Friday 31 January 2014

Our January

January 2014, in England, has been wet-very wet and muddy.



It hasn't quite kept us indoors though. Sessions at soft play and ice skating made up some indoor exercise.

The children have hoped, against hope for snow. It probably didn't help that I read Snowflake Bentley with them.

Home education:
The younger two spent mornings on English and maths. The children have loved using some games, this month:

  • Sum swamp for number bonds to 12, odd and even. A great game that takes about 10 minutes to play.
  • Slug in a jug works on rhyming words and includes several which are spelled in different ways.
  • Pass the word is a spelling game, against time.
One of the children has started a new phonics programme: Phonological Awareness Training which works on word endings, teaching -in separately from -ine to avoid problems with "magic e". So far, so good! The reading is improving so something is working. We are still using Jolly Phonics for our youngest as this appears to be a better fit for him. 

In the afternoons, the younger two children often paint, go outside, have read alouds for history and science as well as a chapter book. Charlie and the chocolate factory has been a success so far!

We are reviewing a young children's music curriculum, Kinderbach. Review in a few weeks!


My reading
I've been reading Kate Adie's book Fighting on the Home Front about the role of women in the First World War. Whilst I certainly don't agree with everything in the book, it is a fascinating read. Kate Adie comes from a feminist stance and doesn't have an understanding of why what the Bible says might come above societal norms but having said that, I'm enough of a feminist to think that it was quite unjust for women to be paid less than men for the same job or to be arbitrarily prevented from having certain roles.

Earlier in the week, I alluded to Andrew Bonar's biography of Robert Murray M'Cheyne. This is due for a reread and so far, I'm a few chapters in. This is a definite recommend!

The rest of life
We've waved Eldest Son off to university again. We all miss him.

Caring responsibilities are increasing. God gives strength for the day. I'm grateful for this.

I'm looking forward to Spring and the children to snow!

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5 comments:

  1. My children are desperate for the snow too! I however am rejoicing in the bulbs peeping through the ground, signalling spring is on the way.
    We also enjoy sum swamp, but Scaredy Cat by Orchard Toys has been the favourite game of the month for us. It might be a bit young for your children though.
    Love Kirsty x

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    1. Kirsty, I will have to look out for Scaredy Cat. We have a fair number of the Orchard Toys games and they keep the children happy for hours.

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  2. I am joining you in ready for spring. My kids would probably enjoy some snow.

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  3. Sarah Elisabeth, may I enquire as to the meaning of your words, "I'm enough of a feminist......." Also, may I ask what you mean when you say that women were "arbitrarily prevented from having certain roles."

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    1. Susan-Anne, my comment "I'm enough of a feminist" was slightly tongue in cheek but my comment was related to the fact that at the time of the First World War, a woman doing the same job as a man would be paid much less. This doesn't seem just. I know that, now, there are issues such as women choosing to work part time and so being paid less but this wasn't the scenario to which I was referring. The second comment related to certain, often slightly odd posts, being reserved for men. As far as I remember, delivering the post was one of these. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a feminist. I believe that Biblically, men and women have different roles in the family and the church.

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