Sketch Tuesday - spring leaves

I nearly forgot Sketch Tuesday this week, and only remembered late yesterday afternoon.



That being the case, it caught Tom in a grumpy mood, so he didn't want to do it then, but Annie was quite happy to.

Here is her picture




I'm not sure whether it will be included, as I had computer problems last night, so couldn't send it across, I've sent it this morning, so hoping the time difference between us and the US will make it all right.

It's been a strange few days, mainly as I'm still 'resting' (even though I feel fine), I know the kids have done work, but for the life of me really can't remember what.

There has been feeble attempts at 'basics'. There has been lots of TV, now I don't mind TV in small doses, as treats, but I can tell they are TV'd out, they would argue they are not...but it does seem to change their moods, they get more irritable etc.

If anything, this has showed me, that to go completely autonomous is just not for us now. My children don't jump up and say they want to do something crafty, then proceed to make a replica boat out of matchsticks, as much as I would love them too...lol.

Some children are self motivating, others are not, mine unfortunately are the latter. That being said, when they get on with their work, after the odd grumble, they get on with it happily, they seem more inspired, more creative and then the ideas and self motivation starts to flow.

That's why mainly 'school' work is in the mornings and afternoons are left free to get on with what they want.

But TV hampers all that, as well as time on the PC. I'm seriously thinking of having a TV/PC free week, to see what happens.

The trouble is my own selfish side, I get things done when they zombie in front of which ever box they are looking at. Little Ruth keeps especially quiet for half an hour, other wise she is pestering the older two.

I do know the answer, it's being super organised, having activities/projects in place for them to do. But it means a lot of organising on my part, organisation is not my forte! That's why I started to put all my resources or anything I found of use in one place!

It's also the reason why I've started planning out their curriculum for September, if they know what they are doing, and I know what's to be done, everyone is a lot happier. By starting this early I'm hoping it will help me be more organised and motivated.

I don't like rigid schedules, and I like flexibility, I don't want it to be 'school' at home. So hoping to work something out that will make us all happy. Of course I'm not expecting it to be perfect, the best laid plans and all that!

Change of subject now and onto our caterpillars 13 days ago they looked like this


yesterday they looked like this


and now they are starting to turning into chrysalises




Unfortunately one of them has fallen to the bottom, so we shall have to wait and see, when they have all turned into chrysalises, we have to transfer them into the mesh pop up garden that was provided for them.

I read one book with Annie, and she learnt a lot from it. She was fascinated by caterpillars looking like twigs, and butterflies looking like leaves. It was an usborne beginner book


I wanted this week to go back to normal after the plasterers last week, but just had a phone call and we are having some new windows tomorrow!!! It's wonderful they are fitting us in, but of course workmen disrupt the routine, if only the constant cups of tea they want.

Oh well there is an extension to be built sometime in the early summer hopefully, I'd just better get used to the chaos around me...lol!

Life Cycle of a Butterfly

We received our caterpillars from Insect Lore yesterday. We had bought the Butterfly Kit at the education show see post *here* about the visit.



You receive a paper form to fill in and send off with the week you require the caterpillars for. You need to block out approximately 5 weeks, to watch their progress.

You can buy it from Amazon and it seems to indicate that's free delivery to at £14.99, you have to pay P&P at Insect Lore, which is dearer at £19.99


To document their progress I have set up a blog for my son Tom to do called Butterfly Diary

Tom hates to write with a passion, so I'm hoping by doing this blog it will encourage him, more with his literacy.

It took him a while to do, as he was constantly spell checking, he did alright,at least he is doing plenty of ICT. I'm just hoping he will keep it up, and not give up after the novelty of blogging wears off...I shall be with him as he does this, helping him upload photos etc.

Tom and Annie, shall both a Butterfly Project. I shall put some resources together and brainstorm over at my resources blog. I might do a lapbook too!

Lots of arts and crafts can be included, along with plenty of reading...young Ruth who is fascinated by them, will join in where appropriate.

Spring Flowers in March

Tom and Annie have done their basics the last couple of days and both have been on EC

Annie has done a fair amount of writing practise, and some more reading from Ladybirds 5a (click on picture),



I bought the next ones 5b, 6a and 6b. She likes reading them, whereas by now Tom was more than happy not to bother and just read what he wanted, but for Annie they are confidence boosters.
What I have noticed is that she's looking at labels, signs, and pieces of writing, and having a jolly good attempt at pronouncing the words she see's and doing quite well at it.

On Friday's we meet with a family, taking it in turns at each others houses, and we attempt to something on a nature theme, we use nature detectives as our base.

We decided to look at spring flowers in March, this week the children have been looking out for them all about.

We then had a couple of daffodils on the table which the children drew, and then pasted other spring flowers that can be seen at this time in their nature notebooks

The children drawing together

Annie's drawing of daffodils

Tom's drawing
Not forgetting Ruth having a go!