When in Rome…
Well, where in Rome, I guess:-)
Paddington sent me a link to this announcement about the Ancient Rome 3D layer in Google Earth… Lots of possibilities for the future:-)
The Genial Hearth
I’ve just put the kettle on, join me for a cuppa and a chat.Archive for For the Future
Mac Stuff
I’m a longtime Mac user… although, I don’t generally do much that is Mac specific.
Recently, there’s been some people talking about scheduling/planning their days with iCal, and Jen posted a tutorial today.
All the discussion reminded me that Paddington had at one point been playing with iCal to schedule iTunes playlists (this was a couple of years ago). I thought I would have another go:-) Late last night I remembered this plan. Sadly, it was too late in the evening for me to function effectively, but I did come across this page (with it’s helpful note at the top—although, sadly the link didn’t work!) I opened up iCal, and got to the point where it would call a script… I just didn’t have any ready (I knew what to write, thanks to that link, I just wasn’t sure where to put them):-(
With fresh eyes, I started today.
In my Applications Folder, I found AppleScript, and there found the ScriptEditor.app. I opened that, and simply copied and pasted the examples from that page (although I did rename the playlist so that it would find one in my copy of iTunes:-). I clicked on Compile, and then saved the Script in a folder (that I noted! It defaults to the Document folder, so I made a Scripts folder in that:-) ). I did this for a couple of different playlists.
Then I went back to iCal. I scheduled Mat Time as a recurring event (every day except Friday—Jen gave nice instructions for dealing with iCal:-) ) I set an alarm for it, and as per this page, made it call the script that set it playing the Current Week playlist (for ease, I basically named each script after the playlist it called:-) ).
Of course, I’ve now gone a bit mad and have almost filled some days with automatic music:-) It’s just an experiment… But I’m thinking that having quiet classical music coming on when it’s time to start getting ready for bed will help us all remember to start calming down, and I often forget to turn on music while preparing dinner—until my hands are already covered in food:-( And of course, the current week’s music selections around Mat Time:-)
But in the end, far easier than I expected!
More Car seats—Fitting
So I don’t lose the links!
This is information about Type 2 car seat fitters (where modifications to the car are necessary), scroll to the last page. I’ve been told that TL engineering have the broadest experience, although I couldn’t find any information from their page—they were helpful on the phone though!
This is a list of Type 1 car seat fitters (putting the actual seats in correctly).
This is a company that do seatbelt repairs and replacements (and they stock seatbelt extenders… I’m thinking that will make it easier for Puggle to do up his own seatbelt).
Soups
It’s the wrong season for us, but I’ve been getting inspired by some recent soup posts. First of all, Susan talks about her plans for Lent, with Soup Week (and some more recipes here—more to come!) I like this idea a lot (and some of the recipes so far!) and am really tempted to try it in some form this winter:-)
Then, Barbara describes her Soup Night efforts, which sound like a great way to entertain:-)
And then Suzanne is hosting the Loveliness of Soups Carnival. Don’t forget to check out the comments for even more recipes!
I am thinking this winter will be filled with soups:-)
Coloured Sand?
I have a project in mind, and I have everything necessary—except coloured sand. I’m not sure how to go about making it, or where I might find it. (To be fussy, I need pink, brown, green, red, yellow and orange sand—properly white too, for preference!) I could possibly use food colouring (and my mum has offered me powdered colours, which may be more effective), or I guess poster paint mixed with sand? My concern about these is that the colour may come off on Puggle’s hands.
Any ideas? Now that I have the other bits, I’d rather like to get onto this soon.
Planning for 2008
General stuff:-)
As I was happy with the structure of our year in 2007, we’ll stick with the same thing in 2008. I have made a decision about the term names. This year we’ll have Boronia, Dorothea and Edith terms. They’re two great-grandmothers and one great-great-grandmother, covering three of the four branches of our family tree. We’ll start the week beginning January 13th. I have plans for a Cornucopia (as I believe they do in Germany at the start of the school year) containing coloured pencils, some new glue and scissors, more sticky tape, counters, and any other bits of stationery type things I think of to include.
Language (Including Memorisation and Copywork)
I have definite plans in this area, but I’m hoping to be able to keep a grip on myself! I’m planning to begin using Writing Road to Reading
Otherwise, we’ll continue with Latin Nursery Rhymes (I have enough for two per Block!) and I’m going to add in some everyday Latin phrases (look, careful, listen, sit up etc.). We’ll start doing the same for French, so a nursery rhyme per fortnight, and everyday French phrases (I still need to sort out which comptines we’ll use).
For Memorisation, we’ll be using When We Were Very Young
We’ll begin Copywork properly this year. I’ll re-introduce the sandpaper letters when we do that phonogram, and I’ll also provide a Sand Tray for practice (still need to finish that). I also need to complete our ‘Metal’ Insets, which he can practice with. For these, he’ll use the ‘Lyra’ coloured pencils which are thick, triangular ones. Hopefully this will assist Puggle’s proper writing grip.
Maths
I’m basically intending a fairly Montessori style approach. I have a number of started Sensorial materials, (Pink Tower, Broad Stair, Square of Pythagoras), some completed (Red Rods, Geometric Solids—a Christmas gift, but still, ready to use), and plans to make some others Geometric Cabinet, Constructive Triangles, Binomial Cube, Trinomial Cube and Geometric Cards. I am similarly in progress with Maths materials, some complete (Number Rods, Sandpaper Numbers, Number Tablets and Number Cards), some almost complete (Spindle Box), and plans to make some of the rest.
My plan is to prepare the materials, present them as he seems ready, but just leave him to work with them as he sees fit. Obviously well also be talking about numbers as a normal part of our day (cooking, measuring and various number related books we read).
I also figured that my resolution to play more games can’t but help with maths:-)
English Studies
We’ll be reading all year from The Aesop for Children
We’ll also be reading a selection of stories over the year from The Lilac Fairy Book
Health and Phys. Ed
We’re continuing with our weekly swimming lessons. I thought I might try introducing some yoga (through cards that he can do himself, once I’ve shown them to him). We’re working on making the ‘back’yard more contained, and we’re digging a hole for the trampoline. When he’s out there he rarely stops moving:-) I would also like to work (again!) on establishing regular Nature Walks.
(At his age I’m not seriously planning things here… But in the future I’ll need to consider this Learning Area, so I’m noting it now.)
History and Geography
We’re basically going to stick with geography for now. Puggle is really aware of maps, so we’ll make use of the Picture Atlas we have, and he got a pretty good world map puzzle for Christmas. I have plans to make a few more, plus some land and water forms (more of those Montessori materials!) We also plan to acquire a globe.
Science
I intend (once again!) to work on including a weekly Nature walk. I’m not going to worry too much about it until the weather gets more pleasant (so, not until at least March), as I figure it’s one thing to maintain a habit when the weather drops off… but it’s much harder to establish it. We will do some more gardening. We’ll also begin observing the weather.
Aside from these, I’ve been working on various ‘Parts of Animal’ cards, and I’ll finish those, and I have plans for some of the Botany Cabinet stuff.
Art and Music
After my library find earlier this year, I was really excited to discover a copy of The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas
We’ll continue following the Ambleside Online Artist study schedule, so that means this year will be Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt van Rijn and Jan van Eyck.
When I was at my last school, I was good friends with the music teacher. She was a real Kodály afficienado. She lent me The Kodály Method I: Comprehensive Music Education
We’re also following the Ambleside Composer study schedule, so Boronia Term we’ll listen to Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Aelexander Borodin and Modest Mussorgsky. Dorothea Term will be George Frederic Handel, and Edith Term we’ll listen to works by Camille Saint-Saens and Hector Berlioz.
Technology and Enterprise
(This is probably my least consisdered area… bizarre given that it’s what I taught! I guess there are a couple of reasons for that. I just don’t think as an eary it’s as important as some of the others, but equally, I’m fairly confident of my ability to wing it for a while… no need to plan at all at this stage. I do have an idea of developing a woodwork curriculum for junior primary homeschooled kids… when we reach that stage, so a little way ahead of me for now:-) )
He got a toolbox for Christmas… so we’ll start some woodwork:-) And of course, more cooking:-)
(I could never be an unschooler! But maybe I should re-read my The Latin-Centered Curriculum
In the next week before we start, I have quite a bit of sorting still to do:-( Arranging equipment/books so that they’re accessible and making sure that we have all the bits (music, still need Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances, and the French comptines are proving challenging:-( ) we need. I also have a long list of materials I plan to make (or finish) in the first half of this year… I’m going to be quite busy:-)
Progress 2007
I certainly learnt a lot over the last year… I started with good intentions, but in the early part of the year, they rarely moved beyond that. But that was what last year (and this year as well!) was all about. Learning what sort of structures and plans I needed to make things work.
So, what did work?
The blog as a planning/recording tool.
It does make for not necessarily such interesting reading for ‘the world at large’, but I found it a manageable discipline, and very helpful. I found I could generally manage the weekly ‘Progress’ notes (dated on the Saturday, but written at some point over the weekend)—I think there are about half a dozen in the first half of the year that I later filled in very briefly much after the fact, so that there was some sort of record. I found the weekly ‘Plans’ much better to do at the start of each Block, and just post-date them. It made for a lengthy session over one weekend a block, but that meant for the remainder I could work on other preparations.
I like that I can select the ‘This Week’ category, and see what we’ve done for the year. It’s helpful as a reminder now that we’re heading into 2008, and I think it will also be handy when I come to begin with Bilby, in terms of planning our reading.
Mat Time
Although this fell to bits in the Christmas Block (along with pretty much all my non-Advent plans), it was working really well for quite a time. As long as I made the move early enough, and we kept it brief (no more than 20 minutes) and focussed (with plenty of singing… and actually checked that the stories are not too long!) we got quite a bit done. He was even choosing to do some of our letter work in this time, where as I had mostly planned it for the songs/poems/readings. I would have liked to have included picture study and composer study, but logistically, I didn’t get that sorted this year. A separate box/basket with all the books we’re currently using would help me be a bit more organised (they’re on the one shelf, but Puggle ends up carrying them one at a time because they slip if he tries to carry more… he could manage a basket much more easily).
TV School
This was brilliant! Having the words readily accessible made nursing work more easily, and was part of the ‘inspiration’ for Mat Time. We certainly recited the poems much more regularly because they were highly visible—rather than just being in a book. It also helped keep Paddington in the loop of what we were doing, and was a great ‘conversation starter’ (I can see that being helpful down the track with grandparents). I didn’t ever get to printing out copies of our picture for study, but I think that would be a good addition (would help me add that in to Mat Time).
Sewing Cabinet
I haven’t talked about this at all, because I only started using it in this last Block, when I was too busy to blog:-) My sewing cabinet (with machine, overlocker, and space) is in our dining room. Normally it’s a bit of a ‘hot spot’, but when I had all these Christmas crafting activities on the go, I cleared it off and put them out on there. For the most part, it’s out of Bilby’s reach (very important!), within Puggle’s reach, and allows for things to be spread out. It’s also really close to the dining table, where Puggle tends to work now because Bilby can’t reach (unlike his ‘desk’ a table in the corner of the lounge room). If need be, I can plug things in there (like the laminator, for the tree decorations), and Puggle can use it there. I intend to make more consistent use of it in 2008, for craft stuff, but also for some of the other materials we’ll be using.
Alphabet stuff
Not quite as I’d planned (really, not at all!) But by the end of the year he recognises all the letters (I suspect he would have, even if I hadn’t done anything specific), can find most of them on a keyboard (aside from ‘P’… he often has trouble with that!), and can trace the shapes.
Blocks
The organisation of the year worked (for me, at any rate). Four weeks is enough time to sustain focus on something. Break week was a good opportunity to catch up a bit, although I’d like to make more of an effort to go out and do other stuff in that week. Three Blocks before changing direction also worked well, although wasn’t as obvious as it might have been.
Singing
The folksongs generally went well. Putting them on the front of the TV cabinet was a real help, but obviously worked best when I had a real grasp of the tune:-) We tended to be more successful at learning the more pacy songs (although, he is now singing bits of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ after I put it up on New Year’s Eve).
My Planner
I had started the year by putting all my plans in a document, and printing it out. It’s 13 pages, most of them double-sided (2 pages each for a yearly overview, and each of 10 Blocks—the only reason they’re not all double-sided is so that I can look at both parts of each block in a single layout). Putting it all together ahead of time was good. I generally was quite relaxed about adapting it as the year went on (although, I did try not to too much this year, as it was our first year). I didn’t refer to the printed out copy nearly as often as the electronic one… but I think I will still print it out next year.
And what didn’t?
Cooking
I started quite well, but only in bits. I didn’t really manage to get consistent with this. I’m not overly concerned, Puggle did do quite a bit of cooking, usually in chunks of a couple of days at a time. My main reason for including it was so that I’d be sure to do stuff with him, I wasn’t sure how distracted with Bilby I’d be:-) But she sleeps well, so Puggle and I had time together. As far as the cooking goes, I think it would be more use to simply break down the skills he should master in the next year, and make sure he has a chance to practise them in day-to-day cooking. Much more measuring is definitely a focus for 2008, and cutting—what a shame! He might just have to make lots more Rocky Road 
Listening to Music
I was much less consisent with this than in 2006:-( I think I need to develop a better approach to organising my playlists. And to work out how to include it in Mat Time (well, not in Mat Time necessarily, but hang it on that peg).
Artist Study
Again, I was more consistent in 2006. I’m fairly sure that having copies of the pictures on the TV cabinet in addition to the screensaver (which did work, just not as well as previously) will be a big help.
Planned Art
I had tied these in to the letters we were doing… somewhat arbitrarily. We didn’t get to most of them. Partly because I didn’t always remember to look at what the activity needed in advance, and partly because they seemed too random. I am still planning art for next year, but my approach will be a bit different… we’ll see how that goes:-)
Christmas Block
This worked from the perspective of getting ready for Christmas, but I had anticipated continuing some ’schooling’ (I had planned for a fairly minimal programme… I wasn’t expecting much). As it turned out, that didn’t happen. Mostly that was probably me getting distracted with all the other things I was concerned about doing, and failing to make a point of doing the reading/singing I had planned. We’ll try this again another year before I decide it needs to change.
Narration
I think I was just expecting a bit much a bit soon—and wasn’t properly prepared to develop the skill. We’ll go with much shorter texts, and that should help a lot.
Nature Walk
I failed to make this a regular activity. The couple of times we went it was great, but I need to be more particular about including it.
My Planner
I didn’t refer to the printed out copy of the planner nearly as often as the electronic one… but I think I will still print it out next year.
The worked list is longer than the didn’t work list, so I’m happy:-)
Resolutions
Quickly and simply, before I go to sleep!
To play more games! I’ve finally sorted our games stack so it’s possible to actually get a game out without having to remove the whole pile… now I want to make use of them.
I had thought to get back to the piano, but maybe I’ll just make it to make more music—it certainly wouldn’t hurt if I did more violin:-)
To read more ’serious’ stuff… I didn’t do so well last year, but maybe it’ll take better this year.
To make more ‘art’ (more watercolour with Puggle, more photography).
Oh, and I guess going hand-made for birthdays:-)
More functional ones?
To go to bed earlier (tonight’s not a good start, but New Years never is).
To drink more water.
To de-clutter.
To finish putting books/movies/music into Delicious Library.
I can’t believe it’s 2008!
Christmas Day
So hot 
(40.7˚C… or 105˚F)
Although, fortunately our house is pretty good in the heat—and we have the air conditioning for when it gets unbearable. Even better, we didn’t have to go anywhere until after the heat of the day!
At 6.45 Puggle joined us in bed, saying that he’d put his chippies in the drawer! (I guess we’ll until 7.30 thing…) I was more than a little bit sleepy, so I didn’t pay much attention.
When we eventually emerged, it turned out that he had gone into the loungeroom and quickly investigated his stocking (the bit that ‘Father Christmas’ does), found the chippies (small packets of crisps from a multipack, divided amongst the stockings), and put them in the same drawer he did last year. He’d only found a couple though, so when he eventually reached the others later, he raced them to the drawer as well! He’s eaten some today (after checking how many he could have in a day…) but the bag still has some in it!
Everyone got something from their wishlist, and something that they hadn’t thought of—Paddington even got two copies of something not on his list (admittedly, one of them was shared with me)… A copy of Maggie Beer’s beautiful ‘Maggie’s Harvest’… it really is something he’ll love though… so not a surprising choice at all:-)
We spent most of the day at home, watching the kids open presents (we opened ours, but we didn’t have quite the number that they did!), eating brunch, and watching the kids playing (well, we did manage to get in a game of Stacrobats
I was pretty pleased with how the food worked out… I planned for brunch, so that we could eat ‘real’ food, as well as snacks (in the end, I’m not altogether sure that Puggle ate much at all…). I made Breakfast Muffins. (A slice of crustless bread, pressed into a muffin tin. Chop half a rasher of bacon up, for the bottom, top with half a cherry tomato. Add an egg, top with a little cheese. Bake for 15/20 minutes at 200˚C.) I also had these Banana and Oat muffins prepared last night, to cook this morning (I halved the sugar, used mostly wholemeal flour and added craisins. I think the sugar could still be cut back some more! But they were pretty good.) I cooked them in the mini-muffin trays, which was a good choice. It made them beautifully snack-able:-) They could probably have been cooked for a little less time though:-) Paddington made Fruit Frappées (blend fruit and ice… he used to do them regularly when we were going out… but we don’t have the Ice Shaver anywhere accessible at the moment, so it’s been a while… we may have to get it out again:-) ), and our guests brought a platter of fruit, and Berry Coconut Muffins. There was always food, so we didn’t feel hungry… but there was no ‘push’ to overeat—so we were able to enjoy our dinner:-)
The wine glass tags for the crackers went down well:-) They are definitely a straightforward gift idea for the future:-)
I had my usual post-turkey nap when we returned home… (shocking headache… somewhat lessened now… I’m thinking it was the beginning of the heat—mere weeks ago I was wearing wintery clothing on occasion!)—I should have gone to bed then.
I should definitely go to bed now… I’m expecting we’ll see hordes tomorrow (Boxing Day Morning Tea… a reminder that if you’re local, you’re welcome… anytime from 10 until about 5)—hopefully not all at once! (I have just remembered that we left presents at my folks place… they were minding some… I’m not going to worry about them tomorrow though, so apologies:-( We’ll see most of the relevent people at MustSeeMovies, and the rest at New Years… we’ll take the slack road tomorrow:-) )
Picture Book Advent
Oh wow!
Poppins just included a link to this incredible Advent resource! Bella Dia has a picture book for each day of Advent, and is putting up instructions for a craft to go with it… some of them are absolutely fabulous—and suit a range of ages…
Next year I will be sure to include some of these! (Many more years of Christmas presents for the grandparents—I like the kids to make decorations for them… they are hand-made, have a specific purpose, and can be happily used for years:-) )
Kid-friendly Crafts
I’ve just come across this very cool Poinsettia Napkin Ring. If we hadn’t already worked out the giftie for inside the crackers, I’d seriously consider this. Actually… it might make a good present for Puggle to make for the adults… shall have to ponder.
I also thought this gift basket was worth noting (although, not necessarily very ‘original’), as was this bookend or doorstop—I could see Puggle getting in to this in a couple of years:-)
Advent Preparation
I’ve started thinking in a loose way about this year (even though really I should wait until I’ve got the block starting next week sorted!) I came across a useful Christmas Curriculum, that I wanted to note as a reminder not to take on too much:-)
Homeschool Share
I’ve been seeing references to Homeschool Share for some time. I’ve just begun working out what we’re going to do for Art study in the Christmas block, and I thought I might find some ideas there. I don’t know that I’ve found what I was looking for, but it looks quite interesting. It sounds as though it uses some of the ideas from Five in a Row, but they’re community created units. They have units for quite a list of picture books, with ideas for most aspects of the curriculum. If you have a book you’re wanting to work with, it’s a good place to check out.
On Reading
Willa recently posted about her reading plans for one of her young sons. I’m particularly interested because she is taking a literature approach, which appeals to me.
She is using the Primary Reading and Literature and its accompanying Primer. She also includes links to Don Potter’s phonics site.
I am pretty set on Writing Road to Reading
(A little further down the track… Kathy has an interesting [and helpful] post on planning a reading programme—including pointers on numbers of pages and how to calculate how much to assign over a year.)
Free Vocabulary and Free Rice
FreeRice is a really fun site:-) And you can do good at the same time!
Test your vocabulary, and for every word you get right, they’ll donate 10 grains of rice. Check out their totals page, to see how their numbers have increased:-)
(Hat tip to Fred_mouse—she blogged it on the 14th October.)
by A. A. Milne
by Andrew Lang
