Illustrating a Book

I have a hard time getting Cosmo to enjoy art work, but this project grabbed his attention immediately.

We had picked up an exercise book that has blank space at the top of the page and lines for writing underneath. I'd hoped he might like to write a story book or something, but he had an even better idea. 

'Let's make a book to teach my cousins about Shavuot and we can give it to them!'

Awesome. 

He wasn't keen on the idea of doing the writing himself, he didn't think they'd be able to read it, so I agreed to do that part if he helped me remember how the story went. We ended up using a video to remind us from YouTube - how did people homeschool before google? 

His illustrations are brilliant and I'm so pleased he had the confidence to do it. 

We are going to take the book around to his cousins this afternoon so they can enjoy it this evening. 

Happy holidays! 

Learning by Colouring

I write a lot about what I'm doing with Cosmo, and sometimes is can seem like Lychee is just along for the ride. That's only about 50% true. Half the time she really is just watching what her older brother is doing, but I'm okay with that - in fact she learns really well by watching him!

Other days I am intentional about what I'm doing with her, but the reality is I've already done it and blogged it once before with her brother, so it doesn't often make a post.

Today I decided to write about her though. Yesterday her brother was entertaining himself nicely with Reader Rabbit, and she asked me if we could do some colouring together.

Yes, together.

I didn't watch her and tell her she was doing a good job, I joined in and we coloured each page together, because she likes it better when we do a project together like that. 

I wanted to work on reading and following instructions, so we chose a book that tells you what to do. She's not free reading yet, but she is capable of having a guess at a word if she's given some clues, for example seeing the "L" at the beginning of the word threw her because she wanted it to say "truck" and she'd never heard "lorry". 

I read the instructions to her, deliberately pausing and asking her key words, for example "colour my body... What colour does this say?" running my fingers under the words. She only knows one colour that begins with "R" so she answers "red".

This method is great because you are setting her up to win and reinforcing the sight words. Where just showing a flash card with the word "red" on could have been any word, limiting her options to 'it must be a colour' encourages critical thinking, as well as reading.

Lysh is also into numbers right now, in a big way, so we counted things on the pages and practised writing their numbers next to them.

It was fun, and she loved showing them to Cosmo and telling him how hard we had worked on it. I love her team spirit. My son just wants to do everything by himself with, no help, so that he can say "i did it!" when he achieves something. My daughter really wants to work together on everything, and the doing is so much more important to her than the outcome. Every child really does have a totally different nature in built! 

Stable Day

Yesterday was stable day with our homeschool co-op. The children had an amazing time learning about how to care for horses, in fact Cosmo's favourite part of the day was mucking out the stables! They learned about feeding and grooming, caring for tack and they also got a riding lesson.

I was so proud of him, because he had been really worried about taking part, but despite initial nerves he did do it and really enjoyed himself.


I think this is also the longest time I have ever left him anywhere (10am-3pm) without an adult he knows well. It was obviously helpful that his cousins were in the class and he knew some other children too, but I was so pleased with the way the owners of the stable made an effort to make him feel comfortable too.

Lychee was insanely jealous (the stables only had insurance for children over four years old) and spent most of the day pretending to ride horses.

But before you feel too sorry for her, she did get to spend an afternoon playing in the woods with me and Cooper, and in the morning we took her to the Japanese Koi Company aka the free zoo. If you haven't been, and you live locally, you are missing out.

They have raccoon dogs, armadillos, spiders, snakes, bunnies, frogs, birds, all kinds of fish and turtles etc... it really is both fun and educational.


Here's the video:

Bushcraft

Yesterday we spent the morning at the woodland ways bushcraft centre - it's awesome.

I was totally impressed with the way the guy handled a large group of 2-6 year olds, kept their interest and even let them use his fire steel!

Then we had a picnic in the park with friends.

So glad the sun is coming out again!

Lychee using fire steel

then admiring her tiny flame

My mum was really horrified that the children were allowed to use real tools and have open flames, so I made her this video :o)

Writing and Sibling Love

Yesterday Lychee wrote her first word!

It was on the chalkboard in the school room, and she chose to write her brothers name. After walking in and announcing that she was going to do it, she started with the second letter, but with a little encouragement she got the whole word.

I was so proud of her, but when asked if she wanted to try another word she threw down the chalk, snapped 'no' and ran out the room. We need to work on manners for sure!

Still, I love that she chose to write her brothers name and not her own. It's such a reflection of her darling little heart. She loves her big brother so much and 'brother' was the first recognisable word she said, long before 'mama' or 'dada'.

Sibling love. 

Lychee's growing up...

Today Lysh went to her first swimming lesson alone.

Without Cosmo, and without her two cousins.

She was so good, and although a little nervous, she tried really hard and did everything asked of her.

My baby's growing up!!

Cooper!!!

We recently got a new puppy!

He's a labernese (a labrador crossed with a bernese mountain dog).

This:

photo credit

plus this:

photo credit

equals this:

A whole bundle of fun! It's been really great for the kids already this week, building cosmo's confidence around animals, and helping with his separation anxiety (I can now take the laundry upstairs and fold it and he hasn't once cried about being on his own downstairs - this may also have something to do with it being school holidays and he's always more settled knowing that dad isn't at work - even if he isn't in the house!) 

Lychee's speech is coming on rapidly and she talks to the puppy LOADS. 'Don't eat me Cooper!' is one of the first things she says to him before shoving her fingers in his face and giggling when he nibbles at them (luckily he has a very gentle mouth). 

We're so excited about having this new addition to our family, and can't wait until his vaccinations are complete and we can book into puppy training classes. We've found a local class at 9am on a monday morning that we can book him into, which is perfect because it means the kids can come and really take a part in his training. 

As they get older I will be giving them more and more responsibility (already they have some 'chores' with the puppy - Lila gives him his regular 'hugs', William is helping me to teach him recall) and I think that this will be a great addition not only as our family pet, but in helping grow the children in character and emotional maturity. 

Yay for dogs and homeschool!