My Early Morning Guests Suck it Up

Learning Games


Let's say you are a teacher and you want to drill a body of facts with your students. They could be math facts, note reading drill, or finding a selection in a great book, quickly. Pair up the students one on one and see who can suck it up before the other person completes his task.

What are they sucking up? M&M's or Skittles work best. And how are they sucking? With a straw. Set the timer for one minute and instruct Student A to start sucking Skittles, one at a time, and moving them from one bowl to the next until Student B finishes his task or the time is up.The contents of the bowl he is filling

 is his to keep.

Student B will not want Student A to get many Skittles so she will hustle to find the correct answers to her task. My early morning seminary guests enjoy this game very much, indeed.

The boys however lack the skill exhibited by my Senior Girl. She wins most every time. Is it her amazing recall of where the certain scripture is? Or is it the finesse she has when she moves those candies from one bowl to the next?

Another Great Game Called Scripture Man

Our Knitting Queen

Many years ago our knitting queen wanted to learn to knit. I couldn't help her because I crochet so we took her to our German neighbor. That lesson planted a seed but as seeds go, they need to grow. The stitches became more even, the projects bigger, and finally the results were lovely and useful.

I never see the queen without her knitting bag. She drools over yarns, coming over with every color imaginable and every weight possible. Last year on vacation together we spent a memorable day in a yarn shop. The owner was delightful and her back room was inhabited with happy knitters, male and female.

The yarns now days are so wonderful to the touch. The dyes rich with deep colors to provide joy to the eyes.

 I understand the temptations the queen must endure seeing fat, cozy braids of wool by the basketful.

The most recent creation was fingerless gloves for her good friend, who wanted them extra long to keep his arms warm during bike rides to work.

My personal favorite is the purple scarf I received from the queen for my birthday last year.

The work is exquisite.

 Hey, baby, it's cold outside. Maybe you can find your own queen to knit up a pearl.

My First Piano Adventures 3

Many parents ask me how long their beginning student should practice. Putting that question aside for a moment the point must be made that five and six year olds (and many sevens also) really can't be expected to practice independently. They need a practice buddy and the participating grownup is a big part of the picture. When it comes to practicing I prefer calling it "playing the piano". Creative repetition is definitely the key to this age group.

Here are D.'s hands placed on CDE. Finding this location is essential to playing his songs. I ask myself, "How many ways can I creatively get him to go there without my help?" We may find this place in other octaves on the piano or we may race to see who can put their hands there first, whatever, the goal is to help him find CDE, in the middle of the piano on his own. 

Here is J. playing "Shepard Count Your Sheep". His playing is smooth and connected. He arrived there because this is one of his favorites and he has repeated it many, many times at home and with me. 

During your playing sessions at home, let me recommend getting  in the workbook together.

Here M.is drawing notes which she does with much skill. Not every child has coordination at this age to write notes but attempting to write notes brings focus to what notes look like and how some are different indicating they are held for different lengths.

Twinkle Little Star is the first song in the book. It is exciting for our students to be able to play that all the way through without help. Here A. is showing off his diligent playing at home this week.

N. loves the CD in the back of the book. They play it in the car. Mom will get tired of it before he does. Every time he hears the CD a pathway will broaden in his brain for knowing the songs. By the time he plays the pieces they will feel like good friends. 

So, did I answer the question? Play the piano with your child every day if you can. Ten minutes may be enough for her, remember ten minutes every day is better than one half hour once a week. Creative repetition is the key!

The Rhythm of My Day 3

"Class is ready to begin. The beginning march music starts as I coax my little boy to rise up and march around the circle with me. Children and adults begin to move. This is when my son has an emotional lapse. He won't walk on his own. He wants to be carried. Why is he so clingy?" Moving to music in a large group is an emotional experience. We must bend to the will of the group and when you are only 3 feet high it can be daunting.

However, the experience is also emotionally pleasurable, especially when the group comes into the circle and we greet each other. Feeling both movement and emotion is very beneficial to the toddler. Here lies the beginning of ensemble skills.

"Developing children's space awareness means helping them understand their body's relationship to personal and general space- the where and how of movement." Having a prop can enhance free movement.

Having a prop like a stick horse brings pretend into the equation.

Music playing in the background intensifies and heightens the movement play.

Even the non-walker can feel the excitement through the arms of the caregiver. 

Movement comes before language. Going through the hoop helps the understanding of the word through.
All of these activities augment control of fingers, legs, arms, ect.
Maybe doing the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about.

Maisie Dobbs

When it comes to my reading pursuits this last year my favorite character has to be Maisie Dobbs.

       She is a creation of Jacqueline Winspear, an English writer now living in California. With a fascination with the early 1900's she writes about World War I in England; that time when the aristocracy was forced to see their servants become autonomous. Maisie is a poor girl sent to serve in the big manor house. Being precocious she gets up at 4am to sneak into the library to read and educate herself. She is discovered by the Lady of the house who is interested in her and sees more for her future. Maurice, a psychologist, detective, and intuitive, becomes her tutor. With skills that make her an amazing detective she goes out into the world and makes a way for herself.

Volume Eight is coming out in March and I have already preordered it at my local independent bookseller. I so look forward to that read.

Here is my Maisie Dobbs stash. Wait....I am missing one. The Unpardonable Lies is visiting my friend Kim who left a message last night telling me to call about class today. She was up to her eyeballs in "the book". I am telling you, you will like them! Curl up and read.

A Cozy Place to Find a Read

I am not much of a traveler but I have learned that there are two things to visit in every new place I go.One is a local art gallery and second is an independent bookseller. There you will find beautiful images of the town you are in, a source of history, and warm and talented people. I found that to be the case in Denver where the Tattered Cover gave hours of enjoyment from floor to floor. The King's English in Salt Lake City is like going to your best friend's house and having wall to wall book shelves to peruse.My town has just such a bookstore.

The Bookshop sells both old and new books with great selections. If you can't find it on their shelves they will get it for you. The space is warm and inviting.

My favorite corner to page through a new book. Look at that lamp. What do you think is on the base?

Books of course!

Meet one of the owners, Morgan. At her young and tender age she is already a business mogul. What does she do with her free time? Read. She reads and reads so that she can give good book recommendations when you come in wanting a really special book to transport you from your crazy real life. She also knits, a lot. She has knitted at my house while visiting with her friend, my daughter. They make a cozy pair to have for dinner, well I don't eat them, but I do eat up the fun conversation.

Amazon may be able to give you book recommendations but they can't cozy up with you on their couch and talk about how much you love Maisie Dobbs. (More about her later) Long live Independent Booksellers!! I wish the Shop Around the Corner was still there. So plop down on their floor sometime. You'll find something there, I promise.

www.vashonbookshop.com

Blogging Through All of January

Hurray! I have followed through on my New Year's resolution to write a blog every day in January.

I did not know on January 1st if I had enough to say to meet this goal but to my surprise I have not run out of ideas, yet. What have I learned from this venture? Life is good. I like my family, my job, and my hobbies, one of which is blogging. I like where I live and the interesting people I meet everyday. I am of good cheer.

I feel like the support I get from family and friends is the hot air which helps me to pop to the top.

 There is however, the opposition, always hovering just at the edges of my conscious. Not all of us have jobs which are secure, not all of us enjoy good health, not all of us feel secure at the end of the day.

I certainly am tempted to stay awake worrying about all the details which are not just right in my family nest. We all get pushed to the edge of our abilities and I often shrink back and say "Too scary. I can't cope with that." But on the other hand............

Paraphrasing Jeffery R. Holland, "One of the commandments the Savior Jesus Christ gave us which we routinely  break is the commandment to be of good cheer." His wife, Patricia Holland said, "Difficulties are not bad, they are just difficult."

Jesus did not overcome the world to leave us in free fall. He has cast a net. It is his robe, his robe of righteousness.