Maths games using balls/beanbags and buckets

I was thinking about teaching active children, the other day, and I thought of an adding game for young children who love to run around

You will need: 
3 buckets
Quite a few bean bags or balls - Click HERE to watch a short video on making your own beanbags (while doing a search for a make your own beanbag video - it looks like in the US there's a game called cornhole beanbag - that's the kind of thing I mean when I say beanbag)

Have a start line which the child stands behind.
Fill one bucket with the beanbags or balls and place it away from the child
Place the other 2 buckets next to the child

The object of the game is to teach addition. So you give the child a sum (e.g. 4+3) and they run back and forth fetching beanbags or balls to put in the buckets - one bucket will end up with 4 and the other 3. When the correct amount are in each bucket - let the child count them and tell you the answer. 

You could use the balls/beanbags and buckets for subtraction

Put a certain amount of balls/beanbags in a bucket - say for example 8, then ask the child to take away 2. You could have another bucket, a bit further away for the child to throw the subtracted balls/beanbags into. They throw the 2 balls/beanbags away and then count the ones which are left - that's their answer!

If you had a few buckets you could always play a divide game with them and the balls/beanbags.

Human Rights vs 'Illegal' Home Education

The United Nations Human Rights Charter:

Article 26

 1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. 
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. 
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. 

The European Convention on Human Rights:

[Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Paris, 20.III.1952 The Governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe, Being resolved to take steps to ensure the collective enforcement of certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in Section I of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November1950 (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”),]

ARTICLE 2

Right to education:

No person shall be denied the right to education. In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.


One wonders how Home Education can remain illegal in nations like Germany when they have put their 'names' to the ECHR, which clearly says:  the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions. Surely this includes Home Education?

Then there is the UDHR [Universal Declaration of Human Rights], which Germany must also have signed up to which says: 3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. 

Sources: 
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/eng.pdf
http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.pdf

Education Reform

Liberalism and socialist agenda seem to dominate our education system. THIS is a newspaper report from Brighton at the beginning of this year. Why should children HAVE to identify their gender? It's ludicrous. 

The Education Dept has lost its focus on what educating a child means. Schools aren't there to be used as a political platform, for the government to push its own agenda and 'values' (such as they are). Schools should be academically focused - surely that's why they were set up originally. 

I also think parents have lost focus on what school really means. Many children are being sent without breakfast - it's not the duty of the schools to provide care before school. Whatever happened to parenting? Some schools even clean their pupils' teeth! THIS article from 2013 states

"Latest NHS data shows that dental problems are now the fourth most common reason young people under 17 are admitted to hospital. According to other recent statistics, around 33 per cent of 12-year-olds have some kind of cavity."

What has happened to schooling? What has happened to parenting? 

What the UK needs (including those devolved education systems), is education reform. A realisation that schools should be there to teach subjects, which develop a child's understanding of the world around them and prepares them academically for their chosen profession! NO political agendas; NO liberal agenda, just pure academic teaching, with help and support for those children who have special needs. 

Inspections should raise the morale of the teaching staff, instead, teachers dread them, because they know they will never be good enough for the inspectors. 

Parents should step up and not complain about the teachers if their child isn't doing well at school - set the example, spend time with your child, they are not a burden!

Read THIS today and this isn't the answer. By opening Grammar schools in the poorest areas of England is like taking a tiny sticking plaster to heal a gaping wound. 

For children to succeed, they need the support of their parent(s), but a lot (not all) people who are caught in the poverty trap have their own problems, without being able to deal effectively with their children's education. 

Ask teachers who work in poor areas, generally the children receive little support at home. IF a parent wasn't interested in education because their parents weren't, then perhaps they can't help their children or they don't see a pressing need to help, because they're doing fine (on 'the dole', in a low paid job etc). It's a downward spiral which needs to be addressed and halted! 

The root of the problem needs to be dealt with before anything else, or as previously said, it would be like taking a tiny sticking plaster to heal a gaping wound! 

Overview of the Finnish education system

Education system

Equal opportunities to high-quality education

The main objective of Finnish education policy is to offer all citizens equal opportunities to receive education. The structure of the education system reflects these principles. The system is highly permeable, that is, there are no dead-ends preventing progression to higher levels of education.

The focus in education is on learning rather than testing. There are no national tests for pupils in basic education in Finland. Instead, teachers are responsible for assessment in their respective subjects on the basis of the objectives included in the curriculum.

The only national examination, the matriculation examination, is held at the end of general upper secondary education. Commonly admission to higher education is based on the results in the matriculation examination and entrance tests.

Governance has been based on the principle of decentralisation since the early 1990s. Education providers are responsible for practical teaching arrangements as well as the effectiveness and quality of the education provided. Local authorities also determine how much autonomy is passed on to schools. For example budget management, acquisitions and recruitment are often the responsibility of the schools.

Polytechnics and universities enjoy extensive autonomy. The operations of both polytechnics and universities are built on the freedom of education and research. They organise their own administration, decide on student admission and design the contents of degree programmes.

Most education and training is publically funded. There are no tuition fees at any level of education. In basic education also school materials, school meals and commuting are provided free of charge. In upper secondary education students pay for their books and transport. In addition, there is a well-developed system of study grants and loans. Financial aid can be awarded for full-time study in upper secondary education and in higher education.

From: http://www.oph.fi/english/education_system

MOM HACKS | The Holidays!! (Ep. 4)

MOM HACKS | Laundry! (Ep. 3)

MOM HACKS | Grocery Shopping! (Ep.1)

MOM HACKS | Arts & Crafts (ep. 2)

Finland's education system

I am very interested in Finland's education system . I don't know a great deal about it, but what I have read about, I've been impressed with!

HERE is an article I found on the internet for anyone who is interested!

Education and hydrochloric acid

When Christians justify sending their children into the secular humanist education system and saying Mr or Mrs so and so is a Christian so all is fine, is like filling up a bath with hydrochloric acid, putting a few vitamin drops in it and declaring - of course it's ok, there are vitamins in it!

Carolyn Davison January 2016 

Periodic Table Battleships

This is a neat idea I saw on Facebook so thought I would share it on here!

Click HERE to go to the website

Listen to the song about the elements HERE - sung by Tom Lehrer!

Quote about intolerance

The most intolerant of men are those who scream for tolerance, while not tolerating anyone who disagrees with them

Carolyn Davison 2015

Phonebloks

Technology and Toddlers

When I first started working with children, home computers, mobile phones, ,tablets etc were a thing of the future. The only people to have mobile phones (more like bricks) were the 'YUPPies' in London so technology wasn't an issue. Children played with tangible toys, not just pictures on a screen. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's great for children to use technology for play, but I don't think it should be used all the time. 
All aspects of development are important to children, not just whether they can use the latest gadget or not. If a parent finds it convenient to give their child an iPad to play with all day instead of stimulating their offspring with 'real' toys, could they be inhibiting their developmental progress? I say - Yes they could be! Is this a bold statement coming from someone who is living in the past? No I don't think it is!
One thing I've always been keen on is the developmental progress of children so let me explain my reservations on technology taking the place of real toys.

Gross Motor Movement - this is things like walking, running, cycling, rolling over etc. Anything using big movements. If children are sat in front of an iPad or other tablet, they are not developing the larger movements needed to grow and develop. 

Fine Motor Movement - this is when children learn to pick up those first fiddly jigsaw pieces, the one on one (that's what I call them) jisaws which have shapes cut out of a wooden board or picking up other fiddly objects (not necessarily small one). Holding a pencil also comes in this category. Tablets etc do not allow for the development of fine motor movement. Picking up a knife and fork - again requires fine motor movement. 

Manipulative skills (no, not twisting mum and dad around their little finger :) ), dexterity, - handling things, feeling textures, being able to physically put the object into the space, moving objects about in their hands, twisting and turning those objects - all good for development.

Hand eye co-ordination - although many apps have games where you need hand eye co-ordination, they are almost false because of the way the games are played - grab and drag. To manipulate a jigsaw puzzle piece in 'real life' uses different skills compared to a computer screen. Hand eye co-ordination is also involved with skills like throwing at a target, catching something with both hands or one hand.

Social development - it makes me laugh when I see people together but separate because they are too busy looking at their phones. We all need to develop socially and children do this by meeting up with other children, whether in nursery or playgroups, at the park. I don't think it's good for children to become reliant on technology to entertain them all the time because it's important for them to socialise and learn social skills, communication skills etc Different stages of play can't be developed and monitored, if the child is on their own playing on a tablet.  

Speech and language (S&L) development - OK the apps may have speech games, but from my experience a lot of those games are tailored for the American Market (not wanting to offend my wonderful readers from the US). Speaking to your child is very important for speech and language development, to have a lasting bond with your child. Reading stories from a book can help develop S&L, help with spelling, dexterity [turning pages] and reading skills. When my sons were small (babies of about 4 months) I started reading to them (before then [from birth] I spoke to them). I let them look at the words as well as the pictures and I would run my finger under the words as I spoke them. I asked them questions about the pictures - what colour is the coat? How many rabbits are there? etc - all these things help to develop speech, language, cognition, reading and spelling skills.

Entertainment - OK this isn't a form of development, but I do wonder if children become bored so quickly because they have to be entertained all the time. New apps, new gadgets, change change change! OK change can be good but when it inhibits the development of a child, is it good? Children need the latest app, the latest gadget, the latest this, the latest that, no wonder they get bored quickly.

This is only really the tip of the iceberg and I expect I haven't covered everything, but I hope, if you are a parent, you will see the importance of not using technology all the time to keep your child entertained, but other means of play are very important to encourage all areas of development.

A Mother's Tasks

I receive Grace Gems in my Inbox, daily! I thought I would post this one for all Christian mothers out there!

A mother's tasks!

(J.R. Miller, "Intimate Letters on Personal Problems" 1914)

I know well that a mother's tasks in the home, caring for her children, are not light. It is no easy thing to go on in the same routine, day after day, week after week, month after month . . .
  always keeping sweet,
  always having a shining face and a cheerful word,
  always strong to meet every question and perplexity and difficulty which comes to you.

But I want to say a word of encouragement to you. The mother 's place is the highest place to which any woman can be called! When God puts into your hand a little child . . .
  to care for,
  to guide,
  to teach,
  to watch over,
  to inspire and train for life and eternity--
He puts upon you serious responsibility.
But He also promises the strength you need, and the help for every experience.

One of Augustine's great prayers was, "Command what You will--and then give what You command." That is the way God always does, if we trust Him and go forward in simple confidence. Whatever Hecommands us to do--He will help us to do. Nothing is impossible when we have Christ with us and in us.

I want to help you to enter upon your days, whatever their care may be, with the confidence that your Master is with you and is going to help you to get through everything beautifully, victoriously and sweetly.

It is a great thing to be able to live victoriously, amid all the cares and frets and frictions and trials of everyday life.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Philippians 4:13

   ~  ~  ~  ~ 

We have published John Abbott's short article, "The Mother's Responsibility".

   ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Feel free to forward this gem onto other Christian mothers!

Easter Egg Treats

Another idea from Small Steps Magazine page on FaceBook

Simple Easter Bunny Basket

This idea came from Small Steps Magazine page on FaceBook

Love verses Lust

I saw this on Facebook - perhaps it is something we should show our children!

101 Household Tips for Every Room in Your Home

Some of these are whacky, but some are really good

http://www.glamumous.co.uk/2013/03/101-household-tips-for-every-room-in.html

Character Studies (Contenders/Keepers)

1. Attentiveness
2. Character
3. Charity
4. Cheerfulness
5. Compassion
6. Contentment
7. Courage
8. Dependability
9. Determination
10. Devotion
11. Diligence
12. Discernment
13. Discretion
14. Enthusiasm
15. Faith
16. Faithfulness
17. Forbearance
18. Forgiveness
19. Generosity
20. Gentleness
21. Godliness
22. Goodness
23. Gratefulness
24. Helpfulness
25. Honesty
26. Hope
27. Humility
28. Initiative
29. Integrity
30. Joy
31. Kindness
32. Long-suffering
33. Meekness
34. Mercy 
35. Modesty
36. Obedience
37. Orderlliness
38. Patience
39. Peace
40. Peacemaking
41. Perseverance
42. Purity
43. Respectfulness
44. Responsibility
45. Sincerity
46. Steadfastness
47. Temperance
48. Thoughtfulness
49. Trustworthiness
50. Truthfulness
51. Willingness 
52. Wisdom