I’m preparing to become a grandmother; at least, i think that must be what i am doing. I can’t see me using up this supply of exercise books any sooner than that! The website didn’t have quantities on it (duh!) but i sort of assumed i’d get about half as many as i did.
Yesterday was fairly hectic as i had lots to do at work, helping my newest new lady and then had to dash home so that Max could go out for our weekly “communicate like adults” session. Seem to be doing better now; i’m well aware i like instant decisions and instant plans but i’m trying very hard to work the process a bit and relax. Coupled with some other stuff i’m doing, i’m gradually beginning to feel a little less lost in a sea of stuff i can’t make sense of and slightly more like i’ve got a map and a log book. There are better ways of handling things that just repeatedly smacking yourself over the head with them and i’m beginning to let go of some guilt and look back with a bit more reason – and look forward with a bit more rationality. That’s not to say i think i’ve been unreasonable or irrational, i don’t think i’ve been in a fair position at all for nearly 3 years, but i’ve got a bit more of a handle on the why and how of some stuff.
Today the kids had to come to work with me again but brought bits to do and behaved well, particularly some good gaming in the office while i hared about trying to help L get going with todays packing. It’s gone quiet today but it has been a MENTAL 2 weeks with 100+ parcels going out a day. Not quite perfect timing given one thing and another. Part of my day yesterday was spent boxing stuff up so we can re-shelf the unit and then prepare for the Xmas onslaught. I want to cut out something like 600 lines that don’t move fast enough anymore. That should leave about 1500 that i can manage nicely.
We were home by 12 and i fed the kids then we’ve done some decent work this afternoon. Max and i had time to talk over something mathsy that Maddy had struggled with, which made me see what she must be missing – so today i worked on my theory with her and it all seemed to fall into place. So now she seems to be able to simplify fractions okay; the squared paper really helped as we were able to draw “cakes” and see if things worked visually once she’d done the sum. Maddy, like me, needs to physically understand what she has done with maths – her early ‘computer like’ skills have not progressed and she finds it hard, much harder than Fran does. Once she’d done that we looked at some GP English – she is going to write a story about nocturnal animals so we discussed it a bit, came up with a cast list and then she drew a garden and “played out” her story with some little wild animal figures. We’ll write it tomorrow.
Fran started the GP maths and did a load of that; Roman numerals, multiplication squares. I think Singapore got a bit busy and repetitive – so we’ve taken a break and can use it for extra practise. I like GP and i’d rather use something English if possible, just in case she does suddenly decide to go to school. She spent some time looking up English birds as she’d found some model ones and did a bit of creative writing from GP English – probably one of the best bits i’ve seen from her. Did some joined up practise too and read more War Horse.
Amelie did some addition with carrying over and got all 20 of them right and then practised writing and reading some Dolch words (thanks Helen). Then with minimum help, she wrote a story about a man – a complete story in one sentence 😆
J & J have come over and they’ve all been holed up Sim-ing, drawing and petting the rabbits and doing something else i’m not sure about – i think they are all off to bike now. It is lovely to see them having such fun out there.
Hi Merry – WOW – a few too many books there then!! If you have any spare (!!) I was looking to get some. I only have about four left in my supplies and I envisage JA needing some this year. I’ll give you something for them – just say how much. I am finding them difficult to source in reasonable quantities!
Whether you’ll want what i have, i don’t know? I have squared books with squares of 1cm and about 5mm and plain books. The smallest squares are smaller than i intended to get really, not sure if we’ll use them particularly well but if you want any of them (or the others) feel free. Panning on using plain mainly as rough/nature/art/scribble books i think.
Which GP maths is Fran using and where was she up to with Singapore? I’m planning to change from one to the other at some point soon but can’t work out which GP would follow on from where we are.
BOOKS – both sizes of square books would be good. I like small squares 🙂 Primaries can use the 1cm ones and JA can use the small squares. I wouldn’t say no to the plain ones either for the purposes you state! So – how many can you spare 😉 and what do you want ££ for them?
Jan, Fran was on Singapore 4B which was becoming tedious but was very easy for her. I bought GP So you really want to learn maths 1, which is supposed to be year 6, get ready for 11+ work.
it is going to be too easy, so we are going to whip through it so as to double check we’ve covered everything and then i think i’ll get book 2 for the new year. There are a few bits in this book that it won’t do her harm to revisit.
I’ve only looked at the sample chapter, which is fractions, and it doesn’t go as far as MPH5A. So I guess if I were going to buy GP Maths for Gwenny, I’d go for number 2 at least and fill in any gaps that became apparent.
I agree. I didn’t really have the confidence to go straight for 2 but now i’ve seen 1 i can see Fran is easily up to most yr 7 maths so i think we’ll end up going for 2 and then stopping on anything that causes trouble. She’s been doing equations with Max this week anyway, which she seems to like.
Caroline, shall i do you 25 of each?
I’ve had a look at GP maths 1 and 2 today, 1 looked quite easy but 2 looked quite hard, although the fact that they give you about chapter 7 to look at makes it tricky to know how much of a jump up chapter 1 is going to be. (if that makes sense)
Chapter 1 and 2 is calculations revision that is probably no harder than Singapore 2 or 3.
Chapter one is a sinch!!
Great 25 of each would be fab – you still haven’t said how much ££ though?! How many pages does each of them have? I reckon if there is a decent number in each they will last us about 10 years!! JI is still using the exercise book he started using in Yr3 for English – although I think all that is about to change with GP as it is non-consumable so much more of his work will be in an ex’ book this year than ever before. MPH maths is consumable, so don’t use many squared books either, but JA will need them 🙂
Thanks Merry – very much. BUT before you post them can you quote me on cost of books + postage – cheers – I need to budget carefully on the run up to Christmas now (+ two birthdays in Oct and Nov!).
1/4 of each pack, including posting, will be about £12 altogether i think. I’ll have to go and count them though, i’m not sure how many are there.
Oh and they are all sort of ordinry exercise book size, not v think or v fat.
That’ll be fine 🙂 cheers.
Dear Merrry,
I am writing to request that you consider recommending my children’s book and Teacher’s Guide to your fellow home educators. I looked all over the web site and could not find how to write to you. If this comments string is incorrect, please forgive me and direct me to the right place.
“The Big Field : a Child’s Year Under the Southern Cross” is one of the few, if not the only, books about the seasons and nature, as experienced by a young child in the southern hemisphere, in this case, Brazil. The book is in English, and is sumptuously illustrated with local flora and fauna.
The story is of three children who live with their grandmother on her farm at the edge of the Atlantic Rainforest. Month by month, she teaches the eldest to observe nature and to care for it. On her own, she is reforesting “the big field she always forgets to plough”.
The Teachers’ Guide shows how the story fits in with subjects of the National Curriculum (Key Stages 1 and 2) and gives further discussion points, suggested activities, recommended web sites for learning more about the insects and birds, and a complete list of all species. Two posters, based on illustrations from the book, are also available.
The changing seasons, and how they are exhibited in nature, is an important element in early education. For those curious about the southern hemisphere’s seasons, for those in the southern hemisphere, and for those seeking a charming story, “The Big Field” will be a treasure.
I would be so grateful if you would please look at the website from which the books and posters can be purchased:
http://www.morddeleditions.com
To read a review of the books, please go to
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk
and type morddel in the search box.
Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely,
Anne Morddel