This week we returned to the topic of numeracy, having spent well over a month on nothing but literacy with the odd splash of science and play dough modelling thrown in for good measure! No, but seriously, we have been concentrating very hard on raising the boys' standard of literacy and I'm now satisfied enough with their progress - D. roughly a year ahead of what he would be doing in school right now, and M. working at a very satisfactory level considering his disabilities - to feel able to move on and change topic. So it's back to number work!
This move has not pleased the boys, who have grown perhaps a little too comfortable with their writing worksheets and daily reading tasks. The first few days back at the numberface has thrown them off balance; there's been the odd scene of outright rebellion, with occasional cries of 'I can't do this!' so that additional help and support from me has been required most days to complete their tasks.
This may not sound like much fun. And I know there's a lot of emphasis in home schooling circles on work being 'fun'. But, frankly, if I only ever gave the boys easy things to do, there wouldn't be much advantage in doing them. I think children - and adults, in fact - learn most when they feel the most challenged. Often, it's only in feeling uncomfortable and then slowly realising we can cope after all that we begin to make personal and educational strides. Too hard is counterproductive, of course. No argument there. But just tough enough to demand full concentration and the finding of new solutions sounds about right to me.
Besides which, after a week of numbers, they do seem to be enjoying themselves far more than when we started! I think they were just out of practice ...
Ideas for Maths-Related Home Activities
To complement the number sheets they've been doing - i.e. actual written sums, adding up to no more than 12 - the boys have also been using their maths skills in the following activities this week: baking bread, making chocolate rice crispy cakes, planting seeds in our new mini-greenhouse, playing 'shop' with a plastic till and assorted food tins and packets, and using a builder's measuring tape to measure various items around the house so we can talk about area, width and height -- plus which furniture will fit into a particular space, and which won't!
An added advantage of this was talking about shape and space: beds and doors as rectangles, windows and work-tables as squares, the relative scarcity of triangles, ovals etc. about the house and garden.
The task of drawing a garden windmill we bought on our trip to the seaside last month also came in handy, maths-wise, as each individual windmill on the stick was made up of a spiral inside a circle, so we were able to discuss those shapes as well! I think the boys also found it a relief just to relax and do some painting and drawing for a few hours after working hard at their maths.
A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body
We've also pushed on with our healthy eating regime. The boys are now always asking 'What's in this food?' when their dinner is served, demanding to know ratios of vitamins and minerals, calories, fat and fibre.
This has led us on to discuss percentages and how they work, as seen on the sides of many food packets now. So even lunch time can become maths time for a few minutes before they start tucking in!
This quick and easy-to-make lunch consists of a warmed wholemeal pitta bread, stuffed with cheddar cheese, baby spinach, lollo rosso & rocket, and served with a helping of fresh banana & strawberry fruit salad sprinkled with walnuts and sunflower seeds.
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