tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87295184867681978772024-03-13T06:44:03.425-10:00Homeschooling in ParadiseKneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-34784075983936042722010-12-10T20:06:00.000-10:002010-12-10T20:06:06.149-10:00N is for Night - Part 3N is for Night - Part 3<br />
<br />
A Tropical Beach Night Scene.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eOeD2DtI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/exV44_1r3Yg/s1600/Night12+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eOeD2DtI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/exV44_1r3Yg/s320/Night12+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="236" /></a>(1) Tropical Night Scene<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3k5Yovq6I/AAAAAAAAARc/LzFfkJb4PTk/s1600/Night13+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3k5Yovq6I/AAAAAAAAARc/LzFfkJb4PTk/s320/Night13+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="221" /></a>(2) (Mosaic Tropical Art)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(1)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This art/craft was my personal favourite of the week :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It thrilled me to be able to include a bit of the Cook Islands in this week's art.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This piece of art shows what a stereotypical night scene on one of our beaches looks like. We were inspired after reading the book, 'A Quiet Night' by Johnny Hebenstreit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We used 3 different coloured paper for the base/background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black for the sky 1/3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dark blue for the water 1/3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A4 sized plain black paper for the beach/sand (later real sand is used)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seychelle did more splatter painting (white paint flicked from a stiff paint brush) onto the black paper, then glued on the top 1/3 of the pain a4 black paper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The dark blue 1/3 was glued below the night sky.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quick visit to the beach...sand glued onto the bottom 1/3.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Using brown paper, Seychelle tore a few small rectangles to make the palm trunk. Green pieces of paper, torn into strips made up the fronds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seychelle painted the moon white and added, once dry, some brush strokes of yellow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I then modelled to her how to use white paint as the reflection of the moon on the lagoon (she was not able to do this at this age yet).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eQyd9leI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/NyuIw5B5HqU/s1600/Night5+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eQyd9leI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/NyuIw5B5HqU/s200/Night5+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seychelle gluing on her strips of paper for the tropical scene. As you can see in the photo above, Seychelle is copying from an already completed model I made up on the Sunday night when preparing for the week's art.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can also see her pieces of green paper and brown paper, ready to stick on for the palm tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eRrnQTPI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/ebNa6Obf4w4/s1600/Night6+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eRrnQTPI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/ebNa6Obf4w4/s200/Night6+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seychelle gluing and adding the sand. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eTkxwzlI/AAAAAAAAARA/f5YbevYj0cs/s1600/Night7+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eTkxwzlI/AAAAAAAAARA/f5YbevYj0cs/s200/Night7+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="145" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carefully adding the sand bit by bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eYIs0mqI/AAAAAAAAARI/yE66OLB3pak/s1600/P1150138Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eYIs0mqI/AAAAAAAAARI/yE66OLB3pak/s200/P1150138Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eOeD2DtI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/exV44_1r3Yg/s1600/Night12+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eOeD2DtI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/exV44_1r3Yg/s200/Night12+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="147" /></a><br />
<br />
The inspiration from 'A quiet night' by J Hebenstreit......the inspiration........the transformation. <br />
<br />
<div align="center">(2)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Another similar mosaic type artwork she did this was this:</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3k5Yovq6I/AAAAAAAAARc/LzFfkJb4PTk/s1600/Night13+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3k5Yovq6I/AAAAAAAAARc/LzFfkJb4PTk/s320/Night13+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="221" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3lACyWJCI/AAAAAAAAARg/XQpn8ayxEpY/s1600/Night8+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3lACyWJCI/AAAAAAAAARg/XQpn8ayxEpY/s200/Night8+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3lBmFp9sI/AAAAAAAAARk/Acpn9B8HHRU/s1600/Night9+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3lBmFp9sI/AAAAAAAAARk/Acpn9B8HHRU/s200/Night9+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3lEv-_EqI/AAAAAAAAARo/e5TJs0b9Pp8/s1600/Night10+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3lEv-_EqI/AAAAAAAAARo/e5TJs0b9Pp8/s200/Night10+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3lF8bzWNI/AAAAAAAAARs/Kdc_Db6p7h0/s1600/Night11+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3lF8bzWNI/AAAAAAAAARs/Kdc_Db6p7h0/s200/Night11+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3eOeD2DtI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/exV44_1r3Yg/s1600/Night12+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-77924155795242278652010-12-07T20:11:00.000-10:002010-12-07T20:11:24.123-10:00N is for Night - Part 2N is for Night - Part 2<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3bjtaO0NI/AAAAAAAAAQg/M7twZRYCrQs/s1600/P1140997b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3bjtaO0NI/AAAAAAAAAQg/M7twZRYCrQs/s320/P1140997b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This art picture, which is a mixture of painting & collage work, was inspired after reading the book, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Animals, Animals' by Eric Carle. The little owls were made separately & stuck on at the end. They were fun and great for practising shapes. The owl's head is a heart, body is an oval & its feet is a diamond shape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3cV5V3yFI/AAAAAAAAAQk/7JfoS4wXSRo/s1600/P1140972Owl3Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3cV5V3yFI/AAAAAAAAAQk/7JfoS4wXSRo/s200/P1140972Owl3Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I outlined the basic shape of the tree & Seychelle painted the background night sky. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A darker blue at the top & a lighter dark blue at the bottom of the page.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3cX_r5ULI/AAAAAAAAAQo/MClYCooxAco/s1600/P1140975Owl4Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3cX_r5ULI/AAAAAAAAAQo/MClYCooxAco/s200/P1140975Owl4Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seychelle then painted the trunk & branches of the tree.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3caRwGXqI/AAAAAAAAAQs/cAXmQtXmYK8/s1600/P1140978Owl5Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3caRwGXqI/AAAAAAAAAQs/cAXmQtXmYK8/s200/P1140978Owl5Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had prepared already 3 different coloured green papers. These were to be the leaves. Seychelle tore the paper I gave her into small pieces (as above), then she glued these pieces onto the tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3cdkNj50I/AAAAAAAAAQw/sQCnGZKCMjI/s1600/P1150044Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3cdkNj50I/AAAAAAAAAQw/sQCnGZKCMjI/s200/P1150044Blog+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3bjtaO0NI/AAAAAAAAAQg/M7twZRYCrQs/s1600/P1140997b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3bjtaO0NI/AAAAAAAAAQg/M7twZRYCrQs/s200/P1140997b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="146" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eric Carles' Owls from 'Animals, Animals'....the inspiration....then the transformation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-53614932174531408752010-12-06T20:53:00.000-10:002010-12-06T20:53:41.322-10:00N is for Night - Part 1N is for Night<br />
<br />
Part 1<br />
<br />
For this week we covered the topics of Day & Night (how do we get day & night) & Nocturnal Animals.<br />
<br />
We did some great crafts again. For some of the crafts this week I have included a photo of the book page we got our art creativity from. I believe it really helps to pinpoint where your picture has come from when doing art & presenting art.<br />
<br />
I got very excited during this week as I was able to teach Seychelle many different techniques of art/painting (from splatter paintings to mosaics).<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3SvT71BxI/AAAAAAAAAQM/fgZ7y2Hbvqc/s1600/Night2+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3SvT71BxI/AAAAAAAAAQM/fgZ7y2Hbvqc/s200/Night2+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a photo of our discussing (using props) what causes Day & Night & how incredible it is that our planet is positioned in such a perfect place. If our planet was just a fraction closer or further away from the sun then we would not have life on earth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">God is truly amazing that He designed us and our planet with such precision & perfection. When you look at the universe it is just so immense, we are so insignificant and small in such a huge place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It simply points us to what an almighty & incredible Creator we have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yet the God of the universe (who is in charge of everything in that huge vast space),</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">knows each of us intimately & desires to have a real & beautiful relationship with us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am truly humbled & honoured to know Him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"<em>For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Your eyes saw my unformed body. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Psalm 139:13-16</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3TE0D0U1I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/m9Lq-XFeS1s/s1600/NIght15+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3TE0D0U1I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/m9Lq-XFeS1s/s200/NIght15+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3Uw_fHCbI/AAAAAAAAAQU/TkdQvxI1I_s/s1600/Night14+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3Uw_fHCbI/AAAAAAAAAQU/TkdQvxI1I_s/s200/Night14+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seychelle's splatter paintings of the universe/space - Night Sky.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To introduce the lesson we spoke during the day about what we would expect to see in the sky at night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We then let her stay up a little bit later that night while we all sat outside looking up at the night sky. Where we live in the Cook Islands, the night sky is simply spectacular! We see so many more stars and with much more clarity & definition. Words just can't describe just how beautiful it is. We are thankful to God for giving us such a beautiful display of His power & glory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3UyllUf3I/AAAAAAAAAQY/t9aVbN9Cbqw/s1600/Night3+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3UyllUf3I/AAAAAAAAAQY/t9aVbN9Cbqw/s200/Night3+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="182" /></a></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3Uzv_m86I/AAAAAAAAAQc/ts7eJVkeFN8/s1600/Night4+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TP3Uzv_m86I/AAAAAAAAAQc/ts7eJVkeFN8/s200/Night4+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="185" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-57671839634046038622010-11-14T21:03:00.001-10:002010-11-14T21:09:20.685-10:00These crazy little things called goats...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-ROEq9rBI/AAAAAAAAAQI/ntoLqaXcOlE/s1600/Goats+in+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-ROEq9rBI/AAAAAAAAAQI/ntoLqaXcOlE/s320/Goats+in+trees.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
I saw this photo recently on the internet & I just could not believe my eyes! Yes we know goats are a little crazy...but this? <br />
<br />
We initially didn't believe it - but after some research we can confirm that this does happen in a place just outside of Morocco. <br />
<br />
Isn't this just incredible! Here is the proof...click here to see this.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQev3UoGp2M&feature=related">Goats in Trees</a><br />
<br />
enjoy...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-59741539303138949612010-11-13T21:28:00.000-10:002010-11-13T21:28:18.530-10:00Glorious times with Goats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-OIqA2XHI/AAAAAAAAAQA/2vldhfi0J0w/s1600/P1140828+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-OIqA2XHI/AAAAAAAAAQA/2vldhfi0J0w/s320/P1140828+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This week has been simply beautiful! A picture is worth a thousand words...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-L3Yyy_SI/AAAAAAAAAPk/lD7sJHRlBJA/s1600/BlogSonny1+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-L3Yyy_SI/AAAAAAAAAPk/lD7sJHRlBJA/s200/BlogSonny1+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="151" /></a></div><br />
Summer has arrived, which means hot & sticky days :) We have spent hours and hours outside everyday playing with the babies from next door. We were privileged to have Lulu & Sonny Boy stationed right up on our property, where we could easily play with them & also see them from our deck. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-PWnRshbI/AAAAAAAAAQE/kkuCoUHEl6w/s1600/BlogSonny13+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-PWnRshbI/AAAAAAAAAQE/kkuCoUHEl6w/s200/BlogSonny13+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The triplets seem to love "hanging out" with Lulu & Sonny & often try to take over Lulu's house during the hottest part of the day. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-MEGbXDUI/AAAAAAAAAPo/nrQ4A22rIVw/s1600/BlogSonny5+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-MEGbXDUI/AAAAAAAAAPo/nrQ4A22rIVw/s200/BlogSonny5+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pax & Edward having family time with the new baby</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-MHgYBUwI/AAAAAAAAAPs/BtFDwt8r3Pc/s1600/BlogSonny11+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-MHgYBUwI/AAAAAAAAAPs/BtFDwt8r3Pc/s200/BlogSonny11+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mum, they've taken over our house!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
It has just been too wonderful for words to watch all the babies playing on our lawn. Sonny Boy has stolen all of our hearts! Even Nick who is very reserved *adores* Sonny Boy & shares many cuddles with him. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-NEaCskcI/AAAAAAAAAP4/BumSENcCBfA/s1600/BlogSonny14+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-NEaCskcI/AAAAAAAAAP4/BumSENcCBfA/s200/BlogSonny14+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="138" /></a></div><br />
Sonny Boy is finally looking like a healthy goat. He is a week and half old now & looks more like a new born kid. We have "given" him Seychelle's old clam baby pool, turned it upside down & this is now Sonny's playground to dance and jump about on. He is full of energy and runs all over the place & tries to keep up with the big boys (the triplets). <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-Mt-Yz6qI/AAAAAAAAAPw/eg7RbzmwAJc/s1600/BlogSonny3+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-Mt-Yz6qI/AAAAAAAAAPw/eg7RbzmwAJc/s200/BlogSonny3+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-M0IWvemI/AAAAAAAAAP0/c7163LCNAtI/s1600/BlogSonny12+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-M0IWvemI/AAAAAAAAAP0/c7163LCNAtI/s200/BlogSonny12+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
When the triplets were born 3 months ago, we thought we had won the jackpot with Pax. Pax was the only kid we have had contact with that would willingly jump into your lap on his own! We were so priviledged with Pax & never expected to have so many wonderful cuddles with another goat. But we spoke too soon! Sonny Boy is even more cuddly. Right from the start he has been jumping into our laps and arms all on his own. He is an absolute joy & we just love this little guy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-NTT1HwqI/AAAAAAAAAP8/f4kCzvNHvH0/s1600/BlogSonny7+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TN-NTT1HwqI/AAAAAAAAAP8/f4kCzvNHvH0/s200/BlogSonny7+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-10390462174601126702010-11-11T14:03:00.000-10:002010-11-11T14:03:34.468-10:00Sonny BoyJust as life was starting to get back to reasonably "normal" again, Lulu (goat from next door) gave birth to a beautiful baby goat kid called Sonny Boy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNi8uuAYG4I/AAAAAAAAAPI/Tf-biyt0wM0/s1600/Sonny16+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNi8uuAYG4I/AAAAAAAAAPI/Tf-biyt0wM0/s320/Sonny16+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have waited almost a week to post on Sonny because there was a likelihood that he was not going to survive. Sonny was born extremely tiny! He was for sure a prem goat kid if there is such a thing. He is the tiniest goat we have EVER seen (and we see lots of goats here on Rarotonga). Sonny's nanny (mother goat) is just barely "out of nappies" herself. Lulu (Sonny's mother) has only just turned 1 years old! Lulu's father got accidently entangled with her 150 days ago & so she got accidently pregnant. At that time she was only just 7 months. In all honesty we had thought that Sonny may have come out with 5 legs! But thankfully he was all perfectly formed. <br />
<br />
Sonny was born very tiny, but his front right leg was bent in the most awkward position - it looked like it was broken or dislocated. Normally goat babies are up on their feet within 1 hour of being born. Sonny was still barely able to get up on his legs after 24 hours! He was still shaking, wobbling & then there was this bent leg. Long story short Sonny had contracted an umbiblical cord infection. This is an infection that affects the joints (normally shows up in the knees) and if not treated could lead to permanent damage to his mobility & possibly death. The Vets at Esther Honey (the volunteer run animal clinic) were outstanding! I called them one afternoon at 2pm, they were here within the hour to come and see Sonny Boy. They gave him a shot of antobiotics as the poor Sonny already had a high feve.<br />
<br />
24 hours later Sonny Boy was a completely different goat. He was still fragile and tiny but he was attempting to jump & bounce around and was following his mama everywhere. He is an absolute darling! He is almost 1 week old and is starting to be very brave, even attempting to join his (half?) brothers on the lawn in our property. Lulu is the dearest mama goat! I had my doubts as she was still so young herself but she is gentle and so loving to Sonny. <br />
<br />
Here are some of the first shots - check out his leg...it should be bending the other way.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNi84lBSynI/AAAAAAAAAPM/uNQqD83c7VI/s1600/Sonny4+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNi84lBSynI/AAAAAAAAAPM/uNQqD83c7VI/s200/Sonny4+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNi88aS__5I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/pjoxSH86830/s1600/Sonny7+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNi88aS__5I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/pjoxSH86830/s200/Sonny7+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNi8_kJoEoI/AAAAAAAAAPU/K-A3hF8pSKs/s1600/Sonny14+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNi8_kJoEoI/AAAAAAAAAPU/K-A3hF8pSKs/s200/Sonny14+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-17723062488572966152010-11-08T16:18:00.000-10:002010-11-08T16:18:26.066-10:00Letter R - CraftsHere is a picture gallery of Seychelle's beautiful crafts for the Letter R.<br />
(See <a href="http://homeschoolinginparadise.blogspot.com/2010/11/letter-r.html">Part 1</a>; <a href="http://homeschoolinginparadise.blogspot.com/2010/11/letter-r-part-2.html">Part 2</a>;<a href="http://homeschoolinginparadise.blogspot.com/2010/11/letter-r-part-3.html">Part 3</a>)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiudpV3T6I/AAAAAAAAAOg/74I51yXIbYw/s1600/RabbitCraft1b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiudpV3T6I/AAAAAAAAAOg/74I51yXIbYw/s200/RabbitCraft1b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="152" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiuhR1k7jI/AAAAAAAAAOk/nPi3KrJqgao/s1600/RabbitCraft3+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiuhR1k7jI/AAAAAAAAAOk/nPi3KrJqgao/s200/RabbitCraft3+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="122" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiujDcLOgI/AAAAAAAAAOo/-O_k8Z9EZS0/s1600/Rabbitcraft6+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiujDcLOgI/AAAAAAAAAOo/-O_k8Z9EZS0/s200/Rabbitcraft6+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="175" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiumbW3GiI/AAAAAAAAAOs/3fGeotQdVkI/s1600/Rabbit0+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiumbW3GiI/AAAAAAAAAOs/3fGeotQdVkI/s200/Rabbit0+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiuqv-HhjI/AAAAAAAAAOw/n6bqKBE8yMo/s1600/Rabbit0b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiuqv-HhjI/AAAAAAAAAOw/n6bqKBE8yMo/s200/Rabbit0b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNius85V6cI/AAAAAAAAAO0/a-ZVxUN0UqY/s1600/Rooster0+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNius85V6cI/AAAAAAAAAO0/a-ZVxUN0UqY/s200/Rooster0+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-27231880699875749812010-11-08T16:08:00.001-10:002010-11-08T16:18:50.233-10:00Letter R (Part 3)To complete our fun week with the Letter R, Seychelle had some free time to do painting & we made some more <strong>Rabbit crafts</strong>, including one of a <strong>Rooster</strong>. Living in the Rarotonga we are completely surrounded by roosters, so it felt simply unfair to exclude them in this week's crafts.<br />
<br />
So....we had great fun making a rooster too!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNip3K8JaaI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/pHgbiKOtE30/s1600/Rooster0+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNip3K8JaaI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/pHgbiKOtE30/s320/Rooster0+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The idea for this craft comes from a book called, Easy Crafts for Kids.<br />
We used 2 paper plates, red & yellow felt pens, bright coloured feathers, glue & a popsicle stick.<br />
<br />
Seychelle cut one of the paper plates in half. Then I drew the outline of the body and face of the rooster. Seychelle cut this out and coloured appopriately with red & yellow pens. I helped her stick the body together & then she had a ball choosing & gluing bright coloured feathers onto the rooster's body!<br />
The popsicle stick gets glued on at the end. She was very pleased with her rooster!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNirMjfY1OI/AAAAAAAAAOU/N8vIbfwYNqg/s1600/Rabbit0+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNirMjfY1OI/AAAAAAAAAOU/N8vIbfwYNqg/s200/Rabbit0+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNirO7-IIrI/AAAAAAAAAOY/plKrBb_7CMk/s1600/Rabbit0b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNirO7-IIrI/AAAAAAAAAOY/plKrBb_7CMk/s200/Rabbit0b+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seychelle enjoyed "free" painting & decided to paint a few Rabbits!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNirfXc24DI/AAAAAAAAAOc/npbEVUOfdlU/s1600/Rabbitcraft6+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNirfXc24DI/AAAAAAAAAOc/npbEVUOfdlU/s200/Rabbitcraft6+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="175" /></a></div><br />
This was the final craft of the week. We used: A Plastic Egg; Black Pipe Cleaner, Paper Plate; Goggly Eyes; Pink, Black & White Paper.<br />
<br />
Seychelle painted the egg red. She then cut out the shapes of the ears, which I had outlined in pen. She also painted the outer ear red. The inner pink ears (pink paper) were glued on later. She cut two circles joined as the cheeks with a black nose (paper) & a white square with a black line down the middle for teeth. Then we glued the eyes & the black pipe cleaner (I always help out with gluing these smaller finicky type crafts)<br />
<br />
Voila!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-64679197999162244472010-11-08T15:52:00.002-10:002010-11-08T18:37:59.707-10:00Letter R (Part 2)This week part of our topic included discussing & playing a game about <strong>'Feelings'</strong>.<br />
<br />
This was lots of fun!<br />
I used this lesson right after we had read the book, 'Guess How Much I Love You'.<br />
<br />
The book briefly introduced the feeling of Love. We briefly chatted about Love and how you can show someone you love them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNjQHpI-d-I/AAAAAAAAAPY/57u28FbX8mI/s1600/Guess+How+much.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNjQHpI-d-I/AAAAAAAAAPY/57u28FbX8mI/s1600/Guess+How+much.bmp" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I then asked Seychelle to tell me all the different types of feelings she could think of.<br />
<br />
I wrote the name of each feeling at the top of different coloured A4 sized papers. I left the rest of the page blank, leaving enough space for Seychelle to cut out of magazines the faces of people who displayed these types of feeling. She chose for her feelings: Happy, Joyful, Sad, Sleepy, Love & Worried. <br />
<br />
Seychelle then spent some time looking through magazines. She grouped all her pictures afterwards according to the types of feelings above & then stuck them on each page.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNil0QYEvVI/AAAAAAAAANw/Qb8A7grIUYw/s1600/FeelingsMags1+%2528Small%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNil0QYEvVI/AAAAAAAAANw/Qb8A7grIUYw/s200/FeelingsMags1+%2528Small%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNil4TwXKWI/AAAAAAAAAN0/e38VT5IH_N8/s1600/FeelingsMags2+(Small)+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNil4TwXKWI/AAAAAAAAAN0/e38VT5IH_N8/s200/FeelingsMags2+(Small)+(2).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I had already prepared 18 small square cards with 9 different types of facial expression of a feeling. <br />
I showed Seychelle the first set of 9 cards. With each new card, Seychelle named each one & then acted out that feeling with her own facial expressions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNinl6WTIXI/AAAAAAAAAOE/JRJ9Tl5bgN8/s1600/FeelingsHappy+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNinl6WTIXI/AAAAAAAAAOE/JRJ9Tl5bgN8/s200/FeelingsHappy+%2528Small%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNimmX3zUvI/AAAAAAAAAN4/x174YCXM1UU/s1600/Feelings1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNimmX3zUvI/AAAAAAAAAN4/x174YCXM1UU/s200/Feelings1+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNimn9b3t1I/AAAAAAAAAN8/CMbAUCdKMz8/s1600/FeelingsAngry1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNimn9b3t1I/AAAAAAAAAN8/CMbAUCdKMz8/s200/FeelingsAngry1+(Small).JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
We then moved into her room so that she could see these feelings (that she was acting out with her face) in a mirror.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNin9-0E2ZI/AAAAAAAAAOI/5xBc_HV-GIc/s1600/FeelingsHappy1c+%2528Small%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNin9-0E2ZI/AAAAAAAAAOI/5xBc_HV-GIc/s200/FeelingsHappy1c+%2528Small%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We ended our lesson with a matching game using the two sets of 9 feelings cards I had made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNioP_-WG3I/AAAAAAAAAOM/w2ihMkrpWOo/s1600/FeelingsMatching1+%2528Small%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNioP_-WG3I/AAAAAAAAAOM/w2ihMkrpWOo/s200/FeelingsMatching1+%2528Small%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-68856892565213788552010-11-08T15:23:00.004-10:002010-11-08T18:35:34.050-10:00Letter R (Part 1)This week we did the Letter R. Our topic was R is for Rabbit (& we also included an R is for Rooster craft).<br />
We also spoke about 'Feelings' & what they are.<br />
<br />
For 'R is for Rabbit', we had grand plans to read through a number of books (The Little Rabbit, The Velveteen Rabbit, Guess How Much I Love You & Peter Rabbit). BUT a new baby goat was born next door, so our plans were narrowed down to make room for spending time and observing the new baby kid. <br />
<br />
We started the week reading the book, The Little Rabbit.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiORRnCFvI/AAAAAAAAANQ/uHE26USfzRE/s1600/The+Little+Rabbit.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiORRnCFvI/AAAAAAAAANQ/uHE26USfzRE/s1600/The+Little+Rabbit.bmp" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong>Anatomy of a Rabbit</strong><br />
We spoke about the <strong>different parts of a rabbit</strong> - the long ears, pink nose, eyes (on the sides of the head, not the front) & legs (back legs are longer then the front legs).<br />
<br />
<strong>Role Play</strong><br />
I put on some fun bouncing music & Seychelle dressed up like a bunny with some bunny ears from the dress up box. She then played the part of a Rabbit, bouncing around all over the room & mimicking the different movements a Rabbit does: Nose twitching, sitting upright with her hands like a rabbits' & moving her head from side to side inquisitively. She had lots of fun with this!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiRDhKXK5I/AAAAAAAAANc/-nZ7WBRhe0M/s1600/RabbitPlay2+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiRDhKXK5I/AAAAAAAAANc/-nZ7WBRhe0M/s320/RabbitPlay2+(Small).JPG" width="162" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did a few <strong>Rabbit crafts</strong> this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiRXPjv4eI/AAAAAAAAANg/ZLARq4SP2j0/s1600/RabbitCraft1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiRXPjv4eI/AAAAAAAAANg/ZLARq4SP2j0/s200/RabbitCraft1+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiRbJSQC1I/AAAAAAAAANk/8CzEejMbOpU/s1600/RabbitCraft1b+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiRbJSQC1I/AAAAAAAAANk/8CzEejMbOpU/s200/RabbitCraft1b+(Small).JPG" width="152" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This <strong>craft</strong> was really easy. We used paper plates. Seychelle painted 2 plates with the colour grey/purple. I then outlined the shapes for her to cut (The 2 ears, 2 legs, head & body). I also cut out 2 eyes & a nose (she painted black) & a small rectangle for the teeth (with a black line).<br />
<br />
For the ears - Seychelle scrunched up pink crepe paper for the inner ears.<br />
For the body - Seychelle stuck on what she calls 'cloud', also known as filler :)<br />
<br />
The we glued all the parts together to make the rabbit craft complete.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiSmfnHufI/AAAAAAAAANo/kgG3vOyCfqo/s1600/RabbitCraft2+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiSmfnHufI/AAAAAAAAANo/kgG3vOyCfqo/s200/RabbitCraft2+(Small).JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiSox6XayI/AAAAAAAAANs/R2impbqNyFQ/s1600/RabbitCraft3+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TNiSox6XayI/AAAAAAAAANs/R2impbqNyFQ/s200/RabbitCraft3+(Small).JPG" width="122" /></a></div><br />
For our <strong>second Rabbit craft</strong> - I drew the shape of a rabbit on to a piece of paper for Seychelle to paint. She wanted to paint it blue. After the paint had dried Seychelle tore off pieces of blue crepe & stuck these on the main ears & legs. Then she used pink crepe scrunched up for the inner ears. She was super keen on the 'cloud' & wanted to use it again for the head and body. Seychelle then chose a large white pom pom for the tail & a small white pom pom for the nose. I drew and outline of the eyes, which she cut out (black and white paper) & I helped her with the mouth - this was too tricky for her to do.<br />
<br />
She LOVED her rabbit crafts this week & they were super easy to do.<br />
<br />
The second book we read was <strong>'Guess How Much I love You'</strong>. Seychelle loves this book. We spoke about distances and measurements in a very simple way. We looked at: How far she could extend her arms, versus how far I could extend mine; What distance would be the furtherest we could walk from our house; and what is the furtherest point we could see from our house. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-8770373899098486462010-10-30T16:03:00.000-10:002010-10-30T16:03:14.504-10:00Letter BHere is a summary of our crafts for this week - The Letter B<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzOI4jDtHI/AAAAAAAAANE/lXnWGO4eAeo/s1600/Butterfly+Art+1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzOI4jDtHI/AAAAAAAAANE/lXnWGO4eAeo/s200/Butterfly+Art+1+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzOKVGAhgI/AAAAAAAAANI/PY9bAQ0gnBo/s1600/Butterfly+Caterpillar+4+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzOKVGAhgI/AAAAAAAAANI/PY9bAQ0gnBo/s200/Butterfly+Caterpillar+4+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzOM6Ylv_I/AAAAAAAAANM/NAQHV7EybY0/s1600/Butterfly+Shells+4+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzOM6Ylv_I/AAAAAAAAANM/NAQHV7EybY0/s200/Butterfly+Shells+4+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-56666301594848440972010-10-30T16:01:00.001-10:002010-10-30T16:29:18.248-10:00The Letter B (Part 4)Continuing our with our Letter B adventures from <a href="http://homeschoolinginparadise.blogspot.com/2010/10/letter-b-part-3.html">Letter B (Part 3)</a><br />
<br />
We ended off this week with the most wonderful craft. The weekend before we had a whole lot of fun looking on the beach for some shells which I had planned to use for this craft. <br />
<br />
For the flowers: We used pipe cleaners for the grass, stem and leaves of the flowers, buttons for the flower centres and tissue paper for the petals.<br />
<br />
We used shells for the butterfly wings & pipe cleaners for the body.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNM6lw6eI/AAAAAAAAAMw/DXAgzBQnDQw/s1600/Butterfly+Shells+4+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNM6lw6eI/AAAAAAAAAMw/DXAgzBQnDQw/s320/Butterfly+Shells+4+(Small).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNQrD29CI/AAAAAAAAAM0/IyEROo-ucpM/s1600/Butterfly+Shells+1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNQrD29CI/AAAAAAAAAM0/IyEROo-ucpM/s200/Butterfly+Shells+1+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNSyapg8I/AAAAAAAAAM4/ANFoxxZfBP4/s1600/Butterfly+Shells+2+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNSyapg8I/AAAAAAAAAM4/ANFoxxZfBP4/s200/Butterfly+Shells+2+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNVYEjlrI/AAAAAAAAAM8/covo1y0Y_rE/s1600/Butterfly+Shells+3+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNVYEjlrI/AAAAAAAAAM8/covo1y0Y_rE/s200/Butterfly+Shells+3+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The photos show the different stages of the creation. Enjoy :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNlNKUqdI/AAAAAAAAANA/kBZ7xQMmbm0/s1600/Butterfly+Shells+7+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzNlNKUqdI/AAAAAAAAANA/kBZ7xQMmbm0/s320/Butterfly+Shells+7+(Small).JPG" width="224" /></a></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-13155104380486505352010-10-30T15:55:00.001-10:002010-10-30T16:28:12.797-10:00The Letter B (Part 3)Continuing on from <a href="http://homeschoolinginparadise.blogspot.com/2010/10/letter-b-part-2.html">The Letter B (Part 2)</a><br />
<br />
Today we started off with reading the Hungry Caterpillar again. We recapped over the stages of the life cycle & then Seychelle acted out the scenes of the book.<br />
<br />
We only had a few props available but Seychelle had so much fun acting out the caterpillar. This was the highlight of her week :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzKq_vXG9I/AAAAAAAAAMY/LmgA61H8guc/s1600/Butterfly+Story+1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzKq_vXG9I/AAAAAAAAAMY/LmgA61H8guc/s200/Butterfly+Story+1+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzKtJ_D9sI/AAAAAAAAAMc/mBqGk8BskY4/s1600/Butterfly+Story+3+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzKtJ_D9sI/AAAAAAAAAMc/mBqGk8BskY4/s200/Butterfly+Story+3+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
(The second is Seychelle as a caterpillar in a cocoon).<br />
<br />
Then we played a few games using the theme of the book.<br />
<br />
The first game was sorting out the the days of the week into the correct order & then assigning the right number of fruit to that day (of course including Saturday being the day he ate all the junk food).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzLZCn4jYI/AAAAAAAAAMg/SLGOsHBolLI/s1600/Butterfly+Sorting+1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzLZCn4jYI/AAAAAAAAAMg/SLGOsHBolLI/s200/Butterfly+Sorting+1+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzLdqPeSDI/AAAAAAAAAMk/CVbt3wtWTEs/s1600/Butterfly+sorting+3+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzLdqPeSDI/AAAAAAAAAMk/CVbt3wtWTEs/s200/Butterfly+sorting+3+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We then played another game. This was a matching game - Seychelle had to try and read the sentence (with my help) that corresponded with the correct picture. The game was about the life cycle of the butterfly and a good summary and test to see whether she knew the stages correctly. She did very well!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzL-I_SEII/AAAAAAAAAMo/PFYB9oYyfhI/s1600/Butterfly+Matching+2+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzL-I_SEII/AAAAAAAAAMo/PFYB9oYyfhI/s200/Butterfly+Matching+2+(Small).JPG" width="116" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> We ended the day off with doing a quick and easy butterfly craft using a paper plate & a toilet roll.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzMWMgTpNI/AAAAAAAAAMs/dKYKBBMBA4g/s1600/Butterfly+Art+1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzMWMgTpNI/AAAAAAAAAMs/dKYKBBMBA4g/s320/Butterfly+Art+1+(Small).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-84698046383891336492010-10-30T15:42:00.000-10:002010-10-30T15:42:28.609-10:00The Letter B (Part 2)Midweek we starting reading the book - The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzFObnAagI/AAAAAAAAALg/mFFTaYXTbrA/s1600/Caterpillar.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzFObnAagI/AAAAAAAAALg/mFFTaYXTbrA/s1600/Caterpillar.bmp" /></a></div><br />
We talked about the life cycle of a caterpillar/butterfly again <a href="http://homeschoolinginparadise.blogspot.com/2010/10/letter-b.html">The Letter B (Part 1)</a> - using a flow chart that I had made written up the weekend before. <br />
<br />
After reading the book we the moved onto discussing healthy food verus unhealthy food (junk food). Using the book we talked about why the caterpillar had a tummyache (after eating too much junk food) & why he felt better after eating a green leaf (healthy food). <br />
<br />
I have a pack of food photo cards. We spread them all out over the floor & Seychelle had to name each type of food and work out whether it was healthy or unhealthy. She grouped them accordingly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzGquZFVGI/AAAAAAAAALk/xgLRHc6pcmM/s1600/Butterfly+6+FoodA+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzGquZFVGI/AAAAAAAAALk/xgLRHc6pcmM/s200/Butterfly+6+FoodA+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
I then got a couple of magazines & Seychelle looked through the mags finding pictures of either healthy or unhealthy food. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzHYGitxtI/AAAAAAAAAL4/kRwVjvHIK3Y/s1600/Butterfly+FoodB+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzHYGitxtI/AAAAAAAAAL4/kRwVjvHIK3Y/s200/Butterfly+FoodB+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzGtMt8RqI/AAAAAAAAALo/00Qqkkf_8yE/s1600/Butterfly+7+FoodB+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzGtMt8RqI/AAAAAAAAALo/00Qqkkf_8yE/s200/Butterfly+7+FoodB+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzGwcMrc3I/AAAAAAAAALs/S7rFlcevzbo/s1600/Butterfly+9+Food+D+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzGwcMrc3I/AAAAAAAAALs/S7rFlcevzbo/s200/Butterfly+9+Food+D+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzGzx2qgmI/AAAAAAAAALw/Isc6I0eKPi4/s1600/Butterfly+11+Food+F+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzGzx2qgmI/AAAAAAAAALw/Isc6I0eKPi4/s320/Butterfly+11+Food+F+(Small).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
While Seychelle was doing this fun activity I played the audio CD of The Hungry Caterpillar. (It came with the book we purchased & I highly recommend it).<br />
<br />
We did painting today. This one was a caterpillar. We used X3 paper plates and I got Seychelle to choose the designs for each (she copied an example we found on the net) & then I modelled to her how to paint those designs. She loved this painting!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzIM2kI3DI/AAAAAAAAAL8/8YRmg_OTTeg/s1600/Butterfly+Caterpillar+4+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzIM2kI3DI/AAAAAAAAAL8/8YRmg_OTTeg/s320/Butterfly+Caterpillar+4+(Small).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzISNIygdI/AAAAAAAAAME/CKAjVZHt7Kk/s1600/Butterfly+Caterpillar+2+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzISNIygdI/AAAAAAAAAME/CKAjVZHt7Kk/s200/Butterfly+Caterpillar+2+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzI0zC7dxI/AAAAAAAAAMU/DdqBAQ7dJIQ/s1600/Butterfly+Caterpillar+1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzI0zC7dxI/AAAAAAAAAMU/DdqBAQ7dJIQ/s200/Butterfly+Caterpillar+1+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-53444424543716556822010-10-30T15:23:00.003-10:002010-10-30T16:26:22.009-10:00The Letter B (Part 1)This week we did the Letter B. Our topic was Butterflies.<br />
<br />
We had a lot of fun this week! Loads of crafts as usual and we also got to include other fun activities that fitted into the theme. <br />
<br />
To start the week off we got out a 4 layer puzzle on the life cycle of a caterpillar. It is a great puzzle and starts off with the first layer - the tiny caterpillar and ends with the last layer - a beautiful big butterfly. <br />
I used this puzzle to introduce this week's topic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMys-mUQ-5I/AAAAAAAAALI/L35mRQfsbHA/s1600/Butterfly+1+Puzzle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMys-mUQ-5I/AAAAAAAAALI/L35mRQfsbHA/s200/Butterfly+1+Puzzle.JPG" width="173" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>After the puzzle I read Seychelle the book, Life Cycles: Caterpillar to Butterfly. We spent some time going through each page discussing the amazing journey the tiny caterpillar makes into becoming a beautiful butterfly! What an amazing creation God made.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMytt_GTqDI/AAAAAAAAALM/n7-FZUAb_c4/s1600/Lifecycles.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMytt_GTqDI/AAAAAAAAALM/n7-FZUAb_c4/s1600/Lifecycles.bmp" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The first butterfly craft we did was a beautiful colourful paper tissue butterfly. I printed out an A4 size butterfly picture (courtesy of a google search for colouring in pages), then we "planned" out which colours we were going to use. Then we started ripping up pieces of different coloured tissue paper.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzCpchjeTI/AAAAAAAAALQ/wvhqYYMaukw/s1600/Butterfly+3+TissueA+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzCpchjeTI/AAAAAAAAALQ/wvhqYYMaukw/s200/Butterfly+3+TissueA+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzCq2KeU4I/AAAAAAAAALU/d7QxnebH5S8/s1600/Butterfly+4+TissueB+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzCq2KeU4I/AAAAAAAAALU/d7QxnebH5S8/s200/Butterfly+4+TissueB+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzCu5YzbdI/AAAAAAAAALY/KA8zdBwVh74/s1600/Butterfly+Tissue1+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzCu5YzbdI/AAAAAAAAALY/KA8zdBwVh74/s200/Butterfly+Tissue1+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We made another Letter B - made up of bubblewrap, with butterfly wings.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzDMpqLyuI/AAAAAAAAALc/jD9uYUfTlqY/s1600/Butterfly+5+Letter+B+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMzDMpqLyuI/AAAAAAAAALc/jD9uYUfTlqY/s200/Butterfly+5+Letter+B+(Small).JPG" width="166" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-29830940210397031422010-10-29T14:32:00.000-10:002010-10-29T14:32:06.245-10:00My TestimonyCheck out my Testimony of how I became a Christian on<br />
<br />
<a href="http://kneelingbeforetheking.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-testimony.html">http://kneelingbeforetheking.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-testimony.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMtnXo5_a_I/AAAAAAAAAK0/vobghwDUp7c/s1600/Knees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMtnXo5_a_I/AAAAAAAAAK0/vobghwDUp7c/s200/Knees.jpg" width="163" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/333/E24CC3254C57E567B204558A9294C137.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-82546267154540780462010-10-23T15:46:00.000-10:002010-10-23T15:46:42.910-10:00Homeschooling an Only Child & the Socialisation DebateHomeschooling an only child is wonderful!<br />
<br />
As I have mentioned in previous posts most homeschooling families are made up of multiple children. <br />
So homeschooling 1 child is quite rare. It has many positives.<br />
<br />
Having <strong>one child</strong> means you are able to focus all your teaching time and attention on that child. Our lessons are very streamlined and flow smoothly. As she is still very young I most of my teaching is spent 1:1 with her. For tasks where she has to work independently, like writing practice, then I will watch her do the first couple of examples and then leave her to it. I am then able to prepare the next lesson or catch up on household chores.<br />
<br />
We have grown very close since we started homeschooling together. She and I have a motto that in our family we work together as a team. Normally she will follow me and help me with all the chores in the house, like putting washing on, hanging out the washing together, cooking & baking together etc. She has learnt that we all need to work together to keep the household running smoothly. She has a really great attitude & we often make games out of our chores, like racing to see who can put their clean washing away first. <br />
<br />
Since we started homeschooling Seychelle's behaviour has improved dramatically. She is respectful towards us, kind and loving. She has learnt manners, how to speak to people, how to look after her belongings etc. She had a number of character trait issues before we brought her home to school - most of these gone. Seychelle in some ways has a very different personality to me. I prefer to rush from A to B, forgetting to enjoy the journey. Seychelle prefers to take things very slowly, enjoying the journey of a task - stopping to smell the roses. Homeschooling has meant I have been able to appreciate her personality better. Before I found this part of her personality very challenging & frustrating - now I am appreciative of her as a little person, with a different personality to me, who goes about life in a more relaxed manner. I realise that God has given me a daughter who in many ways challenges my areas of weakness and personality flaws. She has made me a better person.<br />
<br />
There are many who question the <strong>socialization</strong> aspect of homeschooling in general, let alone homeschooling an only child. Seychelle is a very social child. She loves her friends. Homeschooling her has not "changed" this about her. She is still developing her social skills in the same way a child going to school would. Anywhere we go, Seychelle is able to easily make friends. Just yesterday we went out for lunch at a local restaurant and there was another little boy there. She confidently walked straight up to him, making easy conversation and being friendly. They played together the entire time we had lunch. Homeschooling has most definitely not caused her any social problems :) Seychelle has regular playdates with friends & is a very happy child. In ways we see that our daughter is more confident since being homeschooled. She no longer has to deal with issues of insecurity & fear that she may have had to handle or go through attending school. She is 100% secure at home, where she is loved unconditionally & is schooled by someone who always has her best interests at heart. There is no-one who can love my child more than I do, as her parent. Therefore no-one will be able to cater for her best educational interests more so than me. There is no teacher in the world that would be able to do what I can 1:1 for my daughter. They just simply cannot! The time and focus that I can give my child is second to none. <br />
<br />
I remember reading on a website once how ironic it is that we send our children to school to be "socialised". The irony is that when want our children to learn a skill we will send them to a professional skilled person in that area. For example if you want to teach your child to play the piano, then you will send them to a skilled piano teacher. The irony is that we send our children to school at the age of 5 to be socialised by other children of a similar age - who know very little about socialisation. Children and not mature people of social skills. Children need to be taught how to socialise from those who already have skills in these areas- adults. I thought this was very good moot point on the debate on socialisation problems in homeschoolers.<br />
<br />
As we are a family of only 3, Seychelle has matured a lot in her speaking and understanding of matters that normally children of her age would have no exposure to. She is a very strong and decisive young lady. She has no problems with speaking to adults and holding conversation at a dinner table. She joins in the conversation just like Nick or I would. I think the difference with an only child is that they have more opportunities for conversational input, which means she has developed confidence in this area quickly.<br />
<br />
Seychele has developed a beautiful caring nature for all the animals in our neighbourhood. When I am busy in the house, Seychelle will spend her time outside playing with the goats, picking flowers, playing with the dogs etc. At times I have been immensely proud of her compassion & care towards animals. Living in Rarotonga has exposed us to many cases of 'in your face' animal neglect. She has learnt to come up alongside me and help many animals in a bad way. (She had to learn quickly not to get freaked out when we see seriously injured animals). She has learnt to look around for sick, injured animals or simply those in need of shade or a drink of water. She has also witnessed seeing her Dad and Mama stand up to people verbally who mistreat their animals. This is something we would never have had a chance to do in New Zealand.<br />
<br />
Homeschooling an only child has been one of the most rewarding times of my life. It has brought our family very closely together. It has also given Seychelle the very best education she can have.Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-49670393669892329022010-10-23T14:11:00.000-10:002010-10-23T15:59:15.600-10:00MathsMaths in our homeschool is very informal and lots of fun!<br />
<br />
We use different books, tools and games.<br />
<br />
I have a bright and colourful <strong><u>1-20 number line</u></strong> on the wall. Everyday Seychelle will count the numbers from 1-20 & then I will point to various numbers in the range and get her to tell what number it is.<br />
- next to this I have a <strong><u>1-100 chart </u></strong>on the wall as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNvYJZDk0I/AAAAAAAAAI8/Ovkoe7RdAsI/s1600/P1140038+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNvYJZDk0I/AAAAAAAAAI8/Ovkoe7RdAsI/s320/P1140038+(Small).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">We also play <strong><u>Snakes & Ladders</u></strong> together a few times a week. I find this really helpful for Seychelle with the introduction of the numbers up to 100. She is now able to recognise & know in a general sense her numbers up to 100. (Counting up to 100 is not something needed to achieve at her age, it is an objective for Year 1/New Entrants or K (USA)).</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNwfOHY8hI/AAAAAAAAAJA/s4Bv-vW5ZcQ/s1600/Snakes+and+Ladders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNwfOHY8hI/AAAAAAAAAJA/s4Bv-vW5ZcQ/s200/Snakes+and+Ladders.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other things we use are:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Educo's Find & Count</u></strong> - this is a learning game that Seychelle can play independantly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is a game of counting, matching and checking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNxmGTOHwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/s9ROdrTgbOc/s1600/Find+and+count.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNxmGTOHwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/s9ROdrTgbOc/s1600/Find+and+count.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<strong><u>Spotty Dogs</u></strong> - by Orchard Toys<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNx5R4vWcI/AAAAAAAAAJI/vLmgaCh-qIc/s1600/Spotty+Dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNx5R4vWcI/AAAAAAAAAJI/vLmgaCh-qIc/s200/Spotty+Dogs.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Match & Count</u></strong> - by Orchard Toys</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNyPPODwyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/Sox_wr5Roog/s1600/Match+and+Count.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNyPPODwyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/Sox_wr5Roog/s1600/Match+and+Count.bmp" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<u><strong>Easy-Learn Maths - Kinder B</strong></u> by Frank & Valerie Marett<br />
This book gives Seychelle practice in writing and counting numbers 11-20, shapes, patterns, beginning adding and subtraction, 2D, 3D, symmetry, money etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNzveV4NgI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/rTnoGgI5Bhw/s1600/Easy+Learn+Maths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMNzveV4NgI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/rTnoGgI5Bhw/s200/Easy+Learn+Maths.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><u>No Nonsense Number</u></strong> - activities to support the teaching of number knowledge, addition and subtraction (Emergent Level) by Suzi de Gouveia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMN0Z5pZh1I/AAAAAAAAAJU/YoXcSfCqdMM/s1600/no+nonsense+number.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMN0Z5pZh1I/AAAAAAAAAJU/YoXcSfCqdMM/s1600/no+nonsense+number.bmp" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
Galaxy Kids Maths - Magenta Level by Sunshine Books (NZ)<br />
These books are fantastic. They are short easy readers (about vaying maths concepts) that come with a Teacher's guide, kind of like guided reading with activities and questions you can ask your child. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMN1ESASNBI/AAAAAAAAAJY/8U1BU0a-rvI/s1600/Galaxy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMN1ESASNBI/AAAAAAAAAJY/8U1BU0a-rvI/s200/Galaxy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Let's Explore Numbers</u></strong>: Games for Developing Early Numeracy by Rose O'Connor-Neilsen</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMN2KyC9s3I/AAAAAAAAAJc/kRhE9SHAJf0/s1600/Lets+Explore+numbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMN2KyC9s3I/AAAAAAAAAJc/kRhE9SHAJf0/s200/Lets+Explore+numbers.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently we joined up for a 1 subscription to <strong><u><a href="http://mathletics.com.au/">Mathletic</a></u></strong> - this is a computer program that has heaps of maths problems suitable for years Kindergarten - Year 12. Seychelle works through maths problems suitable for her age and level. Not only is she learning maths but also computer skills like using a mouse etc.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also use tools like counting bears, balance, count and see & place value games.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-81068878033209439652010-10-21T18:01:00.000-10:002010-10-23T13:12:06.808-10:00Why Rarotonga?Many people have asked us why we have chosen to live in Rarotonga. <br />
Rarotonga is one of the islands that make up the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands are tropical islands in the South Pacific. They have tropical, warm beach weather all year round.<br />
<br />
Rarotonga is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is your typical island paradise. Beautiful crystal clear lagoons, white sand and palm trees.<br />
<br />
Many people enjoy coming here on holiday but not many would seriously consider living here.<br />
We were here on holiday in September 2008. We had come on holiday because life had become very difficult and stressful for us. I had personally developed really bad health problems. My pelvis was still causing me problems and on top of all that I had recently developed severe RSI (repetitive strain disorder). You may find it strange to believe that a stay-at-home Mom can develop RSI, but it happened! I had had RSI previously in my workplace, before we had Seychelle. It had become so bad at that time that I had to cease working. Shortly after that time we had Seychelle.<br />
<br />
Out of the blue in July 2008 I suddenly developed a really severe case of RSI. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
You may be wondering what a 'severe' case of RSI is? Well for about 3 months I was not able to perform <strong>any</strong> tasks with my arms! Normally RSI clears up if you take a good break from computer work. In my case, this did not happen. After 6 weeks I started to get extremely worried. I had completely rested my arms & they were not getting better. I could do nothing with my arms. Once again, like with my pelvis, my body & mental health started falling apart. My arms had swelled up and no matter how hard I tried to get them to do normals thing they would cause me pain and extreme fatigue. <br />
<br />
One of the ways I find it best to describe how it felt for me, for those 3 months, was if you can recall doing a short physical job with your arms, something cleaning the house windows. Generally after you have done such a task your arms will feel extremely fatigued and almost painful. Normally one would rest a couple of minutes and the pain would stop, fatigue would lesson and you would begin your task again. In my case for 3 months I was in that "extremely fatigues/painful" phase. It was so unbearable that at times I would stand in the shower and just howl. No-one could help & nothing was working. People in my life could understand why I could simply not do "normal things". A task as easy as cleaning the kitchen bench was pure agony.<br />
<br />
I had to rely on Nick very heavily during this time. Our family life took a huge toll. Nick had to come home from work so much to help/assist me that he eventually had to quit his job. I was not able to even do basic things for myself like putting on my clothes & putting a nappy on Seychelle. One week we had to pay for a nanny to come and help me look after Seychelle. This was one of the most humiliating times of my life. I was in such a bad way that I was no longer even able to look after my own child. <br />
<br />
We lived in a beautiful 3 bedroom house, which ended up being completely too large to maintain in a crisis. We had recently bought a beautiful new dog for the family, a golden retriever. But the stress of losing the physical ability of my arms meant we were not able to cope with our new puppy. He had to be go to a new home. <br />
<br />
My life was literally falling to pieces. Time passed and nothing changed. I developed depression & my doctor sent me on a course for people suffering from it. This course was helpful in coping with difficult times & practical ways to help with depression - but it did not solve the problem. In September we were able to get away from this nightmare & come to Rarotonga on holiday. Nick thought that perhaps the sunshine would somehow help the situation. <br />
<br />
We came to Rarotonga for 2 weeks. We enjoyed our time so much that we started to think about considering moving here permanently. My arms were possibly slightly better in the warmer climate & the thought of a simpler life for managing my arms and pain was a good solution. We extended our stay and Nick drafted up some CV's which we dropped around at all the local businesses & put an advert in the newspaper advertising Nick. Well we ended up getting a few hits with the advert. Nick had a few informal interviews & by the time we returned to NZ he had a job lined up. We also somehow stumbled upon a house that was being built, almost finished and the landlord committed to giving us the house to rent if we returned.<br />
<br />
We know it was God's will as the timing and the events that would take place in the next following 4 weeks were nothing less than a miracle. We arrived back in late September and were leaving to go again overseas to the UK for my brother's wedding in less than 4 weeks. In that 4 weeks we packed up the entire house, sold most of our stuff & organised a real estate agent to sell the house. We also somehow were able to organise a moving company to pack up the remainder of our possessions to move to Rarotonga. We filled up an entire 20ft container. We had so much paperwork to fill out, accounts to close, bills to pay etc. Like I said it was nothing short a miracle that we pulled it off before leaving for the UK. <br />
<br />
While we were in the UK we got an offer on the house & just like that it was sold! Nick's official job offer came through by fax to us in the UK too & everything was signed and sealed. When we got back to NZ , we had 3 weeks until the day we moved to Rarotonga. <br />
<br />
We took a great chance, a huge risk. But sometimes in life, it takes some major blow to force you into a position where you have to make a change. <br />
<br />
My arms were still not better, but waiting around the corner - literally the week before we were to leave on the plane, the answer came! Since being on holiday in Rarotonga I had developed (on top of all the other health problems) stomach "issues". I thought I had just caught a bug here in Raro on holiday & that it would go away with time. Well, it didn't. I decided the week before we due to move to Rarotonga (2 months later) that I should get it checked out by a doctor. Thank goodness I did that! I landed one of the most experienced doctors in that doctor's visit. The fact that I had "issues" that had lasted 2 months or more meant I needed to urgently get a colonoscopy. Normally this hospital based test takes 6 weeks to book in, but by some small miracle, she found a spot for me to go into surgery, 3 days before we were due to leave.<br />
<br />
It turned out that after all the tests I had extremely high levels of gluten sensitivity. Initially the test came back so high that the doctor thought I had celiac disease. What this meant as that my body was constantly inflammed, due to the gluten in my diet (bread etc). Which meant that my body was healing the naturally normal way that a body should. This was why my arms just were not getting better & why the medication that they had given me, that had worked before when I was in the workplace with RSI, hadn't worked this time! Finally an answer came. The days before we left were filled with running around trying to find gluten-free food to pack into boxes to take on the plane with us.<br />
<br />
Finally the day arrived, we boarded the plane to leave a cold & damp Auckland and arrived in tropical Paradise - Rarotonga.Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-26901676553899430872010-10-21T17:57:00.002-10:002010-11-24T17:06:55.526-10:00Living in RarotongaLiving in Rarotonga is a dream for us. We live in a rented 2 bedroom house (the one that was just built). We live isolated near the mountains, with only 1 neighbour (a policeman), yet we are less than 500m walk to the most perfect beach imagineable. We have peace and quiet & a sea view! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMELbj_VTmI/AAAAAAAAAIw/uURWk23RJNk/s1600/beach12+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMELbj_VTmI/AAAAAAAAAIw/uURWk23RJNk/s200/beach12+(Medium).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
The house is perfect. It takes me less than 10 minutes to vacuum it entirely. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEItscBZOI/AAAAAAAAAIM/GApToqvdcg8/s1600/SMALLERP1040027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEItscBZOI/AAAAAAAAAIM/GApToqvdcg8/s200/SMALLERP1040027.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEIwUVnZbI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/wtIc-Eny2A8/s1600/SMALLERP1040105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEIwUVnZbI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/wtIc-Eny2A8/s200/SMALLERP1040105.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Within 1 month of arriving we adopted a stray dog from the beach - who is an absolute darling & a breeze to look after. Nick drives a scooter to work & in our first year here we spent almost everyday at the beach.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEJ5SQPgAI/AAAAAAAAAIc/LoCKNd4Kd8s/s1600/BikeSeybestSMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEJ5SQPgAI/AAAAAAAAAIc/LoCKNd4Kd8s/s200/BikeSeybestSMALL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEKWk_tpgI/AAAAAAAAAIg/CqHrdKB1t4k/s1600/Bikeseydriving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEKWk_tpgI/AAAAAAAAAIg/CqHrdKB1t4k/s200/Bikeseydriving.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The coldest day means you need to put on T-Shirt rather than a singlet. There is virtually no crime, except petty theft. The last murder was about <strike>20 yrs ago</strike>. (edited...November 2010 - man just recently been charged with manslaughter for killing a man with his car after fight in a bar.<br />
<br />
The island itself has one "official" ring road, only 30km's all the way around. The population is about 8,000 people & about 2,000 households. The pace of life is easy going & everything gets done in its own time. Everyone knows pretty much everyone & going to the supermarket means you will most definitely bump into a friend. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMELKrAAFsI/AAAAAAAAAIs/tZrmhuXGa2Y/s1600/Nickwater1SMALLER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMELKrAAFsI/AAAAAAAAAIs/tZrmhuXGa2Y/s200/Nickwater1SMALLER.jpg" width="150" /></a></div> <br />
<br />
Unlike Auckland, there is no blatant indecent billboards or similar magazine covers content in your face on every dairy corner. Rarotonga is a Christian nation, where meetings still begin and end with a prayer. You can talk about Jesus without getting weird looks from people. The newspaper is about 10-15 pages long and you can read all of it in about 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEKvhgXmKI/AAAAAAAAAIk/xtLBgW6S-qo/s1600/SMALLERP1040867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEKzYdjatI/AAAAAAAAAIo/jtQLzywwOpo/s1600/SMALLERP1040868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEKzYdjatI/AAAAAAAAAIo/jtQLzywwOpo/s200/SMALLERP1040868.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<br />
It is an absolutely wonderful place to raise children. There are no fears of strangers & Seychelle can play for hours and hours outside on her own & literally cover acres without me worrying one bit. We can take daily walks around our neighbourhood and still discover exciting new places. Often on our walks we discover new and exciting things like a massive dead moray eel on the beach or a newborn goat. Everyone is laid back and most of the locals are very friendly. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEIGLBl7XI/AAAAAAAAAII/-Vsf69PFNMc/s1600/StarfishSey2SMALLER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEIGLBl7XI/AAAAAAAAAII/-Vsf69PFNMc/s200/StarfishSey2SMALLER.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><br />
Every night the weather is generally picture perfect, still, quiet & the sunsets are to die for! <br />
There is nothing quite like going for a walk on the beach after dinner to watch the sun set. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEHq-KDTGI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Rz1jGebm0Bg/s1600/Beachsunset+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEHq-KDTGI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Rz1jGebm0Bg/s200/Beachsunset+(Medium).jpg" width="148" /></a></div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-66140575671080395622010-10-21T14:26:00.000-10:002010-10-21T14:32:14.177-10:00StartWrite<a href="http://www.startwrite.com/">StartWrite</a> is a handwriting software program. It allows me to create my own handwriting lessons. I use it for almost everything we do. After an activity I will use the program to type out a short sentence about that activity/topic and then leave enough space underneath for Seychelle to draw a picture. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDZXH8xVyI/AAAAAAAAAH8/k1j_I_boe4U/s1600/P1130999+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDZXH8xVyI/AAAAAAAAAH8/k1j_I_boe4U/s200/P1130999+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes she will copy a whole page of writing. Her handwriting has significantly improved since we have started using this program. Copying the correct way a letter is written has proven to be very helpful for Seychelle in learning to write letters.<br />
<br />
This is the link to the program. They charge an annual one off fee for a license that you then use to download the program onto your computer.Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-86216578356222350802010-10-21T14:16:00.000-10:002010-10-21T18:08:17.868-10:00Handwriting Without Tears<a href="http://www.hwtears.com/">Handwriting without Tears</a> is the program we use for teaching Seychelle to write.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEOEYaPwZI/AAAAAAAAAI0/3ABnJVZI274/s1600/HWT.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMEOEYaPwZI/AAAAAAAAAI0/3ABnJVZI274/s1600/HWT.bmp" /></a><br />
<br />
You can add in as much as you want with the program or just do the basics.<br />
<br />
We do a mixture. To start off we sometimes use the music CD for kindergarten level. It has some very catchy songs to remember rules for writing. This program starts off with teaching children the capital letters, so one of the songs is about how 'you always start your letters at the top'. It has actions & is very catchy. (Seychelle has learnt to always start her letters at the top thanks to the song :) <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I included in my program the wooden letter pieces. We always start off our lessons on a Monday with this. Every letter is made up of either long/short lines & big/small curves. Seychelle sorts through the different wooden pieces to make a letter, like 'P'. She will pulls out the pieces that make up the letter P putting then together in the same order that it is written. For the letter P she will take a long line and then add to that a small curve. (There are loads of other activities you can do with the wooden letters that are more suitable to younger preschoolers like putting all the wooden pieces into a bag that you cannot see into and then playing a game where you put your hand in the bag without looking and guess the shape).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDTyHHwLfI/AAAAAAAAAHs/azj7Mb09gpM/s1600/P1140026+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDTyHHwLfI/AAAAAAAAAHs/azj7Mb09gpM/s200/P1140026+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then use the little blackboard that comes included in the program with the tiny sponges. These sponges are great - they are tiny squares which teach the child how to hold a pencil the correct way. You can only hold the sponges in the correct positon to hold a pencil. So it is great practice for getting the right technique for writing. Seychelle will then practice writing the letter on the blackboard - generally I will model how to do this first, then she copies me. The blackboard has 2 sides so we can practice a few times & then turn over and use the other side as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDUlgDiwKI/AAAAAAAAAHw/JMtHbyWjf7c/s1600/P1140029+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDUlgDiwKI/AAAAAAAAAHw/JMtHbyWjf7c/s200/P1140029+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
After this we move onto the main handwriting practice book. This book is full of great ideas for teaching your child to write & includes a practice page for each letter of the alphabet. <br />
Seychelle will complete these lessons at the start of each week on Mondays'. I sit with her for the first couple of tries to give her help & support. I then find she is confident to continue the rest on her own. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDVT4Hy5ZI/AAAAAAAAAH0/105rgA6XuZY/s1600/P1140031+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDVT4Hy5ZI/AAAAAAAAAH0/105rgA6XuZY/s200/P1140031+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The following day or the next time we do handwriting, Seychelle will move onto the practice pad, which is full of sheets to tear out and use for practising the letters. Handwriting without Tears (HWT) starts with Capital letters & progresses through the capital letters that begin in the top left corner, then those that start in the middle then the right. So it does not follow a sequence of A-Z, in that order.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDWDFGdvrI/AAAAAAAAAH4/_nURwB4dmrk/s1600/P1140032+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDWDFGdvrI/AAAAAAAAAH4/_nURwB4dmrk/s200/P1140032+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">Along with this (which only takes around 10 minutes a day - we only do about 2 lines of letters each day), we use <a href="http://homeschoolinginparadise.blogspot.com/2010/10/startwrite.html">Startwrite</a>, which is a program you can download that gives the child more practice with copying letter and words.</div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-54558239522515771922010-10-21T13:38:00.000-10:002010-10-21T18:08:38.347-10:00The Letter PThis week's letter is P. Our topics were both Pineapples & Pigs. Both are really great topics for us living in Rarotonga. Our neighbour grows pineapples & we are surrounded by pigs.<br />
<br />
Our pineapple craft has been my personal favourite this year so far. It is really bright & colourful and easy to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC4yrxSWLI/AAAAAAAAAHY/FEHOghUd5KI/s1600/P1130945b+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC4yrxSWLI/AAAAAAAAAHY/FEHOghUd5KI/s200/P1130945b+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC40mqWPhI/AAAAAAAAAHc/95XbBPiTKKg/s1600/P1130977+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC40mqWPhI/AAAAAAAAAHc/95XbBPiTKKg/s200/P1130977+(Small).JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<br />
This was a very easy craft. We drew an outline of a pineapple on the paper. Then we used polystyrene fillers, painted them orange, yellow and a light orange. We then used cardboard for the the leaves. Seychelle & I made one pineapple together & then she did one all on her own!<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We are able to visit the pineapple plantation next door regularly. It is fascinating to actually see how pineapples grow. Pineapple season starts in December & you only get one crop per year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC4hqi4-5I/AAAAAAAAAHU/fm0JoIwODqk/s1600/P1130241+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC4hqi4-5I/AAAAAAAAAHU/fm0JoIwODqk/s200/P1130241+(Medium).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
For the latter half of the week we did P for Pigs.<br />
<br />
We used the audio book of the Three Little Pigs, listening to the story & also reading the story that came with the CD.<br />
<br />
Rarotonga has pig farming at literally every street corner. We have 3 within a 200m radius & at least 100 within a 1km radius. Over the last 2 years we have had plenty of personal experiences with pigs. Often we will collect our food scraps and walk down to the pigs to feed them. This is a good way to dispose of our waste.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMCyqiiGHAI/AAAAAAAAAGw/KuB9VI9JenQ/s1600/P1090891+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMCyqiiGHAI/AAAAAAAAAGw/KuB9VI9JenQ/s200/P1090891+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMCyuTMaODI/AAAAAAAAAG0/5f-TX2cNmx8/s1600/P1090913+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMCyuTMaODI/AAAAAAAAAG0/5f-TX2cNmx8/s200/P1090913+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
This week we did lots of pig crafts. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC1mv4kkyI/AAAAAAAAAG4/Pb-TDGuZtYk/s1600/P1130816+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC1mv4kkyI/AAAAAAAAAG4/Pb-TDGuZtYk/s200/P1130816+(Medium).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This pig was made using 2 juice caps/lids. We painted those pink & stuck them together. We painted 2 white eyes with black dots & stuck a pink button for the nose. For the tail and ears we used pink pipe cleaners.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC2MUTQjXI/AAAAAAAAAG8/vjiFP5hmX4k/s1600/P1130950b+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC2MUTQjXI/AAAAAAAAAG8/vjiFP5hmX4k/s200/P1130950b+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC2P6va-5I/AAAAAAAAAHA/urfeSMoMx1I/s1600/P1130972+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC2P6va-5I/AAAAAAAAAHA/urfeSMoMx1I/s200/P1130972+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
This was our paper plate pig craft. We used 2 dinner plate size paper plates. With one of the plates we cut out a smaller circle. We painted them pink and also used a section of an egg carton for the nose. Then we used pink paper with suitable shapes for the legs & ears & a pink pipe cleaner for the tail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC2hKUfG5I/AAAAAAAAAHE/hOspYhHLQRA/s1600/P1130958b+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC2hKUfG5I/AAAAAAAAAHE/hOspYhHLQRA/s200/P1130958b+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little piggy was a much more difficult craft and suitable for an older age group (so I did lots of the work for this one). We used 2 small polystyrene balls & used a toothpick to stick them together. We used a pink button for the nose & 2 tiny lids (painted pink) for the ears. The legs were made out of 2 small polystyrene balls, I used a kitchen knife to slowly cut out small rectangle shapes. The eyes were made with a black marker. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC2rqyLEkI/AAAAAAAAAHI/uP6QHpqWvYs/s1600/P1140003+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC2rqyLEkI/AAAAAAAAAHI/uP6QHpqWvYs/s200/P1140003+(Small).JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is picture of a pig that Seychelle drew and coloured in with felt pens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC23sS4W5I/AAAAAAAAAHM/sq4EwbUBw-o/s1600/P1140017+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC23sS4W5I/AAAAAAAAAHM/sq4EwbUBw-o/s200/P1140017+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC26EfrxAI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/KsuVgLzYl6o/s1600/P1140020+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMC26EfrxAI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/KsuVgLzYl6o/s200/P1140020+(Small).JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Every week I usually print off a number of colouring in pages that I find on google. Seychelle is learning to colour in within the lines. She did such a great job with that this that I wanted to include them in this week's blog!<br />
<br />
<br />
Our Personal Experiences with Pigs in the Neighbourhood.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDMlhe2dLI/AAAAAAAAAHg/w1s_Y1BpOmE/s1600/P1050296+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDMlhe2dLI/AAAAAAAAAHg/w1s_Y1BpOmE/s200/P1050296+(Small).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This pig had been wandering around our property for weeks and apparently did not belong to any of the neighbours, so we decided to catch him. This was our make shift pig pen. Within an hour we had someone pick him up to take him away. Free pigs don't last long here.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDMqBv5MKI/AAAAAAAAAHk/6qyl3Wg62LI/s1600/P1070121+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDMqBv5MKI/AAAAAAAAAHk/6qyl3Wg62LI/s200/P1070121+(Medium).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is dear Mama piggy. She lived next to us by a stream. This is one of the times she escaped. She was quite tame and really enjoyed a scratch. </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDMv4vNIlI/AAAAAAAAAHo/clNF8ichh0E/s1600/P1090423+(Medium)+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B5yANNStoMw/TMDMv4vNIlI/AAAAAAAAAHo/clNF8ichh0E/s200/P1090423+(Medium)+(Small).JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a pig that lives near us. This pig is by far the most pampered pig in Rarotonga. Her owners were very kind & filled her mud bath everyday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-44212620902431682942010-10-20T20:48:00.001-10:002010-10-28T16:44:50.284-10:00Christian? Why do you only have One Child?This is a question that we get often asked. <br />
<br />
Being a Christian is almost synonymous with having multiple children, so many Christians find it very difficult to understand & accept that we have made a decision to have just one child.<br />
<br />
When Nick I first met & went through pre-marital counselling, we were both completely sold on having at least 2 children. So you may be asking, what changed?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Nick & I were married 3 years when I got pregnant. The pregnancy was going sort of smoothly (awful morning sickness for 9 months) until I reached around 26 weeks. I suddenly started getting nagging stinging pains in my groin. At first I ignored the pain, putting it down to normal pregnancy problems. Then one day I was taking my dog for an excursion to the local pet shop - I put on her lead at the front door and started walking down the stairs towards our garage. The dog, out of the blue, yanked me down the stairs. Thankfully I didn't fall, but I got a good physical jolt. By the time I had driven to the pet shop I knew something was seriously wrong as I could barely walk without being in pain. Serious pain!<br />
<br />
After a week of being in pain & unable to really walk I decided to visit the midwife. To cut a very long story short - it turned out I was suffering from a bad case of 'Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction' or 'Pelvic Girdle Pain'. It is apparently caused by an unstable pelvis - which could have been caused by some a physically traumatic accident prior to getting pregnant. When you get pregnant, there is an increase of the hormone, relaxin - which causes the body to become more relaxed/loose. In this case an already unstable pelvis becomes very loose & unstable, causing a lot of pain. I do not have any knowledge of any physical damage done in my life. Physio after physio would tell me that I must have had some accident as a child - perhaps falling off a horse. There was nothing that happened to me like this.<br />
<br />
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) cannot be "fixed". It gets worse as the pregnancy progresses. Many women end up in wheelchairs & unable to physically do any movement (as your pelvis is a core part of almost every movement the body does). I ended up switching to a doctor from a midwife to try and get extra support & find the "cure" to the suffering I was going through. It didn't happen. By the time I reached 37 weeks I could only manage minimal walking, I was experiencing excruciating pain with every turning movement I made with the pelvis (turning my body in general). Turning over in bed was a nightmare (literally) & lifting my legs (getting in and out of cars), (going up stairs) was just as bad. Every time I went out I was in fear of someone bumping into me and causing more permanent damage.<br />
<br />
The best way to describe, without the pain, what I was going through 24/7 was like walking on ice. Anyone how has tried to walk on ice will understand the feeling of complete immobility & instablity. Without the pain this is what I also experiencing day after day. But I did have pain - a lot of it & due to the extent of this pain the doctor granted me a "get of jail free card" & allowed me to be induced at 38 weeks. I was lucky as my body was extremely sensitive to hormones and I was already showing signs of labour.<br />
<br />
Most women who suffer from SPD generally become completely "fixed" and pain-free straight after birth. This was not the case for me. I was in the small, small percentage of women that do not recover fully from SPD. <br />
<br />
Everyday I experienced immobility, pain & the emotional stress of no longer having my body the way it used to be and I had a beautiful newborn baby to cope with. I mourned the loss of activities like running, skating, jumping, swimming, dancing etc. My life would never be the same again. The most difficult thing to endure was the fact that I was not able to look after my baby properly and do the things I wanted to with her. Just getting on the floor to sit with her was almost impossible. The movement involved with getting up off the floor was the scariest thing! Nick had to help out with so many normal tasks. He was champion.<br />
<br />
Our life was in for huge changes! We lived in a 2 story/level house. This quickly became a major problem for us. I was not able to get back up the stairs once I was down. The baby's bedroom was upstairs and the living area downstairs. We had to sell our house & move to single level living urgently. Our savings were quickly being spent on countless visits to doctors, physios & osteopaths...no-one could help me. My life & my body was falling to pieces & I was only 26 years old. People would come to visit the baby, but no-one would really know that behind the scenes I was barely holding things together. <br />
<br />
Once we moved into a new house on a single level, things started getting slightly better. The biggest improvement came when I stopped breastfeeding at 7 months. It was around this time that I had to slowly learn how to walk again. With the help of a women's physio I had to learn this walking movement from scratch. <br />
<br />
Fast forward 5 years...<br />
<br />
I have recovered quite considerably. I've travelled around the world to see specialists in Canada & England. It is still very much a unknown problem - there is little research on SPD and most medical personnel have no clue at all about it & do not give it any real consideration. It is still not an "official" medical problem so those of us that have suffered serious disability cannot qualify for any help or assistance. For some women serious disability remains - I know of many, many women who are not able to walk again & live in constant pain. These women are not able to run a household, let alone look after their children - their lives are shattered, but still SPD remains "unofficial" & "undiagnosable" and therefore no-one with SPD qualifies for disability help. <br />
<br />
I am still not able to do many things that a "normal" person would physically be able to do. I am not able to do any serious physical activity. Around my monthly cycle I have to be very careful with my body as the hormones increase at this time & everything "relaxes" again. I run the risk of damage by any serious physical activity at this time. Over the years I have experienced serious disability again around my monthly cycle. My pelvis become unstable & the pain in the groin returns. I do not have the 'figure' I would like to have, but I am very blessed & lucky that I have been able to recover much of my basic movements again & I do not live in pain. I have regular exercises I must do to retain strength in the pelvic area & maintain a pain-free existence. Through my journey I have come to appreciate things in life I never would have before & I have learned to relax a little about life & not have such high physical expectations of myself.<br />
<br />
I have lived through depression & I am a survivor. I understand deeply that being a Christian does not mean God will rescue me from my problems, it also doesn't mean I have some grave sin still in my life causing this disability to continue. It is just the way it is. <br />
<br />
The Bible says in Matthew 5:45, 'That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the on the unjust.' <br />
<br />
I have asked God many times to heal me & remove this burden from my life, but for the time being it is here to stay. I am at peace with God about this now. How I choose to respond to my difficulty is really what matters. <br />
<br />
Do I still have difficult days - Yes! <br />
Do I still mourn the loss of wanting my body to things it can't - Yes!<br />
Do I still dream of running & winning races, like I did in my youth - Yes!<br />
Do I wish I could exercise and have a flat tummy again? - Yes!<br />
Do I get on my knees some nights and cry out to God for release - Yes!<br />
<br />
Through this there is one thing I know like nothing else.<br />
<br />
That no matter how difficult I think my problems are & not matter how tough life gets I will continue to praise my God & worship Him all my days! He is King and Lord of all & always worthy of my praise & honour.<br />
<br />
<br />
Through this, Nick & I, made the decision that we would not have another child. We believe God has given us a brain to make intelligent and smart decisions about our family. We both believe that it would insane, reckless & stupid to get pregnant again. The risk is high that I will suffer from extreme symptoms of SPD again, normally women who have suffered from SPD before get symptoms much, much earlier & then they become worse. I have read countless horror stories of women who have had SPD before, needing a wheelchair as early as 6 weeks in to their pregnancy. Then there are the countless numbers of women who never regain the ability to walk again & live in constant pain. <br />
<br />
We choose not to go down this track again. We do not feel that this qualifies us as "pessimists" and people of "no faith". Instead we believe we are smart, Godly parents, that are doing the very best for the one child that God has already given us. <br />
<br />
Do we get frustrated when people ask us about not having another baby? Yes. <br />
Do I sometimes feel 'down' about not having another child? Yes. <br />
Will I regret not taking the chance? Probably.<br />
<br />
But I do know that when we stand before God one day we will feel 100% confident that God will know that we did the best job as parents that we could in every decision we made.<br />
<br />
<br />
For more information about SPD in New Zealand<br />
<a href="http://pelvicjointpain.org.nz/">http://pelvicjointpain.org.nz/</a><br />
<br />
For information about SPD in the UK<br />
<a href="http://www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/">http://www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/</a><br />
<br />
A great Osteopath in Auckland (East) - Bruce Jones<br />
<a href="http://www.naturalhealthcheckup.com/Osteopathy.php">http://www.naturalhealthcheckup.com/Osteopathy.php</a><br />
<br />
Another great Osteopath in Auckland (North) - Jil Headifen<br />
<a href="http://www.osteoworks.co.nz/">http://www.osteoworks.co.nz/</a><br />
<br />
World Renown Specialist Physio - White Rock, Vancouver, Canada - Diane Lee<br />
<a href="http://dianelee.ca/">http://dianelee.ca/</a><br />
<br />
Leading UK Physio in SPD - Lucy Walmsley<br />
<a href="http://www.physiodirectory.com/pages/Bourton_On_The_Water.php">http://www.physiodirectory.com/pages/Bourton_On_The_Water.php</a><br />
<br />
Each of the people mentioned above has helped me in my recovery from SPD. Each has a different technique in dealing with it. Please contact me if you want more information about SPD.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://pgpandspd.blogspot.com/">http://pgpandspd.blogspot.com/</a><br />
</div>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8729518486768197877.post-3934033034883204162010-10-20T18:00:00.000-10:002010-10-20T21:51:58.308-10:00LinksChristian Homeschooling an Only Child<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christianhsingonlychild/?yguid=403214763">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christianhsingonlychild/?yguid=403214763</a><br />
<br />
This is a group that I belong to on yahoo groups. It is called Christian Homeschooling an Only Child.<br />
It has been a wonderful place to meet and get ideas off other homeschoolers that are educating only children. We are quite a unique bunch & have different experiences in homeschooling to those with large families. <br />
<br />
The homeschooling community is made up of mainly families with multiple children & often we can be overlooked in regards to curriculum, homeschooling advice & Christian parenting in general. <br />
<br />
This group is a great place to get support from other homeschooling families of onlies.<br />
<br />
Here is a link to a homeschooling veteran of an only child - Donna Conner<br />
<a href="http://www.donnac.com/">http://www.donnac.com/</a>Kneeling before the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11580867040066724970noreply@blogger.com