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New Zealand Home Educators
Feb. 13, 2008
We made some GLOOP today and Jack just loved it, Joshua who doesn't like the feel of things like Play Doh etc hated it but he managed to have a little play as his curiosity got the better of him. The recipe we used is at the bottom and we have left the GLOOP on the table for Jessica when she comes home.
Gloop Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups cornflour
1 cup cold water
Instructions
Pour the cornflour into a bowl. Add the cold water slowly, stirring constantly and stop when the water is barely absorbed by the cornflour.
The resulting solution is fascinating to play with. It can be scooped up with the fingers as a mouldable material, but flows like liquid back into the bowl. It will brush off clothing as a dry powder.
Jack has been in a Play doh mood for the last few days and although we play with it everyday I thought a change might be in order so we made some salt dough and made some Australian themed things.
Well should i say we intended to make some Australian themed things but Joshua put it all in the too hard basket, while Jessica made a Kangaroo with a Joey in it's pouch and then moved onto something she found easier a horse and foal sleeping together. I made a map of Australia and Jack used a cutter after lots of knife cutting and rolling and cut out a bear and cat, they are still drying so maybe someday soon we will be able to paint them.
Here is the recipe;
4 Cups of flour,
1 Cup of salt,
1-1.5 Cups of hot water [from tap]
1 Teaspoon of oil [optional]
Mix the salt and flour together add the water gradually and the oil if used, knead until it becomes elastic.
Last night was amazing, after having rain all week we managed to have a lovely fairly clear night after all, just when the time was right the cloud's seemed to part and the moon shone first brightly then became dark and eventually the red glow was visible.
We got our blankets, chairs and pillows and sat our on the deck it was a long process and on a very crisp early spring night it was hard to keep warm but we sang songs and laughed and joked until we managed to see what we were all waiting for. It was well worth the wait.
Here are our completed enlarged maps, we are going to compile everything together that we learn about Australia and put it onto the map then use it as the cover for our book about Australia.
Today we were learning about the Great Barrier Reef, we found out that you can see it from space, and it is the world's largest Coral reef system, composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands, stretching for 2600kms over an area approx 344,400 square kms.
Uluru also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the Southern part of the Northern territory.
This is Jessica's map showing the major mountains and bodies of water that she researched today.
Monday's are always Library days so we went and got out some books on Australia.
Then we came home and drew the Australian Flag, it is quite similar to New Zealand's Flag.
Jessica wanted to draw some of the animals native to Australia.
Both Joshua and Jessica wrote their own version in story format of the first part of our Journey, from packing our bags to leaving for the airport and going to Australia, then we did a little reading in from the library books on facts on Australia.
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I have a son that hates to write, so rather than just writing nothing or boring stuff as he calls it I try to make it as interesting as possible.
Here is a list of Ideas I have that I go to from time to time, of course we also do things like copy writing, story writing, Journal writing etc but this wasy he gets a variety of things to write about and each idea can be used in deifferent ways so the list really is neverending.
- Lists
- Questions
- Commentary
- Lost and found notice
- Formal complaint
- Notes
- Minutes from familt meeting
- Wanted notice
- Chart
- Recipe
- Forecast
- Definition
- Instructions
- Excuses
- Game rules
- Timetable
- Graph
- Theory
- Directions
- Labels
- Job application
- C.V
- Advertisement
- Rules
- Invitation
- Placard
- Warning
- CD Cover
- Submission
- Menu
- Poster
- Quiz
- Certificate
- Puzzle
- Postacrd
- Jokes
- Quotations
- Questionaire
- Review
- Survey
- Pamphlet
- Diary
- Autobiography
- Biography
- Letter
- Research
- Report
- Family Histroy
- Brochure
- Handbook
- Textbook
- Protest
- Argument
- Legend
- Character Sketch
- Fable
- Bedtime stroy
- Filmstrip
- Play
- Recount
- Riddle
- Commercial
- Sci-fi story
- Poem
- Short Story
- Lyrics
- Slogan
- Book Jacket
- Article
- Desription
- News Report [paper]
- Fantasy Story
- Personal Observation
- Editorial
- Synopsis
- Interview
- Catalogue
- News Broadcast
- Cartoon Strip
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The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of
coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large
and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas
between the golf balls.
He asked the students again if the jar was now full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. "Yes" was the reply.
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty
space between the grains of sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things: your family, your children, your health, your friends
and your favourite passions. And if everything else was lost and only
they remained; your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house
and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the
small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important
to you.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play
with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse
out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean
the house and fix the shower. Take care of the golf balls first - the
things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee
represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."
We have decided to travel around the world using our imaginations, the Internet and of course books.
We have started off in Australia and you can see more of our travels as we get along.
We started off with enlarging a map of Australia using a grid. It took Joshua out of his comfort zone and he really had to concentrate on what he was doing but managed it and I think he was proud of his efforts as normally he would give up on something like this that takes effort.
 Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Jessica,
Happy Birthday to you.
Jessica had a great 12th birthday on Saturday, she started the day at 1.30am as she was so excited she came in and asked if she could have her presents yet, of course I was a meany and said NO, so off she toddles to bed where she lay awake until falling asleep come time after 4am. I had to wake her up at 6.30am and tell her to come into bed with me and open her pressies.
I think she was happy with what she got especially her mobile phone and of course her Littlest Pet Shop animals and house.
She had her friend Sarah come and stay over for the night, they played and giggled the night away before a yummy dinner of junk food and mess lol.
Next day was spent playing, reading and more giggling before coming back to reality, an early night and some well earn t sleep.
We started to use igniting your writing today, it was recommended to me by a friend with a reluctant writer like myself, you can have a look at it here at homeschoolestore and there is a little about it below, I know it is not very Waldorf but I have come to the conclusion with Joshua that I have to do what works at the time and not fight over things.
 Multi-level writing curriculum offers 24 lessons covering 6 areas of writing skills needed for any kind of writing. Each lesson has 3 levels: Startup, Intermediate, and Advanced. Choose the level based on the student’s writing ability rather than age or grade.
Startup level works well with reluctant and unwilling writers and with beginning writers. Lighthearted assignments are clearly defined so the student knows exactly what to do and how to do it. The student feels immediate success, which builds writing confidence.
Intermediate and Advanced levels will inspire higher levels writers.
Go through Igniting Your Writing! with one student several times at increasingly higher levels, or use for more than one student at a time.
Teacher’s Guide is included with each lesson linked to its corresponding Teacher’s Guide page.
This is the view we have at the end of our road, a 2 minute walk and we are at Lake Rotorua, it is really amazing and sometimes I have to pinch myself that we have such an amazing amount of scenery on our doorstep.
The 3 kiwi's love to sit on the little bridges this is one of the many they play on and explore as we walk each day.
Here is a drainage pipe that goes over the creek, the kids were daring each other to walk the plank so to speak, they both managed to get over and back although Jessica found it a little scary.
We met up with Jessica's most favourite animal in the whole world we even managed to snap this photo of Jack having a pat.
These are just a few of the great things we see along one of our many walking tracks, as well as million dollar homes, sheep, chickens, boats, jet ski's, you name it we see it, we have everything on our doorstep who could want anything more?
Well Joshua did a little work and although he finds school really hard we had a bit of a chat yesterday and got a few things sorted so i am hoping that we understand each others needs a little better, so here he is head down doing his maths.
Jessica as always the willing worker, she got stuck into some maths today, we are trying a few things differently for a few days and will see what happens I am hoping it changes things a little.
As for Jack he had a busy day, as usual if I can keep the older 2 children on task I have much more time to play and enjoy Jack, he painted a picture first things this morning, then he helped me with something yummy for morning tea.
Here he is as proud as anything with his little muffins and scones that he helped to make for Joshua and Jessica to eat while working, we made a little picnic out on the deck and sat and absorbed the Spring morning sun.
Joshua and Jessica worked together today to make a small patchwork pillow or small quilt out of the old scrap material box.
 They got the idea after they found the cat trying to sleep on the old material so though he would like some bedding made from it, they were sewing until they could sew no more today, either that or hunger took over lol, they are teenage bottomless pits.
All learning is remembering.
All teaching is reminding.
All lessons are memories recaptured.
All knowledge is within.
We have had a rough couple of days this last week with a visit from the children's father after not seeing them for nearly 2 years so I decided to spend some time in the garden well should I say Jack and I.
This is what the garden looked like before we started to work. we only moved here a few weeks ago so nothing has been touched for a long time and in need of some TLC, I am also in need of some fresh produce.
We found some potatoes hidden in the garden.
And some kumara's [sweet potatoes]
This is what we have to work with now. Now we will save up and buy some veges for it and be able to have fresh produce again. I ended up with all the kids helping what was going to be me and little Jack soon found Jessica creeping out to see what we were up to and Joshua had already refused to do any schoolwork today[hopefully just a teenage phase he is going through] so we worked hard and had this to be proud of.
We have been reading more Greek Myths and here are Jessica's work for today, she is really enjoying them, she loves to draw from what she reads.
Jessica managed to get through 3 or 4 Myths today.
Here is Joshua's effort, he has a hard time with some of the things I ask him to do and he really dislikes any form of drawing, it takes him out of his comfort zone so any effort is appreciated from him.
So here we are on Monday again, and off to a great start, we started the day with our circle time, where we read a poem and then did a little multiplication round the circle game, then we read one of the Grimm's Fairy tales. We all said one thing that we were thankful and then moved on to our art for the day.
We always used to start our days off with some kind of art or drawing but for some reason we went away from it, we have decided to go back to that as it was a positive time of day where we were all sat at the table creating something. Above is Joshua's sun [this is a hard thing for Joshua as he really does not like to be creative so any attempt is great for him]
Here is Jessica's picture for the day she named it 'The immortal sun'.
Here is Jack's work of art, he loves to paint and it is hard to get him away from it once started.
Here is our Nature table starting we don't tend to have a flow with it more just been creative, Jessica's finished doll decided to play a part in it and Jessica made a mermaid out of a clothes peg and some shiny material. They brought some spring flowers in from outside and Jack created the Sun on the backdrop. I prefer the children are creative and like it to be all there own work not a mummy produced thing.
While Joshua and Jessica were reading their Greek Myths Jack and I made some playdoh, it was supposed to be blue but we didn't have enough food colouring so it ended up with a little red as well and became purple.
Jessica couldn't resist playing with the warm playdoh on a cold morning as it warmed up her hands.
Just down the road from us is a magnificent forest, it is called the Redwood Forest, you can walk on tracks for miles and go mountain biking all day long if you desire. We go for many walks there and have a lovely time, we go in Summer a lot as it is a few degrees cooler under the tree's than outside a welcome retreat from the summer months and pretty to go with it.
 Famous for its magnificent stands of towering Californian Coastal Redwoods. Not to mention taking in superb panoramic views of Rotorua City, Lake and surrounding district.
These Characters are carved out of some of the Redwood tree's below and make the entrance to the Redwood Forest an eye catcher.
Jack been the little one in the house is the easiest of the children to photograph, he still loves been the centre of attention, above is a photo of him making a sunshine for our nature table, we are in the middle of starting our Spring one and he wanted to make a sunshine, so with all his effort he managed to cut out a circle like structure and then glues on some yellow/orange pieces to make it look like a sun. He was so proud of his efforts and loves to see it on the Nature background.
Here Jack is with his Humdinger set, I am not sure if you have these sets in the rest of the world, but here in New Zealand we have them and they consist of lots of wooden bits and pieces that you can use your imagination to build lots of different things, there are no rules, just wooden objects with holes in them and poles to stick in the side and secure with balls on the end, he loves this activity and made himself a mower he said, you can see it at the bottom of the photo towards the left a push mower to mow mummy's lawn, lol, imagination is such a great tool to have.
Written by a teacher with more than 25 years of experience, this book offers a jargon-free view of Waldorf schools with their philosophy of the importance of a three-dimensional education. Through learning experiences that involve all of the senses, children use a variety of intelligences to develop thought, feeling, and intentional, purposeful activity. Whether you_re a Waldorf parent or teacher, or you just want to learn more about these innovative educational concepts, this book contains important ideas on learning that you can apply today.
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In numerous lectures and through teaching teachers for the first Waldorf school, Rudolf Steiner described and suggested methods of education based on the rhythmic unfolding of spirit, soul, and physiology in children as they grow. In each section of "Rhythms of Learning," Waldorf teacher Roberto Trostli introduces the reader to lectures on specific aspects of children's rhythms of development and how Waldorf education responds. We are shown how Waldorf teachers must, through their own inner capacities and awareness, learn to recognize and meet each new stage of development in children as they unfold new capacities on every level of their being.
This collection is the clearest introduction to the ideas of Waldorf education currently available. "Rhythms of Learning" contains Steiner's most important lectures on teaching and child development. It is an excellent resource for everyone interested in taking education successfully into the 21st century.
The Arrow And The lamp-The Story of Psyche
 Here is Jessica's work today she has read the book and then drew her interpretation of it.
 She then wrote me a summary of the book.
Psyche is beautiful, intelligent and young and Aphrodite cannot bear it. So she sends her son Eros to inflict on Phsyche the worst punishment she can contrive for her. Struck by Psyche's innocent beauty, however, Eros finds that he cannot carry out the task.
[as taken from the book flap]
I have always wanted an area just for books, normally in every house we have been in there have been book cases in every room including the hallways so this time when we moved to the new house there was an inbuilt large sturdy bookcase so decided to use the corner as it was also out of the way and put all the bookcases together, so this is the first of the areas I have worked on in getting this house sorted, we have only been here 3 weeks so i think we are doing ok.
I have to say it looks smaller in the photo than it really is, there are 4 large bookcases in this area and we still have one in each of the bedrooms for the children's personal books.
We seem to have had a creative thing going on today, Jessica has gone on a doll making craze, so here she is cutting out her wee doll.
 Joshua has had a thing for woodwork today and decided to make the cat a bed/house, complete with bedding.
 They actually sat together and worked and chatted, it was lovely to see rather than their normal sibling rivalry. Here Jessica is stuffing her doll.
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