So I started this blog with the best intentions. But like many intentions - you know - drinking 8 glasses of water every day, exercising, keeping the house clean - best intentions don't always happen the way they should.
But, I made it back. And what have I been up to? Plenty.
First of all: I work full time as a teacher. Absolutely love it. It's been a fantastic year - lots of challenges, but lots of good things too. One fabulous thing that happened this term was moving into our brand new classrooms. Be jealous. I have room for 4 group tables, plus an art table, huge mat area, quiet room and - ta da! - a brand new interactive whiteboard and two new computers.
Secondly, I've begun studying for my Masters of Education, specialising in Literacy. Maybe I already blogged about this? Anyway, the first semester was HARD. Really hard. But I got through. I even got good results. I learned about pedagogy, decoding, phonology, phonemic awareness and phonics. I read up on the Reading Wars and how science now has a place in reading research. Geek that I am, I enjoyed it all. (The 4000+ word essays - did not enjoy those so much). This semester I am studying "Diagnosing Reading and Writing Difficulties" and "A Whole School Approach to Literacy".
What else? Oh yes. My babies. Mia is still my sunshine, although she can put on a dramatic storm!! Sometimes I think 4 is much worse than the Terrible Twos ever were! Aiden, he is my little smartypants. Talks up a storm. Makes me laugh every day.
Winter is here. The frost coats the garden every morning. I leave for work in the dark and return home in the dark. But Winter Soltice has passed us now, so Spring will come soon enough. I've seen a few Jonquil popping up there sunny heads! I'm looking forward to defrosting and living life without layers of clothes and a huge heating bill again! :)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Coming back.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Lamingtons
So Australia Day. It's suddenly become oh-so-political. But you know what it means to me?
It means my husband gets the day off work.
Is that shallow? No. It means we have some precious family time, during my favourite season, Summer. So of course, we go to the beach.
Again, call me shallow, naive or even dumb, but it never occured to me that Australia Day was bad. I am sorry to those who are offended by it, but please don't take it personally. It was a decision made in a different time.
So beach we went. Esky, check. Vegemite sandwiches, check. Bathers, hats, towels, sunscreen, check. Lamingtons --- yummo--- check.
For those of you who haven't experieced the lamington, I'll post a recipe. I wish I still had mum's CWA (Country Womens' Assoc.) cookbook, so instead I will use the next best cookbook, the Central Cookery book.
First, use the recipe given for Cupcakes (any Sponge recipe will work!)
125g butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 lightly beaten eggs
2 cups S.R. flour
2/3 cup of milk
pinch of salt
Beat butter and sugar til creamy. Gradually add eggs and vanilla. Fold in flour alternately with the milk until well blended.
Cook in a greased deep tin, 23cm square or a 21x29cm lamington tin. Will take about 15mins at 375F or 190C.
When cool, cut into 4x5cms squares then cool completely in fridge.
Once cool, dip each square (all sides) into chocolate icing and then roll in coconut.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Australia Day
Tomorrow is Australia Day. A day we celebrate this beautiful country. We are going to go to the beach - it's the height of summer, and even better, Simon has the day off work. I'll be sure to take my camera to capture some of the scenery!
In the meantime, here is a photo from this time last year of a sleeping Tasmanian Devil. Go here http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/ to find out more about this fascinating meat eating marsupial and see if you can help them!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Daisy
Daisy is our newest addition to our family. A two year old ragdoll who needed a loving home. She's a bit timid, and not used to noises like Dysons, washing machines or 22 month olds called Aiden who like to play the CRASH game. When the house is quiet, ie. the kids are in bed, she is quite affectionate gives smooches and love to us. Today's favourite spots have been the laundry tub and the computer desk.
Many years ago, in grade 12 Writer's Workshop I wrote this haiku about my childhood cat.
Pegging out washing,
the softness on my ankles,
announces my cat.
So simple, but so true. Somehow it got published in a small publication of the state's best grade 12 work. Slow year tht year ;)
Monday, January 11, 2010
On the way...
Mia and I have begun making an alphabet book. She already knows all her letters, but it's now time for phonemic awareness. She knows that "A is for apple and Aiden" and that it goes "a" but cannot seperate that sound from the word. So the book is simple- I found some stickers that have a letter and picture on them for each letter of the alphabet. So first Mia stuck one sticker on each double page of a large scrapbook. Then we discussed the letter and I asked her if she new it. Then I showed her how to write it, upper and lower case. Mia then copied. I'm only asking her to copy once- there's no need for rows of copying at this stage! When my focus is fine motor skills, THEN I will do that but at the moment my focus is phonic. Then we drew some things that begin with that letter. I wonder now if I should start referring to letters as phonograms? Or if it is too soon. In the near future, I will print out a bunch of pictures for her to sort, cut and paste into her book.
Due to reading name tags and flashcards and all sorts of educational games, she has also picked up capital letter knowledge but not lower case letters. So it's time to start that. It seems that lower cases are harder to write!
Although I am a follower of the Spalding method in the classroom, I am simply going in alphabetical order for now, because she is so young and needs a "practice run" before we start the phonograms approach. In 6-12 months I anticipate I will start the phonograms approach with her - the clockface letters, etc. I'm guessing that this is something that appeals to the Homeschooling family- this luxury of being able to create a curriculum that caters for the exact needs of your child.
Spoils
My sister-in-law and her fiance returned home after living over seas. We were all ecstatic to see them, but most of all were the children. Mia and Aiden were lavished with gifts and loving all weekend. Now, when I say gifts, I mean heartfelt tokens of love - souveniors from abroad. So I am thankful this week for my family. My children are doted on and loved to bits - thank you.
Also this past week, we have had three birthdays. My husband turned 34, Mia turned four, and Simon's mother celebrated her birthday today. So, parties, overindulgence and cuddling all week!
It also begs the question - these three people are very strong, very similar. Mia and her nanna are peas in a pod. Water signs, Capricorns. Is there something true in this? Where does the nature vs. nurture come into all this. I wonder. That said, all three are the most beautiful individuals who exert their free will.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Brown Thumb
Another new years resolution is to grow something edible... and not kill it before it fruits!
I'm known to kill the unkillable plants. Cactus, lillies, succulents. It was the realisation that vegetables from the supermarket are hideously expensive and tasteless made me take action. I wanted to grow some food of my own. A new challenge.
So, here are my tomato plants and strawberry plants. I planted them as seedlings but look at them now! Some fruit has started to appear... now, to keep them alive so we can enjoy them!
A new year - a time to grow
So we enter a new decade. A time to make changes, internally and externally. Life is fluid.
My first change- is to begin blogging. Computers create a challenge for me, but through social networking I have found a whole new world out there... new thoughts, viewpoints, options. Not to mention, beautiful people who make me smile, make me think, and make me wonder.
Verdant means green. Lush. Thriving. Fertile. It seems an apt title for this blog as I begin to write. Meanderings- well, no path is straight and the journey is more important than the destination. I have a wonderful husband and two dear little children who travel with me and lead me to places I didn't dream possible.
My daughter turns four this week. She is Sunshine. Suprises me constantly and soaks up knowledge. Four seems like such a momentous age - she is becoming her own entity, relying on her parents less, and finding her own truths.
My son is nearly two. He studies and ponders, but will then run around the house playing the "crash" game, which simply involves lots of screaming, banging into walls and saying CRASH, laughing and then moving onto the next wall. Whilst my daughter is strong and fiercely indepentant, my son has a sensitive soul. He already knows many truths.
This brings me to another reason for blogging. I have decided this year to not only teach full time, but to also begin studying for my Master of Education. Yikes. But, positive affirmations are my mantras, and I believe that I CAN juggle all this. I will be focussing on literacy and language learning which I am experiencing first hand through my children.
So --- here I end my first entry. Please ignore the spelling mistakes. Hah. I am sure there are some!
And of course, some daily photos....
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