August 17th
As we were about to go out to buy our groceries today, P had the idea of doing origami. Since I am preoccupied in preparing to go out, I told him that he has to do this by himself this time without calling me for help. He said yes and I was gladly surprised. He chose to do a simple whale with 2 stars for difficulty (with 5 being the most difficult). The folds that he had to do were really simple and he finally had the confidence of doing it all by himself save for the last part of the tail which called for a "hood fold". He still had to ask me about it but for the most part he figured it out on his own. His folding quality was not so bad at all. He was able to fold neatly. My heart was silently rejoicing to see that his fingers are finally catching up in doing small tasks such as origami. I am looking forward to the day when he'll try to do higher difficulty level of origami. (Was he challenged with Fiona's confidence in trying it on her own?Just a thought.)
Another milestone today for his fine motor skills development is the use of chopsticks. Except for his Father who's almost not that familiar in using forks (oops! he must not see this!LOL), we generally use spoon and fork for eating. I do prefer using chopsticks with spaghetti, kimchi and some food sometimes but I do still use fork most of the time. DS also uses fork most of the time but when he sees everyone using chopsticks, he is encourage to use one too. We occasionally have "chopsticks days" wherein for the first part of the meal, he'll try to use it. Before the meal ends, he would switch to fork saying that his "hands" are tired. We do understand that of course.
Today turned out to be another chopstick night. I noticed that he's more confident in holding the sticks and less food are falling. He's more adept at using the chopsticks and he was able to eat the rest of the meal withour switching back to fork. But of course, the food was a good one to pick up like the tofu and anchovies. My next cue to watch out for is when he will be able to eat noodle with it. He already tried before but not quite successfully yet so I may have to see next time again.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Reading Journey: Archie's Comics
DS had stumbled into the comics scene. He found it very interesting but I have yet to reread these books again. He's so into it nowadays and would constantly be "caught" reading this.
OOps! Books read last Friday at the library. Big book about So Duck who cannot Quack (titled "Quack"), A Pal for Pat (Fischer-price phonics book), and the Ant and the Grasshopper (this one has the sad ending where Ant refuses Grasshopper begging for food). I personally like my own version where the ant shares but still teaches the lesson of saving to the grasshopper.
He also looked for the Mack the Cat book today which I almost forgot where I had kept. Ah! There are still much more to reread at home.
:( So this one also goes for me.
OOps! Books read last Friday at the library. Big book about So Duck who cannot Quack (titled "Quack"), A Pal for Pat (Fischer-price phonics book), and the Ant and the Grasshopper (this one has the sad ending where Ant refuses Grasshopper begging for food). I personally like my own version where the ant shares but still teaches the lesson of saving to the grasshopper.
He also looked for the Mack the Cat book today which I almost forgot where I had kept. Ah! There are still much more to reread at home.
:( So this one also goes for me.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Intro to Lapbook this July
Here's a quick post on our activities this later part of July.
We did the science week from sometime around July 24th to 31st. The focus study is the basics of human body. The inspiration was taken from one of the science curriculum I was fiddling with these days and the free lapbook site I fortunately discovered. Some of these lapbooks might be a little daunting at first but as we did part by part, our first foray into lapbooks is quite promising.
Photos of our output are to follow. It must be noted that I tried to let the kid get into the cutting and gluing in the process. During the first ones, he was ok with it. But he still needs more confidence to solely do the things himself. Coloringwise, he is able to. Using the scissors and longer time squeezing out the glue stick might still be tricky. I am considering on getting a new pair of scissors for him, in case that what he's using is not as sharp as it should be anymore. Another one is the glue stick that I chose. I might have to get the "paste" kind of glue--the ca[ and twist thing which is generally just good for papers. Up on my list now.
As for the content of the things that we have covered, I do think that he doesn't only retain the facts and figures (?) but the concepts as well. At least he now knows more about the importance of our bones, muscles, heart and brain. ;)
After the science week series, I'm moving into language and literacy again. A week off and resume next week. Not that we didn't do any learning this week, mind you.
We happened to find a praying mantis in the "kulitis" plant growing in the corner lot. Seeing it's potential science lesson, we took it home. Googled it up and found (basically Asia, South America and only some part of Australia; and it is a carnivore. It only eats other insects even like grasshoppers.
We also took short walks, library visit and playground time for his motor skills.;) Since Lola Mama has been out of the hospital and currently recuperating from her foot surgery, we had our chance of visiting her more often these days. We would sometimes take a walk going to or fro her place to pick some ilang-ilang flowers on the way and do a pretend adventure in our slightly-forested street.
Note to Mom today was to put on some neat shoes and not open toed sandals. Mine is not really very comfy to walk with.
We also had a chance to have his friend over for a day. They played and did acitivities together last Friday. Starting with some mini-letter books, (for the friend to catch up phonics), origami, painting, and a few minutes viewing of Hi-5 and Backyardigans at home. Then off to the city library where we managed to read three books and the playground for their ultimate activity of the day. Did I mention the ice cream that they each got after a day's work and play?
Hopefully, we can put this thing on again next week. It's time to plan for another session!
We did the science week from sometime around July 24th to 31st. The focus study is the basics of human body. The inspiration was taken from one of the science curriculum I was fiddling with these days and the free lapbook site I fortunately discovered. Some of these lapbooks might be a little daunting at first but as we did part by part, our first foray into lapbooks is quite promising.
Photos of our output are to follow. It must be noted that I tried to let the kid get into the cutting and gluing in the process. During the first ones, he was ok with it. But he still needs more confidence to solely do the things himself. Coloringwise, he is able to. Using the scissors and longer time squeezing out the glue stick might still be tricky. I am considering on getting a new pair of scissors for him, in case that what he's using is not as sharp as it should be anymore. Another one is the glue stick that I chose. I might have to get the "paste" kind of glue--the ca[ and twist thing which is generally just good for papers. Up on my list now.
As for the content of the things that we have covered, I do think that he doesn't only retain the facts and figures (?) but the concepts as well. At least he now knows more about the importance of our bones, muscles, heart and brain. ;)
After the science week series, I'm moving into language and literacy again. A week off and resume next week. Not that we didn't do any learning this week, mind you.
We happened to find a praying mantis in the "kulitis" plant growing in the corner lot. Seeing it's potential science lesson, we took it home. Googled it up and found (basically Asia, South America and only some part of Australia; and it is a carnivore. It only eats other insects even like grasshoppers.
We also took short walks, library visit and playground time for his motor skills.;) Since Lola Mama has been out of the hospital and currently recuperating from her foot surgery, we had our chance of visiting her more often these days. We would sometimes take a walk going to or fro her place to pick some ilang-ilang flowers on the way and do a pretend adventure in our slightly-forested street.
Note to Mom today was to put on some neat shoes and not open toed sandals. Mine is not really very comfy to walk with.
We also had a chance to have his friend over for a day. They played and did acitivities together last Friday. Starting with some mini-letter books, (for the friend to catch up phonics), origami, painting, and a few minutes viewing of Hi-5 and Backyardigans at home. Then off to the city library where we managed to read three books and the playground for their ultimate activity of the day. Did I mention the ice cream that they each got after a day's work and play?
Hopefully, we can put this thing on again next week. It's time to plan for another session!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Dee's Tree, reading time
Dee's Tree. A short story about growing and changing.
Vocs - 4/4
Reading Comprehension - 3/4
Who is That? (HOTS) - 3/4
Picture Description - check
Post-reading exercise is an outline of People Vs. Tree as it develop in the story.
Took a bit of explaining first but eventually got it.
Monday, May 25, 2009
May 20, 21...pet, excretory system
May 20, 2009
P had a thing with his excretory system today.
In the morning while I was working on the lappy.
He stirred but he didn't get up and say good morning at all.
SO I checked if he was upset or something only to find out something
wet beside him. Uh-oh..I mentioned the wet thing and he said,
"I made a mistake." And after that, tried to bury his face in his hands.
So we had an early wash coz of that.
Later that night when I got home from school, I found the toilet
unflushed with something. So I asked P if he pooped today and he said yes.
This is a first that he did not bother anybody with it.
The father was surprised coz he had no idea about it. Upon further questions,
it turned out that the son just did it all by himself. Asked if what was the DD doing
at that time, son said he was asleep. SO the little boy simply pulled his undies and
went back to what he was watching. No washing (good thing it's a dry thing so not much
skid marks) and flushing. Gross! But looking at it in a way, I am just glad of his try
of independence. Yet, still got a few part to iron out.
A day with P's excretory system.
May 21, 2009
Last week, sometime around May 14 or 15, our dog got out of the fence and did not come back.
Hubby tried to make some story but I'm not just in the mood to put in writing just now.
Anyway, my folks woke us up today with the news that they found the dog around the neighboring vacant lot.
The big lot is quite like a forest still and fenced with barbed wire.
They saw the dogs head trying to get out of it but since the space was too small,
the poor dog got stuck. They tried to get her out but he rans away from them.
My folks thought about bringing my son to there to coax the dog out.
Good thing is when we got there, she did recognize us. After a few tries and hesitation,
the dog finally got out and went home with us.
Our dog is finally back home, but the thing is we lost her dog dish.;)
I am quite relieved that she's back home and safe. I did feel very bad that she was out in the wild for
almost a week. Ah, I think that was Friday. Almost a week indeed.
I have yet to evaluate my son's reaction and other stories
around this disappearance and homecoming.
P had a thing with his excretory system today.
In the morning while I was working on the lappy.
He stirred but he didn't get up and say good morning at all.
SO I checked if he was upset or something only to find out something
wet beside him. Uh-oh..I mentioned the wet thing and he said,
"I made a mistake." And after that, tried to bury his face in his hands.
So we had an early wash coz of that.
Later that night when I got home from school, I found the toilet
unflushed with something. So I asked P if he pooped today and he said yes.
This is a first that he did not bother anybody with it.
The father was surprised coz he had no idea about it. Upon further questions,
it turned out that the son just did it all by himself. Asked if what was the DD doing
at that time, son said he was asleep. SO the little boy simply pulled his undies and
went back to what he was watching. No washing (good thing it's a dry thing so not much
skid marks) and flushing. Gross! But looking at it in a way, I am just glad of his try
of independence. Yet, still got a few part to iron out.
A day with P's excretory system.
May 21, 2009
Last week, sometime around May 14 or 15, our dog got out of the fence and did not come back.
Hubby tried to make some story but I'm not just in the mood to put in writing just now.
Anyway, my folks woke us up today with the news that they found the dog around the neighboring vacant lot.
The big lot is quite like a forest still and fenced with barbed wire.
They saw the dogs head trying to get out of it but since the space was too small,
the poor dog got stuck. They tried to get her out but he rans away from them.
My folks thought about bringing my son to there to coax the dog out.
Good thing is when we got there, she did recognize us. After a few tries and hesitation,
the dog finally got out and went home with us.
Our dog is finally back home, but the thing is we lost her dog dish.;)
I am quite relieved that she's back home and safe. I did feel very bad that she was out in the wild for
almost a week. Ah, I think that was Friday. Almost a week indeed.
I have yet to evaluate my son's reaction and other stories
around this disappearance and homecoming.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Volcanoes for Science
May 12
Teaching moment came when P asked how volcanoes work when I got home last night.
He was just looking at some photo form the Father's pc and wanted to know more about volcanoes.
This isn't the first time that he asked about it so even though I was already tired and sleepy,
I started searching for some resources online. I was actually looking for neat power point but
most I saw did not suit what I needed. Instead, I was able to find some videos that can suffice.
The discovery page that I found was what one cool place. We were able to generate how a volcano
will look like when erupting depending on the amount of gas present or the viscosity of the lava.
The vocabulary words didn't exactly contain the viscosity just yet, as I think it was bit too
technical for a 4 year old. We basically just covered active, sleeping or dormant and extinct or dead.
Extinct was not a new word for him since he encountered it before when he played in one pc game about
endangered and extinct creatures. For this volcano lesson, kinds of volcanoes according to shape;
shield, stratovolcano and cone.
After the volcano lesson, we did a fish origami. No relation at all with it. ;(
But during his free time, he wanted to paint. This time, he painted a volcano eruption. People are waiting,
lava flowed out and some people died because of it.
Hmm..I smell the rice burning now.
Oh no!
Teaching moment came when P asked how volcanoes work when I got home last night.
He was just looking at some photo form the Father's pc and wanted to know more about volcanoes.
This isn't the first time that he asked about it so even though I was already tired and sleepy,
I started searching for some resources online. I was actually looking for neat power point but
most I saw did not suit what I needed. Instead, I was able to find some videos that can suffice.
The discovery page that I found was what one cool place. We were able to generate how a volcano
will look like when erupting depending on the amount of gas present or the viscosity of the lava.
The vocabulary words didn't exactly contain the viscosity just yet, as I think it was bit too
technical for a 4 year old. We basically just covered active, sleeping or dormant and extinct or dead.
Extinct was not a new word for him since he encountered it before when he played in one pc game about
endangered and extinct creatures. For this volcano lesson, kinds of volcanoes according to shape;
shield, stratovolcano and cone.
After the volcano lesson, we did a fish origami. No relation at all with it. ;(
But during his free time, he wanted to paint. This time, he painted a volcano eruption. People are waiting,
lava flowed out and some people died because of it.
Hmm..I smell the rice burning now.
Oh no!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Lego blocks for the Fingers and Brain
The Lego set that P got when he turned four has been unused for a while. It sat in the box untouched in his playroom as he was contented with some small toys out. Surprisingly, he found it again tonight and started to make his own designs. Previously, he would always lean on the pictures that went along in the box. But tonight, he tried to do his own without any help. The imagination is better as he announced to make a restaurant set, all by himself. He was absorbed in the process for almost an hour. It sure was an improvement in my opinion.
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