A very good reason to orgo-plan for Maddy is that i know i have a very smart little girl here and she deserves a bit more of my brain power. Over the last year she has evened out so much that i do think she is ready to be stretched a bit more. Plus of course, i’m almost certain to have the LEA on my back after Easter. She is getting less interested in nursery all of a sudden so even if i use that as an excuse this term, they are bound to be straight on to me in September and i may also have to fend off SEN/statement type stuff. All in all, i’d rather hit them firmly between the eyes with what is already happening for her than have to scrape anything together.
Maths
Watching Maddy do “operational maths” is an eye-opener for me really. There is no need at all for me to “put anything in” – she can work ideas out all for herself. She seems to just have an eye for finding a method. Its odd in a way because she has such difficulty using that type of skill in real life – so i figure that i should help her develop it in maths and hope it branches naturally into the rest of her life (masterly inactivity and all that). The trick is going to be fathoming out stuff that will stretch her – its not my forte and although it *is* Max’s, the “putting it out for a 5 year old” bit isn’t really. So – cd-roms are good and Exeter maths is fun for her but some hands on maths will probably be good too.
*Lollipop stick maths – this worked really well for Fran so i’ll try it again and combine it with Base 10 work.
*Golden bead material – i’ve got it, i’ve never used it and i want to!
*Have a go at 10 times table and counting in 10’s.
*Teach her and Fran “number bond snap”.
* Do solid/flats geometry with her and Fran.
*Encourage her shop games with real money.
*Measurement games with Fran.
*Hands on greater than/less than work.
Need a definite plan for some of the stuff that is on the shelves. Must do better – decided to make myself sell anything that hasn’t been well used by September!
READING
Minor brainwave…. thought i might go for a “look and say” approach instead since letters are such an issue! So will get out some Peter and Jane. She really likes the word blocks too so a big attempt at using those i think. She makes a massive effort with writing so i am going to keep plugging on with JP and start her on GD too. We will get there.
For “other stuff” for Maddy, i really want to help her enjoy Egypt more – so i have to come up with a plan there i think.
Over all though i want to assimilate her into our “learning” – i’m still very softly softly with her as i really don’t want to stress her out but i want her to know her interests are as valid as Fran’s and theat i’m listening.
