded, not much floor space, and that the fire is so near to rogues shelves. The last time I rearranged this room was in the late spring so it wasn't an issue but as we get closer to winter it will be a problem that needs to be addressed. Before I have a complete rearrange though I'm going to wait for my course to start, see what advice I can get there and also wait and see if I get any responses here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838083375419433575.post-40012508167865891882014-09-03T19:02:00.001+01:002014-09-03T19:02:55.172+01:00Where to start...Original title for a first post I know, but that really was the only thought creeping slowly through my mind as I stared at the blank page, so I figured if that was all my brain could come up with, we'd go <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">with that.</span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHFayvcQCBkPoeDLuY_ETDziaDA8XPGt-9_HLpHMGcdJnjitr5ZnggO9qWn5aE1mCAgvuuZ-BhBkCnUKI8NGhb-BBiHGoH5PhdBzd5CdxonwwYkEVpxnhAUTw76KR9WZPW65so5wtpQbJ/s640/blogger-image--1369515522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHFayvcQCBkPoeDLuY_ETDziaDA8XPGt-9_HLpHMGcdJnjitr5ZnggO9qWn5aE1mCAgvuuZ-BhBkCnUKI8NGhb-BBiHGoH5PhdBzd5CdxonwwYkEVpxnhAUTw76KR9WZPW65so5wtpQbJ/s640/blogger-image--1369515522.jpg"></a></div><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font><div>
The idea for this blog is to document the homeschooling that we do here. I home educate a nine year old girl (binx), and an almost 3 year old boy (rogue). Those are the nicknames we actually use for them at home but I thought I would look up the actual definition of rogue just in case and we definitely use it in the 'playfully mischievous/scamp' way, not the 'unprincipled/deceitful' way!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUPeG90YWU5LnRWOkOgqO5Cvp7CgK5VSLkTDEFc0uS-S_IWMmcyw7yVnEJxJFi1HHvTNUkKU3VUzpDLDoIi7YebBWBQp8dY_kXFGirNuDL87ibMi3JCmgcCFd1Q-FDZhZpzbjShRp6Pns/s640/blogger-image--461164973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUPeG90YWU5LnRWOkOgqO5Cvp7CgK5VSLkTDEFc0uS-S_IWMmcyw7yVnEJxJFi1HHvTNUkKU3VUzpDLDoIi7YebBWBQp8dY_kXFGirNuDL87ibMi3JCmgcCFd1Q-FDZhZpzbjShRp6Pns/s640/blogger-image--461164973.jpg"></a></div><br>
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I came across montessori about 2 1/2 years ago and dabbled around in it with my eldest for that time, reading here and there, purchasing/making materials that I thought could be useful but that I didn't really know how to use, or in what order. Poor girl! The phrase, 'practice child' springs to mind! I am implementing more and more montessori into her work as I learn more, and using more traditional methods plus anything else I like the look of as well. With my youngest I have tried to put together a montessori inspired home environment for him so he can be independent, develop his concentration, follow his interests etc, and I have somewhat managed to curb my tendency to explain, instruct and praise too much...mostly... I'm learning remember.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzkfE_0aIEVKHmaHHkM2hzoToh-fLxP-l1IrV1JjkqPYelzVtcD36ozWn7i_DMFf8Co1EfhkAuzGGZ4_eDMuQbZYNgxQCyGiUwbcIJUkwM1NKPMOAySynLT1pI2MpotBs9U78G9V-t29B/s640/blogger-image-236061881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzkfE_0aIEVKHmaHHkM2hzoToh-fLxP-l1IrV1JjkqPYelzVtcD36ozWn7i_DMFf8Co1EfhkAuzGGZ4_eDMuQbZYNgxQCyGiUwbcIJUkwM1NKPMOAySynLT1pI2MpotBs9U78G9V-t29B/s640/blogger-image-236061881.jpg"></a></div><br>
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Now that rogue is close to turning three I would like to really give him a montessori education and to that end I have enrolled on the <a href="http://khtmontessori.com/shop/all-course-dues-plus-all-12-core-teachers-manuals/">kht montessori one-year course</a>. I have heard good things about this course and I think it's pretty good value for all that you get. The course starts in a couple of weeks time so I will update as I go. I'm planning for my next posts to be of our set up at home, then of the activities (is that what I call them?) that I already have out for him, and by then, hopefully, the course will have started and we'll see where that takes us.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3gUd6l2JL9QqHAb60GQ712uCOx1McsQm3aA3ndCOj8Sx41yhwnmi6SMr8c7X4pJZvpiyhKmsc8PNP1FGcdzStCvIIrAS491ZC0b2lje9FsX3AcbOoMzZbuqK-Hj31bqIaWHWjvN9NTJt/s640/blogger-image--1112489786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3gUd6l2JL9QqHAb60GQ712uCOx1McsQm3aA3ndCOj8Sx41yhwnmi6SMr8c7X4pJZvpiyhKmsc8PNP1FGcdzStCvIIrAS491ZC0b2lje9FsX3AcbOoMzZbuqK-Hj31bqIaWHWjvN9NTJt/s640/blogger-image--1112489786.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br>
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Of course binx will be continuing with her slightly mish-mashed education (which suits us both pretty well), and I will be updating on what she is up to for my own record keeping and just in case its useful to anyone. I will be trying to add more and more Montessori activities in to her learning as I learn more and hopefully I can meet her where she is on that. Any advice on how to start Montessori with a 9 yr old will be appreciated.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaU_j-13aynKmiSjPTlWJyGTtjNQ3SvTBVxiaBCJBq9dMmqK-a3n-Aj4CjXqOV7hTAzZkrRjpnsEBllcaysgWUz6PE9YBVtWQLerBDYne9gXelIId7rZyjPVlnAbtD8nV6SJgYWgvVvPf/s640/blogger-image--481440495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaU_j-13aynKmiSjPTlWJyGTtjNQ3SvTBVxiaBCJBq9dMmqK-a3n-Aj4CjXqOV7hTAzZkrRjpnsEBllcaysgWUz6PE9YBVtWQLerBDYne9gXelIId7rZyjPVlnAbtD8nV6SJgYWgvVvPf/s640/blogger-image--481440495.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br>
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I think it is relevant to add that we live in the UK and as my children have never been registered in a school there are no criteria for me to adhere to or tests to take.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk1vMTlnGeQViHVZqgONJ1mg_AlS9GRk6Cy25kdZFeFMalcWqjZHM5Cwrj1xNi2nz2juYJQUZNbgT9I5CuisUiFePV0AGQ9CFxYvQiidUTPRFBuQBCmIu3xW9mGK9jVLvfOZERjb6Sm6x/s640/blogger-image-907322112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk1vMTlnGeQViHVZqgONJ1mg_AlS9GRk6Cy25kdZFeFMalcWqjZHM5Cwrj1xNi2nz2juYJQUZNbgT9I5CuisUiFePV0AGQ9CFxYvQiidUTPRFBuQBCmIu3xW9mGK9jVLvfOZERjb6Sm6x/s640/blogger-image-907322112.jpg"></a></div><br>
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One last thing...the name. One of my favourite educational quotes is this one by W. B. Yeats -<br>
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'education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.'</i><br>
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Well, I don't think I know enough to light any fires yet but the sparks are there.<br><br></div></div>come on in xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06858830188339308648noreply@blogger.com2