My Newborn Nephew - Joash

[announcement card done by mommy CC]

Chiao Chyi my sis in law just delivered a healthy bundle on 15th Aug and we rejoice at the new addition to our family. Little Joash:) We praise God for a safe delivery and a beautiful baby!

Clowning Around

They always start out well. Sitting obediently, observing, responding...but almost always, our homemade lessons end up with them clowning around. Haha...that's part of what it is to teach Sammy [in particular]. Sarah is always the good student. On this particular occasion, it was both of them trying to count how many legs a spider has. Both have successfully counted 8 legs but then they just couldn't resist armlocking each other in the process. 

Well...but I won't have it another way....it's truly a blessing to learn and grow with them. 

Planting Seeds

Ever since Sarah has been reading the series "Annie and Snowball" and how the flowers in Annie's garden could attract hummingbirds, she has been pestering me to buy her some seeds and gardening tools. Well, I finally found a set of inexpensive child friendly garden tools for Sarah and Sammy - I think it cost $3 or less a set. So during one of those quiet mornings, they did some planting. Loosen the soil and laid the seeds in there. Sarah is really serious about her trade. As for Sammy, he has been drowning the seeds with water the past couple of days. Hahaha..

The Evolution of the Full Moon and the Evolution of Spelling & Writing

The moon has been so irresistibly clear the past nights that I thought we just can't pass on this learning moment. So for the past few mornings, Sarah and Samuel has been coloring the moon in its different phases. It is not too accurate and I think we will standardize the circle in our next cycle. It was a great opportunity to teach them on the concept on months as well as the days of the week, the word "Moon" and the relation between Earth and Moon.

Sammy, "Mommy, why are there so many August?" 

Mommy, "Haha...Sammy there are 31 Augusts because there are 31 days in a month". 

While we are loving our moon observations, I was more excited to chart Sarah's progress in spelling  and writing. On Aug 8th, she attempted to write "Moon" with my promptings. On Aug 9th, Sarah could spell and write Moon entirely on her own and her letters are now aligned in a row. On Aug 10th, Sarah did the same on her own. 

It is really a blessing to be able to witness their learning and growth day by day. 

Jelly Drop Words - One of Our Learning to Read Tools

At least twice a week, I tried to do Jelly Drop words with Sarah and Sammy. Since I introduced Jelly Drops as a reward, it became a fun filler rather than our main learning activities. 

Doing up these words was a learning process. Initially, I wanted to print the words on cardstock and laminate. Then during one of my walks in Daiso, I saw these wonderful precut plastic cards in colors. It was perfect and definitely a timesaver. So, armed with permanent markers and The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading [bought from an expat mom] and the cards, I started the kids on this last year. But even with these cards, I had to decide which letters to alternate the colors with [the consonants or the non consonants]. Well...it took a few trial and error before writing of the cards went on an autopilot mode. I admit with many things going on last year, I wasn't as consistent as I hope to be. And I have since resolved to do this consistently this year. 

Slowly but surely, the kids are picking up the words and forming sentences with it. Just in case you think I am giving them a sugar overload, they only get 1 jelly drop for every 5 words they read and use accurately. But it looks like I need to up it to 1 jelly drop for every 7 words nowadays. 

Drama Initiation: Caps for Sale

I don't know what is the attraction of this book that has captured its readers over the years but I borrowed it anyway. And Sarah and Sammy had a blast. The first time we read it, they were enraptured and amused as the plot unfolded and revealed what happened to the caps. The second time we read it...Sarah immediately got to her feet and she started acting out as I read. Sammy quickly followed suit. Hahaha [I just wished I could yank out my phone or vado and record it all down] It was thoroughly fascinating and amusing to watch. I was amazed that they could follow every word in the book and translated it to some form of accurate albeit exaggerated movement and their innovation at picking up all their pillows and stuff toys as their imaginary caps. It was those only reserved for mommy kinda moments because the next time, I asked them to do it again in front of Daddy and Grandma....they could not do it with the initial vigor and enthusiasm. 

Well, that was our bedtime book for many days to come. A great book for bringing out the actor in your kid.