The numeracy hour

Thursday 7th February 2013

In school learning is divided up into subject headings and then timetabled into neat one hour(ish) slots. One of theses hours accurs everyday and is entitled numeracy. It is typically an hour but was actually designed to be 45 minutes. Well today I spent an hour doing numeracy with the boys. We covered addition, subtraction, number bonds to 10, higher and lower numbers, tens and units, comparisons, difference between, mental arithmetic, space and shape, direction, weight, length, mass and comparative measures...we just happened to be bowling at the same time. The boys opted to go bowling again this week and we had the whole place to ourselves. They had most fun pointing the ramp aid in different directions and making the bowling ball bounce down the alley, they did also use it to try and knock down the skittles. But this week they noticed the numbers that kept appearing on the screen and asked lots of questions about what they were hence the maths lesson!

It was rather a number day from there on in. Pumpkin is finding numbers and counting everywhere atm. We went to the farm shop for our weekly dose of fruit and veg and spent quite a time looking at prices on different items.

The day had begun with the farm and animals coming out and being sorted into different paddocks and lined up. Very intriguing self directed play. Great for an observation but not sure what it tells me...Bean likes to organise! Or maybe just, he can sort and order.

The biggest development for Plum today was....da da da daaaa (trumpet announcement) Plum took her first step. Such an exciting moment even the third time round. So thrilled.

The biggest development in our home ed journey is that Bean asked me to help him learn his letters this afternoon. I'm wondering if this will progress in the same way that his favoured topics do, on and off, little here, little there, or whether he will see himself acquiring a skill as we go through words and letters together rather than the gaining knowledge and if he'll stick at it longer than dipping in and out. We'll see. Can't help but still be excited!