Sunny Day in the Sandpit

International Play Association conference in Wales

2011-06-28T21:51:00.002+12:00

Playcentre is sending a delegation to the International Play Association in Wales next week. Including me! Can't believe it's finally come around, after having planned this for over a year.

Playcentre is doing a kapahaka workshop, and symposium of several related papers (and discussion), and a static display with poster and dvd.

Just have final preparations to make. Actually write down the words for the presentation (;-) and get the business cards printed. And pack, of course.

Very exciting.

weather

2011-01-18T19:09:00.002+13:00

It has been really odd weather here today. We're not used to humidity - that's an Auckland phenomenon - but we have had it today. Hot, hot, hot, and then it suddenly rains, but doesn't cool the day off, and hot, hot again.

Despite that I got outside to play with the water trough and hose, and sandpit, with the little kids for quite a while this afternoon. I was surprised at how dry the soil was when I did some weeding. Toddlers with buckets soon fixed that :-)

After dinner, and I was just sitting outside in my arm chair, watch the westering sun illuminate the black rain clouds. I was able to scarper back inside (with my upholstered chair) at the first drop.

I suppose we should take the kids to the beach. They can swim in rain or shine, and it'll cool them off.

Happiness is...

2011-01-17T20:05:00.003+13:00

...three kinds of cake for dessert!

Well, there were three kins of cake, but we couldn't manage to eat them all for one dessert. We'll probably have to have some of one of them for breakfast, and there will still be more of all of them.

How did we come to have such a abundance of confections, you ask?

It was Rowena's birthday last week. But she was at camp, so this afternoon Elanor made a chocolate cake for her birthday, iced with chocolate icing and pink writing and blue flowers. Good job Elanor!

But at the same time Rowena was at afternoon tea at a friend's house (Sophie). The friend had made a cake for Rowena's birthday too (carrot), AND a cake for Anna's birthday as well (chocolate). But Anna wasn't able to come, so they had two large cakes and only 4 girls to eat them.

Sophie has a small family, so when it was time to come home she gave Rowena half of each cake to bring with her. So Rowena arrived home with 2 x 'nearly half' cakes, each about 10 cm tall - that's a LOT of cake!

Of course we sang for the one Elanor had made, and cut that first. Then we (not Ro - she was already ahead) had carrot cake too. But the 2nd chocolate cake (and all the other leftover cake) is just going to have to wait for breakfast. Or supper... :-)

Back to blogging

2011-01-16T17:36:00.001+13:00

Ok, so the title is aspirational, but perhaps it would be good to blog occassionally.

My dedicated reader (only one!) has noticed my absence from the blogosphere, and commented on this with regret. I blame it all on facebook, which encourages quick, low effort, updates. But if I do one post today, that will be one more than last year, and you never know - it might become a habit.

(The theory is that if you perform an action every day for a month it will become a habit, and will become easier to maintain. Not yet sure if I have a commitment to one month...)

Anyway, what is today like here? Hot, windy, and I'm tired because I've just come back from one of those weekend meetings I have.

I did say on the Friday that I'd realised that I need to take better care of myself, and I do need to sleep. (This caused some amusement among my friends/colleagues, as I'm the one who gets my '2nd wind' in the evening and is then able to work until quite late.) And that perhaps we should agree to stop for the night at dinner, or 9pm, or something. Obviously we didn't agree that very strongly, because we worked much longer both evenings. Oh well... they can't say it's me keeping them up ever again.

That said, it was a useful, productive, and relatively relaxed meeting, so it's all good. And we seem to have gelled as a team and understanding each others' working styles.

Nice to be back with family this afternoon.

2009-09-26T07:44:00.004+12:00

Mum and Dad are staying with Annie and family for the week. (They have come up to go to the World of Wearable Arts show this evening.)

Yesterday we took a drive to Palmerston North to see Grandma. That's dad's mum. She's 98 and living in a old folks home now.

Our visit was a surprise to her, and she was very pleased to see us. Big smiles. We chatted for a while, but it turns out that she is deafer than I had thought. I thought I was talking loudly and slowly telling her all about Katie being in Austria, but I wasn't sitting right next to her, so I think she missed most of it. Later she asked me about Katie - what's she doing now, is she at university, etc. So I sat right next to Grandma and told the story again. (I think I will write her a letter.)
The light was strong coming in the window, so Annie and my faces are in shade unfortunately. I was pleased I had the camera and remembered to get it out. I whipped off the first photo of Grandma (with mum) very quickly, as she gets tired of having her photo taken quite quickly and turns her face away. But something happened to make her laugh while we were setting up the 2nd groups, which meant she was a bit more animated for the photos.

Anzac Biscuits

2009-09-12T15:48:00.004+12:00

Here is the recipe for Anzac Biscuits, out of the Edmond's Cook Book.

125g flour
150g sugar
1 cup coconut
1 cup rolled oats
100g butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon biarb soda
2 tablespoons boiling water

Mix together flour, sugar, coconut and rolled oats. Melt butter and golden syrup. Dissolve bicarb soda in the boiling water and add to butter and golden syrup. Make a well in the centre of flour, stir in the liquid. Place in spoonfuls on greased trays. Bake 15 to 20 minutes at 180 C (350 F).

And here is Elanor with her biscuits made today.

2009-09-10T15:36:00.002+12:00

Sophie does Workshop as a subject at school. This is because she likes making things. She would have also done Soft Materials ('clothing' in another era), but they make really lame items in the 3rd form apparently.

So this year S has had units on wood (she made a tiny bookshelf - a divided box really) and metalwork (a cast frog). Her latest unit was on plastics.

Sophie finished her clock and was able to bring it home the day after Katie left for Austria. She was a bit disappointed that she couldn't show Katie - so, here it is!

Katie's rose

2009-09-05T19:47:00.003+12:00

Matt gave Katie a really lovely single rose a couple of days before she went away. We have been enjoying looking at it. I thought I would post a photo so Kate could look at it again too. It's lasting really well.

Chocolate Chip Biscuit recipe

2009-09-03T10:22:00.003+12:00

I found this recipe typed out while cleaning Katie's room after she left. Don't know where it has come from, but I thought I would copy it here in case she wanted it.

Chocolate Chip Biscuits

125g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cups self raising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
200g chocolate

Method:
Preheat over to 180. Grease trays. Beat butter and sugar to cream, (electric mixer if you have one). Add vanilla; beat in egg. Beat in flour and salt slowly. Mix in chocolate bits with wooden spoon. Roll dessert spoonfuls of mixture into balls, place on tray. Allow for spreading. Bake for about 12-15 mins or until golden.

If you have plain flour, remember to add some baking powder as well so they'll rise!

Happy birthday Sophie

2009-08-27T12:50:00.003+12:00

Yesterday was Sophie's 14th birthday. Happy Birthday Sophie!!

Grandad came over for dinner, and we have lasagna and salad, followed by chocolate cake and cream, and then chocolates that Grandad had brought. We had balloons and candles, but I'll have to get some more, as I used up all the ones I had on hand.
Sophie has been wanting to turn 14 because now she is old enough to babysit for other people's children (and potentially get paid for it!), and she really likes some of the little 'friends' that I used to provide childcare for up to the end of last year. She has really missed seeing the little children after school and in holidays.

This might be an excuse for her to catch up with some of them. We often intend to invite them around for coffee and a play (coffee for the mothers - a play for the children), but, like many good intentions, we haven't actually got around to it yet. I do see some of the mothers and children at playgroup now and again.

Only a week until Katie leaves, and I'm already thinking that I'll have to blog more often so she knows what we are up to...

Full steam ahead with interviewing

2009-07-09T09:32:00.002+12:00

It's full steam ahead with interviewing this week.

I've had two interviews and have one more this lunchtime. Each interview takes 30-45 minutes (not including travel and 'chatting' time), and then another 6-8 hours to transcribe I suppose. But transcribing is very intense work, so I can only do it for about an hour at a time.

In transcribing, you have the interview recorded in digital format, so it's playing in a screen on your computer. You listen to about 3-5 seconds, then stop it and type exactly what they said. And continue. If you didn't catch what they said you have to rewind by a bit and listen again - and again. If you have the situation where people are talking at the same time as each other (which does sometimes happen, even if they are not meaning to interrupt), then you might have to go over a portion of tape 6 or more times to catch each voice.

So why do this? Well, I'm researching people's experience of their child starting school. In some cases I ask questions and people have already thought about it and can answer quite succinctly. In other cases, people have to ponder and try to put their intuitions and feelings into words - whch can involve hesitations, and starting again, and sometimes if you are interviewing a couple (as I have been) they also build on each other. this can lead to some of the overlaps mentioned above. In a few cases I'm asking questions that people have not thought about before, and they are actively considering a new angle to what they were doing or why for the first time.

And the net benefit? Well, already a few things have cropped up where I'm thinking to myself if the school knew how this (sometimes they've done) appeared to parents, they would do it differently. And so on. So I hope to provide insights that will help early childhood centres and schools to be better (or more consistent) at helping parent help their child with the transition to school. That is, remove the aspect of "good luck" from whether any particular family actually gets the information and support they need.

2009-07-03T09:21:00.000+12:00

Am annoyed. I just typed in a new post - and it disappeared! Don't know where it's gone.

I'm on Facebook

2009-07-03T09:13:00.003+12:00

A couple of weeks ago I joined Facebook. This was mostly to find out what it is all about, and to see what Katie and Rowena do on it. But I have found it very interesting, and it can take up a bit of time.

The most important thing is to find some people you know who already have Facebook pages. You do this by searching their names or e-mail addresses. Once you find one person, you can look through their list of 'friends', and if you know anyone on their list, you can send a 'friend request' to that person as well.

What seems to work is to find a gregarious person from each of the different groups of people you have in your life (workmates, uni, interest groups, etc).

On Facebook I have created a 'fan page' - Eat More Toast. Basically as a way to find out how to create fan pages! I have also just started a farm in 'Farm Town', a game where you grow and sell crops and achieve higher levels which allow you to do more stuff. (I'm not really into fast paced games.)

Is it useful? Well, I've had enquiries about my books from a Facebook contact (I sent them off to the Playcentre Shop), and gave professional development on an issue to someone from my teacher training course. So, yes, it can be useful to be in contact with people.

Is it entertaining? Mostly if people are popping on now and then and updating their status, or giving a brief comment on what they are doing. There are a million games and quizzes you can do, but after the first dozen or so they are all a bit lame, so I don't bother any more. It's more interesting people's real life, not their fantasy ones.

Anyway, overall, highly recommended.

First real live interview

2009-06-18T18:07:00.002+12:00

Well, I feel like my research is really taking off now. I've just done my first 'real live' interview. That is, not a pilot, but real data I'm going to use to develop the findings.

I was a bit nervous, and I blathered a bit at the start. But apart from that it went very well.

I have spent most of the day transcribing the interview. 25 minutes worth. It wouldn't have taken all that time except that transcribing is very intense work, and I couldn't do it for extended periods at a time. I had to take a lot of breaks.

Too much time hunched over the computer. Too much 'brain strain', listening closely to get every nuance down. And actually, quite a lot of typing (5000 words).

I have 11 more interviews, plus about 6 centre/school interviews, and other data collection, to go.

45 rules for life

2009-06-17T09:34:00.003+12:00

I was sent this list via my mum and her cousin Gavin. I don't normally share these things, but this one sparkles.

Attributed to Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland ,
Ohio.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God
never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is
up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for
an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did
or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

New laptop

2009-06-17T09:02:00.002+12:00

I've got a new laptop.

I have had a loptop for the past two years for Playcentre Federation work, and it's been a life saver - meaning I could be away from home without having to abandon my other work, and get Playcentre work done in an efficient way. (Increasing productivity - that'll please Bill English!) That Playcentre laptop will be passed on to another Federation Officer who needs a computer.

But this laptop is my own, and is research dedicated. It has been purchased with the help of the University. (Thank you VUW.) They are supposed to give masters and phd thesis students a range of resources to support their study, and it's the first time I've got anything from the Minimum Resourse Agreement, apart from free machine coffee in the staffroom at uni.

Bern has set up the applications, and I'm just setting up the settings the way I like them. And trying to find new keystroke combinations, 'cos using a touch-pad instead of a mouse is a pain in the neck. (Actually, just seeing the 'pointy thing' on the screen is a pain - must find a bigger 'pointer'.)

The laptop has quite a wide screen, and I think is bigger than my last one. So it's not one of the really slim-line ones. But it is the cheapest one we could find that would meet the specs required to get the subsidy, and would do what I want. It has the bonus that it comes with a Windows XP 'down-grade'! (Yes, I still perfer XP.)

I've just found a cool keystroke combination that lets me increase the size of what is on the screen at will, and this works well as it's a wide screen, so I can get it quite big without losing too much off the side of websites. (You can set up your screen to always make things large print, but this lets you change it up or down at a keystroke.)

Am also setting up my favourite websites.

2nd pilot interview complete

2009-06-15T22:17:00.003+12:00

I've been out this evening doing the 2nd pilot interview for my research.

I interviewed this mother about 7 weeks ago, but she couldn't be included in the research because there was too little time before her children (twins) started school. And I don't think I quite had approval to proceed from the University ethics committee.

So, she is the one I have been practicing my questions on, and making sure the recorder works, and getting feedback from.

It has been great hearing how her kids have gone at school. And the different angles of the transition as experienced by her, and to a lessor extent the others in the family.

It makes me more confident that I am asking the right things, and my interview technique is ok, and that the research is going to produce some useful material to analyse.

I have a 'real life' interview on Wednesday, and then next one is next Monday. Bring it on!

Facebook

2009-06-13T23:33:00.002+12:00

I've just joined Facebook.

This is chiefly to keep up with what Katie and Rowena are up to. It appears that K doesn't use her page much - from comments on it. Rowena hasn't accepted me as a friend yet. (That sounds sad.)

I expect she just hasn't checked her e-mail. (I hope...)

Update: It's Monday night and now I have 18 friends. That's almost enough to have a party. AND... some of them are grown-ups! (Which is more than I expected from Facebook.

2009-06-13T14:43:00.002+12:00

Blogs can take over your life.

Well, obviously not this one. At a rate of one post every 2 weeks (is that being too generous?), and even if it takes 10 minutes to write a post (which is usually doesn't), keeping this blog up would take less than 4 hours a year. Mind you, that's quite a lot more when you divide it by the number of loyal readers I have (very few).

No, reading other people's blogs can take over you life if you let it. And some of them, I think, must take a lot more time to write, given that they have new posts every day - or several times a day.

I try not to do too much of it, but when a friend sends me a link to an interesting post, then I inevitably also read other posts, and follow links to other sites, and links to other blogs as well. Sometimes you get useful information that way, but mostly you get late for bed. (And tired the next morning.)

Ancient study

2009-06-11T09:07:00.003+12:00

We have been going through some of the boxes stored in the roof space (and throwing most of the junk out!), and I came across a file box of notes from my high school and university (the first time!) days.

I've just been reading through some of them. Talk about ancient history! It's like an archeological dig.

There are maths and English papers from the 6th form, so I have put a couple aside to show Rowena and Katie. It's hard to believe the crappy cyclo-styled notes/handouts we were supposed to read.

And I also found some music papers from first year university, back in 1986. We wrote essays by hand (joined-up writing too!), in single spacing, with cut out bits of stave paper for the music examples inserted into the text. With selotape! I don't much like reading hand writing (except for personal letters, mum!) as it takes twice as long. So I'm jolly glad I wasn't a tutor who had to mark my essays.

(Rowena is doing 5th form music, and her compositions are written out in print quality using a basic music manuscript computer program - so you can actually read the music!)

Oh the joys of word processors and printers. It doesn't necessarily make your ideas any better. But at least you can read them without struggling over the hand writing.

Literature Review

2009-06-07T22:26:00.005+12:00

My main work this year is writing my masters thesis. This is a piece of original research, and involves a written report of 40,000 words.

(Say it quickly and it won't seem so many!)

As we are coming up to the mid point of the year, you'd think that I might be coming up to word number 20,000 - but no. It doesn't work like that because I have to spend the first 3/4 of the year figuring out what to say, and the last 3 months saying it (at break neck speed, I suppose).

And, in fact, 'the year', only started in February, so I've technically only had 4 months (just over). That's 1/3 of a year. Still, it would be nice to have done 13,000 words at this stage. But still, no, I haven't.

What I have done in the last couple of weeks is start writing my literature review. This should be about 5000-7000 words, and it is basically a sifting and sorting of what everyone else has had to say about my field of enquiry, leading on to why I should be researching this area in the first place.

I've got about 5000 words, which I feel is a good effort so far, and it's not finished yet.

So, how do you write a lit review?

Well, what I have done is read-and-take-notes, read-and-take-notes, etc, for months.
Then read-my-notes, read-my-notes, and,
group-and-sort, group-and-sort.

Finally, take chunks of notes that have been grouped and sorted, and write them up into paragraphs which, hopefully, have some coherence for the (interested!) reader, and (maybe) also bring through some of my opinions on the relevance and quality of the literature.

The trouble is, it's very hard to start writing things. I'm much better at the middle sections than the introductions and so on. So when I go back to look at what I've done, the first bits are a bit discouraging... And I still have some of the hardest bits to write...

(It makes me feel better to know you care!)

Still, I've got a meeting with my supervisor on Wednesday, so at least I've got some proof that I've been busy.

Oh, well. Onwards and upwards.

Playcentre Conference

2009-06-03T09:20:00.003+12:00

Well, it has been a busy weekend. We have had Playcentre Conference from Thursday afternoon to lunch on Sunday, in Hamilton.

It's always great fun going to these events, as it's so good to catch up with people who have become old friends. I arrived on a shuttle from the airport with several other delegates just before tea on Thursday, so everyone was grouping in the bar and lining up for the buffet meal, and there were old friends wherever I turned.

Quite a lot of significant work was done during the weekend.

The Minister of Education opened the conference, and she was grilled on her governments support for parent-led education. Actually, she did a good job of 'speaking to her audience'.
There were a number of really excellent speakers, including Professor Winiata, who is a well known academic and also the President of the Maori Party, Haydn Olsen, speaking on resolving conflict, and Dr Sally Peters, speaking on some research she is involved with in Canterbury Association.
(I was pleased to meet Sally Peters, as I have been referencing her work in my writing over the past year and a half.)
I launched my new book - Making Music Together.
We had a good range of workshops. I presented one, on my research into transition to school.
Election of officers for the Federation - oh yes, I became the Vice President.
Really good Saturday night entertainment - a re-make of 'It's in the Bag', with lollies instead of money, and Kiwiana themed questions and prizes. ("I'll give you 3 lollies or the bag.... a handful of lollies or the bag.... ) (Actually, everyone got the bag, even if they scored a few lollies.)
(I won a picnic carry bag and set.)
A fantastic closing performance from a Maori dance/drama group.

2009-05-26T21:59:00.003+12:00

Here's how it's advertised on the Playcentre website. (With the frou-frou.) I won't get to hold a copy until Friday or Saturday.....

New book update

2009-05-26T21:55:00.002+12:00

My new book is called Making Music Together - and it should have been cut and stapled today.

It is due for launch at the weekend at the Playcentre Conference in Hamilton, with a concurrent launch at the Early Childhood Council conference in Rotorua.

I'll get a cover photo up when I have one.

Monet and the Impressionists Exhibition

2009-05-07T21:31:00.004+12:00

We have just got back from the Monet and the Impressionists exhibition at Te Papa. It has been on for several months, and finishes in 10 days, so we just got in in time.

The painting above was in the exhibition, or one very like it. Monet did lots of series, and I can't always tell them apart.

(As a public service, the City Council had today as a no-fee day for locals. You had to bring your rates bill or library card or similar to prove eligibility. A bit of a queue this evening, about 25 minutes, but not as long as I thought it might be. We saw several people who had taken the same opportunity.)

It was lovely! Actually some of the paintings were just ok, but some were a joy to behold. Like listening to music, or watching dance!

Most of the paintings were between about 35cm square and 1m square. Apparently monet's later water lilies paintings were 5 or 6m long or more. (There was a large photo of him working with one in the background.) Bern saw one at MOMA in New York years ago.

Elanor came too. When she visited the Rita Angus exhibition with her class (I went as a helper) she complained afterwards that they got moved along too fast by the art teacher who was showing them around. So I said she could look at the paintings for as long as she wanted to this time. In the end she was finished before I was, but not by too much.

We went to buy postcards, but they didn't have any of my favourites, unfortunately. El chose one, and we got the promotional leaflet for our scrapbooks.

Book update

2009-04-30T08:27:00.002+12:00

My new book is coming along. I've just had the draft back from the editor, and completed the changes recommended the first time. She didn't have too much to correct, apart from typos. (I don't worry about those too much, because that's her job :-)

My next mission is to line up the photos we have taken against the text - work out which images will enhance understanding of each part of the book. Alongside that is working out what other images we need to take, and also developing the graphics needed in places. (Eg, I'm going to illustrate some guitar and ukulele chords in one section.)

Oh - and get signed permission to use the photos! More of a mission this time than last year, as we have had photos submitted from other places round the country. Some really nice images, but you don't have the same control. Still, people are really helpful, and it's just a matter of time.

(I think it's all due at the designer on Monday - no pressure....!)

2009 Quilt Symposium

2009-04-14T09:11:00.003+12:00

Easter weekend is the time for this year's national quilt symposium.

The symposium is held every 2 years, and is attended by over 1000 quilters from around New Zealand and the world. Classes are run by national and international tutors. There are several exhibitions of quilts and fibre art by general entrants and tutors. A huge merchants mall is stuffed with everyone selling everything to do with quilting and fibre art. There are lectures and dinners too I suppose. There was an awards ceremony.

There are several challenges by specific sponsors, where you have to make a quilt or artwork on a given theme or using particular general instructions. One example is the postage stamp quilts. This is sponsored by NZ Post, and the rules seem to be that you can choose any postage stamp you like and make a 50cm square quilt inspired by that stamp. A really interesting collection of quilts resulted - people had taken 'inspired by' in a number of different lights, which was all good.

I pre-registered Sophie so she would get all the information, but we did not end up doing any classes - too expensive for her really, and I daren't start anything new until I've finished her teenage quilt. Instead of a class I've promised her $50 worth of fabric or supplies and she can run her own 'class' out of a book during the holidays. I think she is gong to get some fabric dyes, or something like that.

We went along on Saturday as volunteers, packing the morning teas and lunches for the 1000 people at classes on the day. (Actually I don't know how many people, but when we'd sorted all the bread trays of filled rolls into the boxes for the classes we were 150 short on the number required - the caterer had left them behind at their premises!)

We also checked out the merchants mall, but haven't bought any souvineers yet.

On Monday we did the exhibitions. It's worth while making a day of this as there are several and your $5 ticket to one gets you into all of them, for that day. I partiularly enjoyed the challenge quilts, but there was no information about what the challenge was displayed alongside them - we worked it out, and then looked them up on the website.

We might do some shopping today so Sophie can start her 'class'. And, yes, I was inspired and sat down on Sunday afternoon and did a couple of hours work on Sophie's teenage quilt!

camera has bit the dust

2009-04-07T09:18:00.002+12:00

I don't know what it's problem is, but my camera appears now to not be responding. Obviously this is making it quite tricky to take photos! Hmmm.

Photo shoots for new book

2009-04-02T08:31:00.008+13:00

I've written a new book, on music in early childhood this time. Now it's time to collect photos to go in it. So I've been turning up to places with props (Katie's guitar in this case), getting music happening, and trying to get photos of it.

Not as easy as it sounds.

In fact, getting music happening is a piece of cake. However, it's pretty much impossible to lead a music session and photograph it at the same time.

The photo (above) was taken on my camera, but as the batteries were on their last legs, the camera needs 'nursing' along, so Heather gave up after this. (I was still able to use it later, but it's hard to explain to people how exactly to 'coax' it along. I got some lovely circle dance shots yesterday after that.)

But I've got the help of a photographer this morning, so, fingers crossed we'll do a bit better.

We need about 60 good photos for the book. You get one or two from an activity. I have maybe 5 right now. I would like to be pretty much finished by the end of next week. Busy days ahead!!!

Conference in Melbourne

2009-03-15T14:13:00.005+13:00

Well, it's been a busy little term so far. The more you have to blog, the less time you have to blog it, don't you find??

Taking up a lot of the first part of the year for us was preparing to present our research on Playcentre at a conference in Melbourne. It was a poster presentation, so working out how to display information in a suitably interesting and graphic way was part of the job.

Above you can see Bern discussing our research on governance of parent-led education providers with a delegate during the dedicated poster viewing 'happy-hour' at the conference. On the right of him is the second poster presentation from Playcentre, which is on the practicalities of engaging parents as educators in a co-operative setting (with no professional teachers in charge).

Our presentations were very well received. They were intriguing, inspiring and sometimes challenging to the many delegates who we were able to discuss them with. (I had a couple of stand-up rows with people who thought we were going a bridge too far!)

In the end, I think this was more effective way to communicate our ideas than a 25 minutes power point show, with time for a few questions afterwards, which is what the workshop presenters got.

The three presenters from Playcentre also 'worked the room' tirelessly at the conference! We button-holed most of the keynote speakers, and made sure that the views of parents-as-providers (rather than parents as passive recipients of services) was aired. Otherwise many speakers seemed to assum that parents were pretty useless - something that we know if far from the case!

We had some particularly synergistic exchanges with one keynote speaker form Pen Green in England, Margy Whalley. She already knew a bit about Playcentre as Nikolien (our other presenter) had been to one of their conferences in the past. They also work colaboratively with parents much more than any of the Australian folk seem to.

As well as that, we promoted some of the Playcentre Publications to three suppliers in Australia, and to Margy from England. We are hoping that increased book sales will arise form this. (Actually, I managed to sell two of my books - for Aussie dollars - which gave me some extra spending money.)

2009-02-05T20:45:00.002+13:00

This is Elanor's construction.
It is made from Magnetix sticks and is hollow inside.

You can push it down from the top and each layer goes into the one below. I think only three times.

Sophie starting school - again

2009-02-05T20:35:00.004+13:00

We have had a busy week. The three college girls were back at school on Monday, and Elanor went back today.

Monday was Sophie's first day of College. You can see from the photo how excited she was (!)

Actually, it was fine, but she does look a bit worried doesn't she?

(The uniforms make Rowena and Sophia look a bit like twins...)

Katie is out of uniforms for good. None in 7th form at her school, not even for prizegivings.

what to do in the holidays

2009-02-05T20:30:00.002+13:00

We don't have any trouble finding things to do in the holidays. Apart from reading, Sophie and Elanor do a lot of baking - and we get to eat the results!

One day they just decided to make lemon meringue pie! No help required, but the pastry got a little brown round the edges. Not that I could have helped them anyway, as baking 'blind' is not something I've mastered.

It looked impressive, and tasted delicious!

Otaki Beach holiday

2009-01-20T18:13:00.005+13:00

We had a bach at Otaki Beach for a while this month. Here are typically scenes of what we (well, they) did during the holiday.

As usual, I forgot to get the camera out until after K and R had left, and I don't appear at all.

Sophie spent the holidays reading their stash of trashy gossip magazines. Obviously a facet of reading experience she has been missing. I think she may have had enough to last a while.

Elanor read LotR and the Silmirillion - again. We all read some of LotR to keep her company, but no-one else (except perhaps Rowena) can keep up with her on those books.

Bern and I tapped away on our respective laptops - but I used the table.

2009-01-04T09:33:00.003+13:00

And here's the holiday group photo - though as usual, I don't appear in the group. I think the Gastrell's have photos of me kayaking to prove I was there!

Anakiwa

2009-01-04T09:26:00.005+13:00

The weather really picked up everywhere as we were leaving Woodend Beach. We went to Anakiwa to stay with friends for a week.

Here's our house. (There are extra cars as the neighbours had visitors due to a birthday celebration.) Three bedrooms, and the two boys had a tent out the back.

We had a week of swimming, jumping off the wharf, and kayaking. In between, we lazed and read, ate delicious meals regularly, and played board games. Perfect holiday!

Christmas holiday

2009-01-04T09:20:00.007+13:00

We are just stopping overnight in between legs of our holidays.

We started off going South on the ferry. These are typical shots - it was drizzly weather for the ferry ride.

I managed to not get any photos of Christchurch or the beach where we stayed at Woodend. Holiday photos are often like that - you take none at all, and suddenly remember the camera the day before you leave to go home and shoot off a whole lot.

However, we had very nice weather for most of the time, though I didn't swim at the beach as too windy.

Christmas party

2008-12-16T22:16:00.004+13:00

We had the end of year afternoon tea today. It makes it feel very much like it's nearly Christmas.

I usually post photos of the children, and I haven't remembered the camera for an afternoon tea before, but I had a brainwave, and got a very few photos to give an idea of the spirit of the thing.

I am finishing providing in-home childcare from this week, and it's quite sad to think the children (and parents) won't be coming around next year.

But, the plan is to study full-time and write my thesis in one year.

I suppose that this time next year people are going to be asking me if it's finished - that will make me get my skates on!

Katie's prizegiving

2008-12-16T10:26:00.004+13:00

We had Katie's prizegiving last night. No photo I'm afraid, as I forgot the camera. (Not sure Kate would stand still for a photo in her school uniform, actually, and highly unlikely that she would put it on one last time as a record for posterity!)

It was done a bit differently to Rowena's school. We were only allowed to clap after every 5 names. (Very unsatisfying, as I wanted to yahoo - as did other parents in the audience, I could tell), but this did make the evening go faster.

Also, they gave each girl all her prizes (which were mainly certificates) at one go.

Katie did not find out what her prize was for until it was read out as she waited at the side of the stage. She made some guesses before, but it really was a surprise.

She got high distinction (that means first in year) for Visual Arts Design.

We are very stoked, and so is she. It is probably the subject she cares most about, and certainly the one that she puts most work into, as far as I can tell - though practical art subjects are notorious for being high work-load.

So - well done Katie!

And I had a birthday cake too!

2008-12-04T22:06:00.003+13:00

We have often had a small birthday cake for the children's birthdays. Sometimes, but not always, made by me. Katie is keen on cake, and will make one for any reason if she's home on the right ocassion (ie, a school holiday or half day).

My birthday was a 'Little Kids' day this year, and Kate was on study leave, so she produced this cake. The number of candles is not significant of anything - except a desire to avoid setting off the smoke alarm.

It's a lovely photo of Cara, Isla and Grace, though not so great of me.

The girls were all very restrained about the 'blowing out' part - they let me do it. I got a nice round of 'Happy Birthday' too, with Katie's help.

Summer's here - the paddling pool came out

2008-12-04T21:51:00.005+13:00

Summer must officially be here because we have had the paddling pool out.

This picture was on a Tuesday in November and Grace, Eva and Isla had been in the pool after lunch while Theo was asleep. Later, Eva and Isla decided to have another paddle - and Theo just climbed in in his clothes. (His trousers were probably already wet anyway...!)

Isla was very intent on her job filling the pool. (The earlier lot of water had been 'mysteriously' transported out of the pool.) Theo was quite keen on catching that glittering stream of water (not at this particular moment.) And Eva was just delighted to be getting wet, splashing and paddling.

I was pleased that we had a paddling day, because it turned out that this was Eva's last regular day with me. As a little one she just adored climbing into the water, and it could be quite hard on her to have to get out and go home. This is what I said on Feb 8 last year:

"I set up the water trough in the shade this afternoon, and after the Big Kids got home Sophie and I got out the paddling pool. Great fun! E had an absolute ball, and both Little Kids were SOAKED when their mums came to collect them. I love my job!"

Eva will be back for our end of year party.

Wellington Playcentre Association Life Members

2008-12-01T09:39:00.004+13:00

A significant event, and a great surprise, was being made a life member of the Wellington Playcentre Association at their AGM in November.

I am pictured above with Justine, Marie and Kate, who were also made lifers at the same time. I think making four people life members in unprecedented, but perhaps they were having a 'catch up'.

Justine, Marie, Kate and I were all on the Executive together for several years earlier this decade. Justine as Property, Marie was Education, Kate was Promotions, and I was President for two years. They have all gone on to different roles as volunteers within Playcentre, at regional and national level.

(OK, Kate's Federation career is still before her - but only because there were too many nominations for the Federation Promotions Team this year!)

We are pictured at the opening of Newtown Playcentre's first centre of their own, after 56 years as a 'pack-away' centre operating out of community halls. That's a whole other story in itself! At that event I had the pleasure of chatting to some older life members - one in her eighties. Sounds like the political processes were pretty much the same run around throughout the decades.

Many thanks to the Brooklyn Playcentre Ukulele Orchestra who played a song tribute at the AGM for me. They had customised a song especially for the occasion, and I was really touched to see them all turn up - what a great surprise! Bern and three of the girls were also there.

Rowena's prizegiving

2008-11-28T12:53:00.005+13:00

Another significant event this month was Rowena's school prize giving. Significant because she came away with an armful - an embarrassment of riches, but we can cope!

The WEGC prize giving is before exams. Katie's school prize giving is after exams, as is Jonnie and Rachel's school one I think.

Rowena is pictured here with her two cups (nice photo of her isn't it).

One cup is for junior public speaking I think, and the other is a new award for "participation in year 10" - we think that might mean joining a lot of things!

She also got book prizes for English, Science and (um ... I'll have to ask her).

During the evening she played the harp and violin in orchestra (at different times...), and sang in Multi Choir. We were proud as, as you can imagine.

(And if anyone isn't familiar with the phrase 'proud as', you should probably watch the YouTube video "beached whale".)

2008-11-28T09:57:00.006+13:00

November has been a busy month. Surprising really, as all my study and the extra research/report writing were finished by early in October. I think it was busy family-wise really.

The first important event in November is Elanor's birthday. Oh, and Uncle Michael's (pictured). They share a birthday. Elanor's birthday fell on a Saturday this year, and we all went out to the ballet (Don Quixote) afterwards - that's Grandad's birthday present to all of us each year.

We had cake after the ballet. Sophie is ready, poised with the cake forks!

The next day was Grandad's birthday. As it was one with a zero on the end, he had a party, so we all trouped over to Featherston for lunch, with a number of his friends from way back. It had been not so nice weather on the Saturday, and very windy, but the Sunday was glorious - sunny, warm, calm. The place was a large private house in the countryside with large gardens. A lovely day. Thanks Grandad!

2008-11-28T09:45:00.006+13:00

I'm going to blog November shortly, but must just put up one photo from October.

Each year our church runs a "Crazy Colour Party" on 31 October. As the girls get older they go from attending the party, to helping run the games for it. You are supposed to dress your craziest, and most colourful. Here's how Elanor and Katie went this year.

Katie was stoked when she found those tights in my drawer. I haven't worn them any time recently - but I used to. I found her excess of mirth (ie, ROTFL) a bit offensive.

The tartan shoes were mine as well until she nicked them. I think they cost $2 in a bargin bin - too good to leave. She wears them on 'normal' days too, and her friends say they are 'awesome'. I think that's meant as a compliment.

The yellow tutu was Katie's. She is in yellow house at school, and she wanted me to make it for her one year for sports day. Every year she and her friends wear an odd assortment of yellow clothing - and it is a different theme each year.

The tutu had a second 'outing' recently. Sophie wore it in the Santa Parade, as a clown.

Hello, hello - is anybody there??

2008-11-27T19:06:00.002+13:00

Hi there.

Apologies to my regular reader (there used to be 3 of you, but I imagine I have lost one or two...).

It appears to be over 2 months since I posted. Oops. Must have been spending too much time in the sandpit... or something.

If I do a flurry of posts now, do you think I can pretend that I have posted faithfully all this time?

End of Birthday Season

2008-09-22T10:51:00.004+12:00

Well, we have got to the end of birthday season with the little kids. Cara, Grace, Isla and Eva have all turned three now.

Eva's was the last, and her birthday cake was a bit delayed, but we finally got to sing happy birthday, and she blew out the candles. (Isla offered to help, but it wasn't needed this year.)

We also had to have balloons because, well, it's just not a birthday without balloons. (Obviously!) Whoever invented the balloon did a great service to the world, because what else can you have so much fun with for 10c?

(oops - after that I hope they don't turn out to be terribly bad for the planet...)

Mind you, the next birthday season starts soon. Sadie, Elanor, me, ...

Spring into Spring Fashions

2008-09-01T10:52:00.005+12:00

Actually, this isn't a fashion post. The title is a reference to a quote from the Terry Prachett book "Truckers", which Elanor and I have been reading. (It's about the life and times of 4" high nomes who live in a department story. And, yes, I spelt 'nomes' correctly!)

But it does feel 'spring-like' outside today. After a very wet Winter (with a few good days sprinkled through it), it is very welcome indeed to think that Spring/Summer is coming.

We have even had one or two sunny days in the sandpit at playgroup. (Although not all Grace's sand castles turn out.)

One downside of being in September is that it is that much closer to the dead line for my last assignment for the year. Oh yes, I still have those to think about!

I'm supposed to be working on the proposal for my thesis (which I'm planning on doing next year).

Rainy night in the sandpit

2008-08-14T22:40:00.003+12:00

Well, not in the sandpit, thank goodness, but certainly some of the best (most) rain I've seen for a while.

We have been watching the waves run down the footpath outside the house. (It's after bedtime, but the girls have given up on bed and are watching the show.)

Had a huge hailstorm, which Sophie said made the road white right across. The hail on the top of the waves made it look like whitecaps down the footpath.

Lightning and Thunder also, of course.

Then some of them watched as a car slipped and crashed into our neighbour's car, which was parked on the street outside our house. Bern went out to talk to the guy. I phoned the neighbour and got him up to the street. (They live down a cul-de-sac.) The guy was apologetic - could hardly be anything else with all the witnesses (and number plate written down).

(It has been our car affected like this in the past - but our car was parked a bit high up to be hit tonight, and was protected by neighbour's car in any case. The guy would have wrapped him self round the power pole, which probably wouldn't have had as much 'give' in it!)

Glad Bern hadn't gone to bed yet.

Challenge quilts

2008-07-06T17:20:00.007+12:00

Sophie and I have had a busy week (apart from all the normal things). Yesterday we had to submit the quilts for the Challenge for this year's quilter's guild exhibition.

The challenge was to interpret a playing card in a quilt of a given size. Each person who wanted to do the challenge was dealt 4 cards from a deck, and they had to choose one of them on the spot.

This was repeated until the deck was used up, although I think the guild issued more than a full deck of cards.

Here, in no particular order, is Sophie's quilt, and mine.

You can tell what the card was because we had to put the number and suit in the usual place for a playing card.

I saw a few other ones when we went in to drop the quilts off, and it's going to be a stunning exhibition.

This is only one small part of the exhibition, as there are also general quilts, which are judged under a whole range of categories, such as best use of colour, best appliqué, and so on.

Sophie and I both have another quilt to exhibit.

The exhibition opens on September 4 or 5, and will probably run for 10 days or so. I'll post the whereabouts closer to the time.

Sophie and Elanor Ice Skating

2008-06-22T09:28:00.004+12:00

Sophie and Elanor have spent a few days in Christchurch with Nana and Poppa.

They don't get to go ice skating very often (we don't often go down there in Winter), but it's always good fun.

It was their first time flying without a parent (and our first time sending an unaccompanied minor on the plane). Note to self: arrive early (there's paperwork) and make sure the person picking them up has photo ID.

Blocks Workshop

2008-06-21T20:48:00.003+12:00

Well, I've been busy all day today.

It was the day of the Rainbow in my Head workshop day, which is run in Wellington every two years. Over 700 people turn up for a keynote speaker and a choice of about 75 workshop. (They get three choices over the day.)

I bet you'll never guess what the workshop I ran was on.

Oh yes, you're right - Block Play!

The workshop was in the after-lunch slot, and had 23 participants, which is many more than I would usually have, so a wee conceptual challenge. However, it turned out very well indeed.

I invited the participants to choose some blocks at the start (some of the smaller ones), and build as we were talking. Then, if they were tired and tuned out they would get something out of it anyway.

In the second part I got them in groups of 3 and they built large structures, inspired by photos of both commonplace and crazy architecture which I had got from various sources.

(I suppose you could say that something like the Beehive is both commonplace (around here, anyway) and crazy...)

At a couple of points I had them reflecting on the process, and all sorts of discussion about providing for children's learning in centres all through.

Anyway, it all went very well, and I sold a few books into the bargain.

I didn't get to any other workshops myself, because (you'll never believe this...) I was sell at the Publications stand!

Inspired to build - book cover

2008-06-21T20:46:00.003+12:00

I've just found a .gif file of the cover of my book - so here it is!

(Can't upload the words - sorry.)

Book Launch

2008-06-13T09:01:00.004+12:00

Man-oh-man it has been a busy month!

Blogging has been rather pushed to the side during the month of May. Two big essays (both handed in during the last week of May - yay!), and the final running backwards and forwards with the design of my book to keep track of.

But, here's the result (assuming you don't want to read the essays...!) - me signing copies after the book-launch at Playcentre Conference in Auckland on 30 May.

It was wonderful to finally get to the podium with my book before an appreciative crowd - and at least part of that had to do with being at the finish line of the "May Marathon."

The book was very well received, and the stall sold out of the 300 copies they had brought to the event. I signed copies for my life. We had blocks on every table at the conference during the launch, and people were encouraged to build a construction. Block building, by adults and the children present, became a quiet side-theme for the ensuing two days.

2008-05-01T11:48:00.003+12:00

We still have a lot of workmen around Brooklyn, though thankfully not so many just outside the house as before.

But the digger does sometimes do some work on the road outside, which still causes great excitement for the little girls.

I had my camera with me on a recent walk to playgroup, and I said to the girls to tell me if they wanted me to take a photo of anything.

We usually stop to check on progress on the building site across the road from playgroup, and the fence is a good (and safe) place to stand and watch.

Eva insisted that I take a photo of them watching the men, and then watched me to make sure I did!

Cutting and drawing

2008-04-25T12:22:00.003+12:00

We have been doing lots and lots of drawing and cutting lately. The children tend to either make snips into the sides of a big piece of paper as Isla has here, or manage to cut or tear a strip and then cut piles of tiny pieces.

The children have also been doing a lot of collage at playgroup as they have been making the effort to provide collage materials every session. I've improved my own supply of collage materials too - stickers and gluesticks, etc. But often we don't get around to that at home.

Book - the Homework Myth

2008-04-24T20:59:00.004+12:00

I have a new author I am reading at the moment, and I like his stuff.

He is an American educator called Alfie Kohn. I've got two books of his off Amazon in the last few weeks. The first was recommended by Bern, who had had it from the library - "Punished by Rewards: The trouble with gold start, incentive plans, A's, praise and other bribes." This book essentially debunks Behaviourism, which is a theory which says that people are only the sum total of their behaviours, and the best way to get them to do something is to train them by offering a 'goodie' for doing what you want, or a 'stick' for failing to do it.

He uses examples from teaching, raising children, and the workplace, and it's very readable. To sum up, he explains how extrinsic motivators (anything that's outside of the task or behaviour itself) only make people do a worse job, and take shortcuts - that is, do the minimum they can to get the 'goods'. Alternatively, if a person is intrinsically motivated (that task is worth doing for its own sake) then people are likely to do better, work longer and harder, and enjoy it more.

(Sounds a lot like me and reading education books!!! But then, I only read the ones I'm interested in.)

I highly recommend it. We own the book, so can lend it when we have finished.

The other book of this author's I'm reading is "The Homwork Myth: Why our kids get too much of a bad thing." Again, this is based on an American schooling model, but I don't think it's so far of what we have in schools here. In summary, 6-7 hours of school a day is actually quite long enough for kids to learn the academic things they need (although the teachers may have to make good use of that time). Time spent doing homework is usually time wasted because: 1) it is often 'practice' work, and either the child already knows how to do that task and doesn't need to practice, or they don't know how and the teacher really needs to be able to give them instant feedback, or 2) it takes up time the child could better use on activities of their own choice (like cooking a meal - in our house anyway - or reading for pleasure, or playing a board game), and especially the chance to make decisions about how to use their time.

Also, the author claims there is absolutely no research evidence that more hours doing homework helps kids to learn more or better. I haven't looked into the research myself.

Here's what I think about homework:
1. When your child is young, read to them every day. And when they get a bit older, keep reading to them every day. Also, let them see you reading (be a role model) and take them to the library so they can choose books. But this must always be pleasant. If it gets to be a chore, take a break and do something else.
2. Talk with your child. And listen. If this is a 'conversation', so much the better. 'Conversation' is a special kind of talking where each person's input depends on what the other person said in their turn. This means it includes so many high level thinking and emotive skills I don't think I could list them. The best time to have a conversation is when you are doing something else.

That's it.

Having said that, my kids' school gives homework, and every year the teachers say that they have some parents who want more homework, and some who want less. I'm in the second group. New entrants bring home a reading book every day, and that's just fine - since we were going to be reading anyway! If the child wants to read it, well and good. If not, just read it to them. That's just as good. (We would also read other books.) After all, they don't have to learn everything about reading this very day.

My favourite kind of homework the kids have had is 'choosing' homework. Sophie and Elanor often had this in year 3 and 4, and its a compromise to appease both sets of parents I suppose. In this, the child chooses a task to complete during the week. A long list of suggestions are given (like, 'bake a cake', or 'make a model', or 'read a book and write about it', or 'learn an instrument') but the kids can alternatively choose anything they like. They do have to write a few sentences about it, and 'evidence' is good (especially in the form of food to share with their table group). Sophie once made fudge, and we took a photo of it for her homework book (and took the fudge to school). Elanor once made a collage. Then she talked about it with her table group. Fabulous!

In high school, Katie and Rowena are also getting homework, but not as much as we were led to believe before they started the school (as far as I know). What is noticeable is that the subjects they like they will do more work for, and we have dinner table conversations about many of their subjects as a matter of course ("what are you doing in Maori lately?") which seems to head off any problems. All good so far anyway.

Highly recommended, and an easy to read book. He may be 'preaching to the converted' though, so I'd be interested to hear the impressions of someone whose kids were struggling.

(This post was a bit of a book chapter in itself - congrats to any reader who is still with it!)

Train trips

2008-04-17T19:31:00.005+12:00

We have had a couple of trips to do with trains in the last two weeks.

Firstly, Cara, Grace and I took the bus to the train station to watch the trains come and go. If you go right up on the bridge (on the way to the stadium) you get a good view, and it's fully fenced, so the kids can safely run around.

Yesterday we went to the station again, but this time we took the train to Johnsonville! This is a great trip with little kids as there is lots to see, plenty of tunnels, and it's only 21 minutes. We had morning tea in the mall, and then came back again.

Cara has a strong interest in trains - Thomas & Friends especially! - and our train set gets lots of use. The girls are also interested in tunnels and tunnel shapes. So this trip was great extension of those ideas.

Shakespear Day

2008-04-11T07:56:00.004+12:00

Today is Shakespear Kay for 6th formers at Katie's school. Here she is with her friend before school. Small groups from each English class are acting out a scene from a Shakespear play. I don't know who Hannah is being, but Katie is Lady McDuff. (She looks far too cheerful.)

The costume cost $40 to hire - not sure of the place as Kate got it herself. I could have made something suitable, but I would have needed a 'running start' - been able to see some examples, and possibly a pattern, and some spare time! In any case, it would have come in for about the same cost I suppose, but you get to re-use it if it's your own.

Also working on... block book

2008-04-10T22:26:00.003+12:00

This is the other thing I have been busy with just lately. Getting photos for my block play book.

The manuscript went to the editor last month.

(When I say 'manuscript' it sounds quite substantial. To put it into perspective, this is a small book - about 8000 words, A5 format, and lots of photos. You can all have a copy for Christmas!)

I got it back this week, and now have to make changes. What I have just realised is that I need to have all the photos, with notes on where in the text I want them inserted, by middle of next week at the latest. This is so it can go to the designer, and be signed off shortly after that.

So I sat down at the start of the week and worked out what shots I had that are usable, and what other shots I still need. I went off to get some more photos on Monday morning, and will need to do so again tomorrow.

Of course, I can't just tell the kids what to build - I have to play, and wait and see what comes up. (So... I could tell them what to build, or build the things myself, but that's cheating!)

I've got a photographer working with me for the last few shots, and to do some editing. She's a friend of mine, and it's great to have someone to collaborate with.

We haven't got a good 'cover' shot yet though. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

2008-04-10T22:20:00.002+12:00

One of my regular readers (Hi Mum!) just brought to my attention that I haven't blogged for a while.

(My other regular reader was too polite to mention it. Ha ha.)

When I looked at the last 3 posts, the reason was immediately obvious. Apart from the cool concrete mixer photo, I was talking about my masters course. That has pretty much filled up the corners of my life for the past month or two, and is likely to do so for the next little while as well.

But I handed in my first essay on Monday, so have chilled out for the week at least.

It's actually pretty boring writing about how you haven't been writing.... so I'm not going to do it. And I'm carefully embedding this post in between other, more interesting posts, so it can exist, but hide behind them like a bashful wallflower!

Camps, camps, camps

2008-04-10T22:16:00.002+12:00

It must be school camp season. First Sophie was away near Nelson for 5 days. Then Elanor went up the Kapiti coast for 3 days.

Right now Rowena is away on her Maori classes Marae Noho (that's a marae sleepover) for 3 days. Not so far away though - just down the bottom of Bidwill Street.

Katie told me at dinner that she has a camp in the first week of the holidays too - in just over a week I suppose. It's the kids camp she has been a leader for a number of times, but that doesn't mean I had remembered it myself! So that will make a clean sweep.

(Oh, I forgot to mention that Kate and Rowena went on a youth group camp for a weekend last week too.)

Diggers and concrete mixers

2008-03-14T11:13:00.005+13:00

We have had a huge amount of entertainment outside our very frint door in the last two weeks.

We have had diggers most days making a trench, and yesterday we watched a concrete truck slowly inch its way along the road laying new curb and channel.

The little kids (and big ones too) have been most fascinated with the whole process. We have spent many happy hours on the front door step watching, and waving to the 'workmen'.

We have also had our own personal drawbridges. First a shonky metal one (very bouncy, and not at all safe feeling), and finally, last night, a wooden plank - as in "walk the ...".

Needless to say parking has been a bit of a mission during all this time. In fact, most of the houses on our side do have driveways and garages - they just have not been able to get to them.

It has been very interesting, but I'll be happy when we get our footpath back. (And can park right by our house again.)

2008-03-01T17:27:00.003+13:00

What is the purpose of education?

This is, in fact, an extremely broad, highly important, but increasingly contested question.

The economic rationalists tell us that education is to enable the individual to become a contributing member of the workforce, and take their place in the Market as a provider of services, and a consumer (of course).

Me, I don't think that's good enough. A society of individuals, who are, by definition, motivated by their own best interests, will fall apart like a house of cards at the first puff of breath.

My Curriculum and Assessment paper is run by a lecturer called Jim. Jim has taught the course for about 12 years, and has now written a book covering the lectures within it. So, we don't have a book of readings. We just get one chapter of his book for each lecture. (The book failed to make it to print before the start of the course - otherwise we'd be buying the book.) Next week will be the 2nd week. I'm reading chapter 2. You can work that out!

This phrase caught my eye: "What do these expert systems, both sincere and insincere,
produce? First, they enfeeble two things that ought to animate education: curiosity and wonder."

(Don't worry right now about expert systems - you can always read the book!)

This caught my eye because it sounds like something I have written myself.

"Through learning in a supportive play environment, children develop the curiosity and courage to try new things and the motivation to extend themselves."

If I had to talk about the more important purposes of education, it would include the ideas of developing curiosity and courage (which are learning dispositions - more later), because if a child (or an adult for that matter) does not have curiosity they will not care to learn about anything new, and if they do not have courage they will not risk taking any new steps.

(I may not have expressed that as well as possible, so will have to work on it.)

Oddly enough, where you have a curriculum and an education system which is more and more prescribed, you find that curiosity and courage are early causalities. For example, the National Party talks about having more testing of school pupils. In fact, testing leads to less education, because the stress of having to achieve the test means that only the prescribed topics are discussed, and are looked at in a limited way as may be met in the test. This effect is felt by both teachers and pupils. You don't have to try new things (only the 'approved' things). You don't have to want to learn (only to 'achieve'). And you don't have to develop the emotional resources of bravery (because you'll be led by the hand by a teacher whose job depends on 'passes').

(By the way, this thinking isn't limited to 'rightist' politics.)

As a teacher, I'm very aware that the first thing a small child (this also applies to older children, and adults, by the way) needs in an environment is to feel "settled and happy". This relates to the Te Whaariki goals of Well-being and Belonging, and they are part of the common human experience. Once they feel "settled and happy" it is possible to learn to become part of the group, be an active agent, care for others, set ones own learning goals, and follow them through. "Settled and happy" are such primary human needs that it is impossible (I think) to talk about courage and curiosity until these have been established.

(All good stuff, but am going to have to leave it here and have tea!)

two new masters papers

2008-02-28T20:43:00.002+13:00

This week I have started two new masters papers. The first is Curriculum and Assessment, which is a first trimester course. The second, this afternoon, is Research Methods, a full year paper.

So that, in a nutshell, is what I will be grappling with this year. Curriculum, Assessment (yes, capital 'A'!!) and Research Methods.

First things first: the C&A paper has a lecturer I had last year, he has a very clear style (to me), gives good workshops, I know how to write the essays he likes to receive, and the assessments are 1500 words and 3000 words respectively. All good. (Except that they're due in April and May. Hmmm.)

So I am thinking about curriculum.

Here's a question for any teacher-types: What is a Curriculum? Well, I think it is the sum of knowledge (however that is defined) which is to be dispensed in a formal educational setting. Like a school. Or an EC centre. Or family childcare....?

Well yes, but family childcare is supposed to be like a home - and there isn't a curriculum for the learning which is dispensed in an informal setting like a home. (Despite the fact that all children spend most of their time in homes and communities - informal settings - and I can guarantee that they do most of their learning and 'knowledge gaining' in those settings.)

So we have a grey area. This is, of course, what makes study fun. This means there is room for more information, argument, opinion or even political determinism.

Tomorrow.... Assessment!

Summer noises

2008-02-27T16:05:00.003+13:00

It certainly has been sunny days.... and the cicada's have been going crazy.

They are usually up high in the trees, or whatever, and we can't see them. (Well, I can't anyway.)

But yesterday we struck it lucky. This cicada was singing it's little heart out on the fence by playgroup. We were able to get close enough to have a really good look, and I got this photo.

I suppose there's a library book which would answer our questions (my questions...) about cicadas....

Building construction

2008-02-26T14:57:00.003+13:00

I think I'd better blog about the building site across the road from playgroup.

There used to be a scruffy old dairy across the road from our playgroup. Late last year it was knocked down, and developers started building a construction which fills the site, and looks like it's going to be 3 or 4 stories high. Word is (this from the chemist staff) it's going to have two shops on the ground floor and 3 levels of apartments above. We'll see.
They have scaffolding up all round it, which makes it a pain for getting the little girls and the double buggy past, but apart from that slight nuisance it is continually fascinating.

The little girls often ask if we are going to see the diggers. (Actually they have just stopped doing that as there haven't been any diggers for weeks.) We always stop when we are safely behind the fence at the top of the playgroup steps to check on progress. And there are usually interesting things happening to comment on.

Flora's quilt

2008-02-24T22:06:00.003+13:00

I have just spent the weekend in Nelson, at a Playcentre promotions team meeting. A side benefit of being away on 'business' was that I got to visit my friends there for dinner one night.

This was rather serendipitous timing, as Flora has had a significant birthday (one with a '0' on the end) a few days ago. She wasn't planning a party but this was a good opportunity to wish her many happy returns. (Just why you'd want to turn 40 many times over I don't know....)

Anyway, I made this quilt for her.

I bought the fabric with the little pictures of veges and herbs on it last year, thinking I would make something like this for Nick's birthday. (Nick is a serious foodie.) But he didn't have a party either (slack lot really!), so he missed out. This way he gets to look at the quilt too, so not all lost.

I cut out the motifs ('liberated' them, in quilter parlance), bordered each one, and then had the puzzle of fitting the odd sized blocks back together. Once I found a place to start it came together fairly quickly. I made the inner border like that because it was off balance visually before I did.

Flora was delighted!
Happy Birthday Flora.

sleeping peacefully

2008-02-13T13:47:00.000+13:00

We are back into the normal routine now, with school in full swing, and the girls settled in again. One thing which has changed this year is the sleeping arrangements.

Up until the end of last year, each of the two year olds had a porta cot in her own room at sleep time. This was very convenient, as it meant that I could settle each child to sleep when she needed it, and one getting up wouldn't disturb the others.

When the children get to be about two years, this system needs to be reviewed. Sometimes a sudden review arises because a child learns to climb out of the cot! As the children get heavier, I have to be realistic about lifting them as well. In the past, two year olds have been settled to sleep on the sofas, or small mattresses, in the living room.

I decided to start that transition a couple of weeks ago, so that, now, all the two (and a half) year olds sleep in sleeping bags in the living room. It's working very well. They are aware of having to be quiet so the others can get to sleep, and it is both social on the one hand (seeing the others go to bed when you do), and peaceful.

Inspiring video clip link

2008-02-12T22:02:00.001+13:00

I have just received this message from a playcentre friend of mine. She recommended the video clip below, and, having heard it, so do I.

While our education system is moving slightly away from the narrow approach of the 1987 reforms, we still need to keep hearing messages like this to inspire us to give children the benefit of a 'holistic' education (that's 'early childhood speak' !) rather than a limited 'left brain' education.

She writes:

Kia ora koutou.

I attended a seminar last week with the teaching staff of the northern zone schools - Churton Park to Chartwell - as part of the cluster's focus on the topic of 'Thinking' and the new curriculum.

The facilitator was Mark Treadwell and I found his presentation particularly stimulating.

A couple of points made during the morning made me reflect (once again) on the great things Playcentre is doing, and reinforced my conviction that it is on exactly the right track in providing the BEST for our under fives.

1. The greatest skill we can give/teach children is oral communication: communication and in particular, oral communication.

Mark presented statistics on workforce make-up, showing the immense changes i.e. 19th century largest percentage of workforce employed in manufacturing, industrial and agricultural sectors, the decrease of these through 20th century and increase in service sector, then 21st century with large service sector again and rapid growth of creative industry sector. Bottom line - 21st century children need to be creative thinkers with outstanding oral communication skills.

2. An additional challenge facing teachers today is children arriving at school with reduced language and sometimes social capability. This is considered a result of "the natural language pathways for pre-schoolers being eroded" by parents not being available (ie both parents in paid work), children spending increased time in childcare, and therefore not experiencing the traditional parent-child social and language exchanges.

We also watched a video clip of Sir Ken Robinson - see below - who looks at the origins of our system of education, and its limitations and goes on to extol the value of creativity and the importance of fostering it in our children.

'Hope you enjoy it.

Kia kaha Playcentre!

'Hope to see you all soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY

guitar

2008-02-02T20:59:00.000+13:00

Katie is now the proud owner of a guitar!

We bought it today on Trade Me. We have been looking out for one for a week or two, and placed a bit on this one earlier in the week.

It was due to close at about 5.30, but the last 5 minutes were very exciting. We had been leading the bidding, and then someone passed us, with 20 minutes to go. We upped our bid by $1. In the last 5 minutes the bids were raised about 10 times - including a persistent bidder who had not made any bids up until that time!

Must have been very exciting for the seller.

Anyway, counting down the last few minutes was very nervous. If a bid is placed with less than two minutes to go, the clock reverts to two more minutes. That is, the auction won't finish until there have been no new bids for two minutes. We kept refreshing the screen, watching the time left go down - and the other sod would have placed another bid!In the end they gave up (obviously). The guitar cost us $72, which we were happy enough with. Here she is playing a chord.

Historic Fruit

2008-01-30T15:54:00.001+13:00

I was making room in the cupboard for the marmalade which we made at the weekend, when I came across a special treat.

Bottled stewed quince and apple, 1996 vintage!

Although I often reuse the seals if they have come off without bending the edge (there's a knack to that), I don't think Mum does. And I have never bottled stewed apple, with or without quinces. So this would certainly have been true to label.

Mum probably gave me a few jars of her (older) bottled fruit to use up, but that would have been some years ago.

We like quinces very much, but you don't see them often. Grandad has a quince tree tangled in with one of the pear trees in the orchard where he lives, but it sometimes only gives 4-8 quinces (and sometimes none) - and his landlady makes sure she gets a few of those. I usually make jam, when I can get them.

We opened this jar with a bit of caution, smelling and tasting the contents carefully, but all seemed well. Those of us who appreciate this sort of thing had them cold with vanilla ice cream for pudding, and then finished off the jar with muesli for breakfast this morning.

Delicious!

Block Book

2008-01-28T10:21:00.000+13:00

I am currently in the process of writing a book on block play in early childhood centres (and homes of course). It is for the Playcentre Publications 'area of play' series, and I got to choose my subject from the short list that hasn't been done yet.I chose blocks because they are so cool. (As some younger members of the house might say.)

The tricky part is saying, in about 7000 words, exactly WHY they are so cool, and HOW playing with blocks develops learning of all sorts in young children.

Hmmm.

I've discovered it's really easy to have lots of good ideas - when you're working to the park, or lying in bed, and so on. It's quite a lot harder to keep having those good ideas when you have a blank page in front of you! Hence, I am using blogging as a procrastination tool.

When I talk about blocks, I mostly mean the multi unit wooden blocks you find in almost every playcentre, kindergarten and childcare centre (though some childcare centres have funny ideas). They range in size from 'palm of your hand' to 1/2 metre long. A lot of the point of this equipment is that they are carefully cut to be in exact multiples and fractions of a unit block. The unit is a rectangular brick twice as long as it is wide, and twice as wide as it is thick - often about 12.5cm long.

Part of the richness of these blocks is that they can be combined in literally an infinate number of ways. (I think I can prove that mathematically.) And it seems to be really important to have the range of sizes, including the bigger blocks - for reasons I haven't quite nailed down yet. Kids can build things which are of the order of their own bodies, which is important when young children learn concepts about how the world works through interacting with it with their bodies.

(Ask me someday about the connection between musical ability and mathematics/algebra - and walking.)

Anyway, it keeps me out of trouble. Back to work.

Cafe review - Mt Maunganui

2008-01-27T15:08:00.000+13:00

On our last morning in Tauranga (after packing up) Bern took Elanor and Sophie for a last swim at Main Beach, and I took Rowena and Katie out to a cafe.

We ended up having a 1/2 hour walk to find a cafe that looked 'just right'. (There was a bit of a 'goldylocks syndrome' operating there!) Either cafes were too crowded, or no chance of a table outside, or not a good enough range of slices to choose from, or coffee too expensive, and so on.

We finally settled on the Captain's Table Cafe. It opens into a courtyard off the street and I think the name derives from a nautical these in the shops around the courtyard.

I would recommend it because:

it had very stylee cane armchairs at the outside tables,
the coffee was a good price - it has gone up heaps with the rising cost of milk, but I think some places are using this as an excuse to 'milk' the tourists, and everyone gets caught in that. I'm not ready to pay $4.50 for a latte. It was $3.00 here and it was nice coffee too.
good range of cake/slices. The caramel and choc chip slice was my favourite of the ones we sampled and was very tasty indeed. Kate preferred a different choc slice which had real chocolate topping. Rowena had a mini lemon meringue pie. She said it was very nice, but we never expect bought lemon meringue pie to be lemony enough - we always add extra to the recipe when we make it.

Right after we arrived a large group of oldies wearing matching tee shirts arrived too. (So we timed it just right.) They were the Mt Maunganui walkers and joggers group (according to the tee shirts). It seems that when you retire to the Mount you fill your days by walking (or jogging) with friends, meeting for coffee afterwards, then probably hitting the beach in the afternoon. Sounds alright to me!

Mt Maunganui ferry

2008-01-24T17:57:00.000+13:00

We spent a week in Taurange during the early part of January. We had a holiday house - a two bedroom suburban unit - on the west side of the city, and every day we drove over the bridge to Mt Maunganui to swim.

(Before you ask, no, there's no toll on the bridge anymore.)

Fabulous swimming, by the way. Perhaps it always is, but it was hot hot weather, and not the wind we are used to here. We tried several points on Long Beach, but settled on a favourite some 5 minutes drive from the Mount.

One day I took the girls on the ferry from the Mount to Tauranga. It's about 25 minutes I think, and gave a different view of the city and port.

I like this view of the mount (above), with the series of pine trees as a counterpoint to the mount itself.

And one of the older three girls (a good one of Katie) to show they were really there.

Bern took the car round and met us at the end. That's him leaning on the wharf.

Imagine swimming in the harbour!

2008-01-21T12:09:00.000+13:00

(Actually, better not to imagine too much.....!)

But, yesterday it was so hot (and we'd been invited to a beach BBQ by friends) that I swam in the harbour for possibly the very first time.

I'm a bit of a wuss as regards getting into cold water. We have swum every day at Mt Maunganui and Rotorua lakes since my last post (not Lk Rotorua itself), but I have always only paddled at the beaches round here, due to the Antarctic currents that tend to swirl round te Upuko o te Ika.

But, on a very hot day round about 6pm, the water at Hataitai Beach was lovely.

One acquaintance I met there says she doesn't put her head under (just in case), and another lady swimming recommended sandals (rocky bottom might have glass....). But the friends who invited us for the BBQ have swum there often for years with no mis-haps. So it must be all right.

The picture is from Google Images. We swam to the left of the changing sheds.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-01-02T10:13:00.000+13:00

Happy new year to anyone reading this.

And it has been a happy one so far. It was such a great day yesterday that we took a picnic to Lyall Bay Beach and Elanor had a swim. The rest of us only paddled or read or dug in the sand.

The beach (any beach) is colloquially known as the 'big sandpit, by the big bath'. Can't remember whose toddler comment led to that phrase. May not have been one of ours. Anyway, Elanor has a new (serious!) spade from one of her sisters for Christmas, and Bern is writing a book on sand play, so I can see lots of serious research is going to be required this Summer!

(I keep forgetting my camera. Must collect photos....)

Te Papa

2007-12-24T20:47:00.001+13:00

On the final day for the year I took Isla and Cara (and Sophie and Rowena) to Te Papa.

With little kids, getting there is half the fun, we have morning tea and a play, and then we choose one thing to explore. On this day we spent out time in the Pacific Islands Discovery Centre, which has been updated since I saw it last.

Cara and Sophie had a wonderful time with the felt board where you could play with Tivaevae patterns. They both spent a long time companionably arranging there, and you can see that they didn't get in each others' way at all.

Isla (and Cara earlier) spent her time carrying and sorting the plastic fruit, veges and seafood. She certainly has a feast spread out around her!

Connie's Christmas Cake

2007-12-24T20:18:00.001+13:00

This is the Christmas cake I have made this year. The recipe comes from my Aunty Connie in Whangarei.

Mum was talking to her one day in early December. She got the recipe, and rang me at 9am on a Monday morning, saying she had just put her cake in the oven, and it looked like it would be a good recipe.

By midday I have my cake mixed up and in the oven (I happened to have just bought some fruit mix), and my sister Rae, in Dunedin, had had a similar phone call and also made the recipe that same day. In the evening mum was able to ring Connie and report on the three cakes that had been produced around the country during the day.

Connie's Dargaville Christmas Cake

3/4 cup sugar
100g butter
1 Tbls. golden syrup
¾ cup milk
1t almond ess.
1t vanilla ess.
1T marmalade
1 kg. mixed fruit
2 cups self-raising flour
1 cup plain flour
2t mixed spice
1t baking powder
2 no. 7 eggs
¼ cup brandy

Heat sugar, butter, golden syrup, milk, essence and marmalade till butter is melted.
Add fruit, then sifted dry ingredients. Lastly add beaten egg.
Pat top of cake with wet hand and then drop cake on the floor (or bench) to release air bubbles.
Bake in middle of oven at 125 degrees C for 3 hours without opening oven door.

I made mine in a 9" square tin, which was a good size, though if you like a taller cake, use an 8" tin. I also put the brandy over the cooked cake (2T on the top, then cover closely with foil, then 2T on the bottom when the cake is cold and you turn it out, then cover tightly again). This is what I usually do, and the recipe didn't say otherwise.

If you haven't made a Christmas cake before, you should line the bottom of the tin with a piece of butter paper so it comes out easily. Greasing the sides of the tin is not necessary, as you can run a knife around before turning the cake out. (You should ideally leave a Christmas cake in the tin until it is cool - at least let it stand in the tin for a while.)

A bigger cake, which cooked for longer, would also have the tin lined with one or two layers of brown paper, extending above the level of the tin at the sides. In theory this gives the sides (which cook first) some protection from overcooking while the centre finishes cooking.

I iced my cake with Brandy Butter icing, made with 2T softened butter, about 2 cups sifted icing sugar, mixed to a spreadable consistancy with brandy, a bit at a time. I cut the cake only a week after I made it at the Christmas party, and it cut very nicely, with no crumbling, and very moist.

It is probably a bit late for Christmas day if anyone reading hasn't made their cake (!!), but New Year is a good excuse for a fruity cake too.

End of year afternoon tea

2007-12-24T17:53:00.000+13:00

I am seriously behind in blogging, having the circular problem of being so busy at this time of year doing interesting things that there doesn't seem time to blog them....! (Apologies to my regular reader.) But I'll try to have a little catch-up.

On Wednesday 12 December we had the end of year afternoon tea party for the little kids and families. It was a nice afternoon, so the children were able to get outside in the sandpit, and it was great to see all the families represented.

This was actually the week before my final week for the year, as Grace's family and also Carley (the programme manager) were going away early on holiday.

This end of year party is a good excuse to cut my Christmas cake. In fact, it's a good excuse to make sure I've got a Christmas cake done before Christmas! This year I used a new recipe of my Aunty Connie's, which I will post next.

Impact end of year dinner

2007-12-08T21:42:00.000+13:00

We have just come back from the Impact end of year dinner. Impact is the youth group at our church, which is for college age kids and some older ones stay on as leaders. Both Katie and Rowena have been attending numerous events during the year, as well as meeting in small groups during the week, and on Sundays.

The end of year dinner is for the parents and other family members, and is to wrap up the year and celebrate what they have been getting up to.

We had a bit of a surprise tonight. We were randomly assigned to dinner tables (to mix people up), and randomly assigned a 'physical impairment', which we had to maintain during the main course.

My impairment was 'no arms', so I had my wrists tied together behind my back. Elanor had the same impairment. Bern had 'stiff arms' - splints tied to his elbows so he couldn't bend his arms. Katie was 'blind' - blindfolded. Sophie had one arm only and Rowena had no arms as well. Other impairments were no hands (hands bandaged into fists) and one leg.

Now just try to imagine for a minute how you would eat curry and rice, lasagna, salad and vegetables with each of those impairments.

Done that?

How about if you knew you also had to go up to a buffet table and serve your meal, and carry it back to your table?

Fun...!

I paired up with a 'blind' lady to get our meals. Mary was able to carry two plates, and I was able to see what the food was and ask someone to serve us. I also guided her very carefully back to the table so she wouldn't 'lose' our dinners!

It turned out that the people with stiff arms were reasonable at feeding others, but had to be fed themselves. The blind people needed guidance to get the food, but could eat just fine - but they all reported feeling very lonely unless people were talking to them all the time. The 'no hands' people did a reasonable amount of cheating, slipping cutlery into their stumps. And the 'armless' people could eat a bit off the plate, but being fed was much quicker (and less messy).

The whole point, of course, was lots of cooperation. Apparently the kids ate a meal in this way earlier in the year at camp, and it really was good fun. Everyone at our table got their dinner eaten eventually. We were allowed to take our bandages off for dessert.

We were also entertained with some songs, a dance (which Rowena was in), paintings which some of the kids had done displayed (including one by Katie) and a quiz.

New Crayons

2007-12-06T21:27:00.001+13:00

There's nothing like being the first to use brand new crayons. I bought a new bundle of crayons last week, and Katie asked if she could use them first. I said she could as long as she sat on the floor with the little girls and they all drew together.

They mostly all drew their own pictures, but not too worried about a bit of collaboration! I did drawing too, and working on the floor saves the problem of retrieving dropped crayons. The texture in the lino also made interesting impressions in the drawings which I hadn't considered ahead of time.

The shot is a bit crowded. We started in an area of floor with more room around, but it's uncanny how kids always seem to position their most involved play where they are most in the way of through traffic!

But I do like the way they are all focused on one point, and the reflection of light off the lino gives a slightly ethereal effect to the picture.

Sophie and I went camping this weekend

2007-12-02T13:59:00.001+13:00

We have been having some lovely weather recently - day after day of fine, sunny weather, and less wind than usual for Spring.

Yesterday, Sophie and I decided it was the right weather for a camping holiday. (This was at least partly because we were both reading outside, and needed some shade!)

We put the tent up, and then lay around in it reading our novels (which is what you do on holiday).

It was Bern's day to cook dinner, and we all ate outside on the grass.

Later in the evening Sophie and I set up our sleeping bags, and stayed the night in the tent.

It's not that robust a tent, and I don't think I'd like to have to rely on it in a rain storm. But it's fine for back yard camping for two. (Or three if the 3rd one is small.)

(What I hadn't realised until last night is that there is a dog somewhere down the road who likes to bark for ages from 10pm. Hmmm.)

Next time I'll make sure we have the camping lantern down from the roof space (forgot it until bedtime), and maybe we can cook our breakfast saussies on the barbie!

(ps, Bern and Elanor have gone camping tonight.)

2007-11-24T14:10:00.001+13:00

It's exam season for college kids. Katie has NCEA level 1 this year, and had three exams this week, with two more to go. She is on study leave in between exams.

One of the pleasant side effects of it being exam season (and having study leave) is that she gets to spend a bit of time with the little kids. Usually they have gone home before she gets here after school.

It's always a good opportunity for the little kids to spend time with and talk to another friendly big person. Kate enjoys it too, and of course it's a help for me to have someone else to read books.

I was just wondering, though, at what age a two year old would identify a bigger person as another 'child', or as an 'adult', or whether and when they start to make this distinction. Elanor, at age 10, is so much bigger than them that she must seem a 'giant', even if she were normal height for her age!

For some reason I seem to have been remembering my camera on a Wednesday. I noticed that because there haven't been as many photos of Eva as of the other girls lately. This one was taken on Tuesday.

Christmas Parade

2007-11-18T17:51:00.001+13:00

It's been a busy weekend. This afternoon we went to the Christmas parade. Now the girls are older we mostly go to watch out for friends who are in the parade itself. But today Sophie had the chance to be a clown in the parade, so we were watching out for her!

Model Train Exhibition

2007-11-18T17:48:00.000+13:00

Bernard, Rowena, Sophie and Elanor went to the model train show yesterday. Bern's doing a 'guest post' about it.

Bernard says:

I went with three of our girls. While we were there Elanor and I stuck together while Rowena and Sophie went off to look at things themselves. There were all sorts of exhibits there. Most of the layouts were from model rail clubs from around the place (mostly Southern half of the North Island), but there were also exhibits from people selling gear, and a few individuals (who were probably selling gear on the side).

Not everything was trains, either. One group had a road loop that they had a bus and couple of trucks driving around (see photo). It looked very effective and we had to stop and ask how they did it. Apparently there is a wire underneath the road, which is magnetised, and the vehicles follow the magnetic path. Another exhibit had trolley-bus wires and trolley buses following the wires around (although this lacked the magic quality of the wire under the road).

There was also a group who are trying to revive the old fell engine route to Wairarapa. They explained to us how the engines work, and had a model of the special track they use and the mechanism for holding on to the track.

But what I found most interesting was the guy who makes models of very early train engines. He had a model of George Stevenson's early engine, and others from the 1820s to 1860s. One particularly interesting engine was an experimental model that operated on compressed air. It had been intended to be particularly fast, but in practice it did not work out that way, and had limited range to boot.

2007-11-16T21:26:00.000+13:00

We have been having a lot of fun with Magnetix (TM) lately. Uncle Michael has collected this construction material for years and always brings his collection to play with with the girls when he visits. Now, Elanor has started collecting it herself. She just had her birthday and got three sets, so has a reasonable amount.

Magnetix started off as Stix'n'balls - plastic sticks about 3cm long with a magnet at each end, and steel ball bearings to join between. Having the balls (especially the largish balls) means you can join many sticks at one point, extending the number of geometric shapes you can construct with them. We used to have some cheap ones which are not as strong and have smaller ball bearings.

As the toy developed they put out other shapes, not just sticks. Started with longer lengths, shapes such as triangles (with magnets at several points around them), squares, diamonds, etc.

One of Elanor's sets has curved and bendy sticks in 2 lengths, and circle shapes with 4 magets around the edge. Also 2 lights, which work unreliably.

Anyway, we have all been having quite a lot of fun with these, though not so much the little kids as the pieces are small. But when Grace was the last child here on Wednesday, she and Elanor played with them, and she seemed to find them very entrancing. Magnets and very cool in any case, but it's nice to be able to play with a special toy with one of the big girls.

Photos off Google Images.

(haha - just worked out I can drag images around the post! Haven't tried that before.)

Friends...

2007-11-14T09:23:00.001+13:00

One of our themes lately has been "friends" - what friends do, how they treat each other, and so on. This comes into asking for a turn, sharing, having picnics together.

When walking around Brooklyn, friends hold hands. Eva and Cara in particular are motivated to walk up the hill because they get to hold hands with their friends.

Obviously, having the girls walk home from playgroup up-hill works for me too - a lot less weight in the buggy!

2007-11-08T12:16:00.001+13:00

Now, it actually was a sunny day! - but Grace arrived with an umbrella, which became a focus of play for the day.

I found two more umbrellas for the other girls, and they paraded around outside, ending up having this 'conference' in the sandpit!

Rainy day in the sandpit

2007-11-05T10:00:00.000+13:00

You don't need it to be sunny to enjoy mucking around in mud!

It's raining just a bit now, and Isla arrived talking about splashing in puddles, so on went the gumboots and coats and out we went.

They have all been having a lovely time, washing the tea set in warm bubbly water, and digging around in the wet sand in the sandpit.

(This generally means more washing of tea set as it has got sandy again!)

A bonus is that the warm, bubbly water is ideal for washing sandy hands too.

Patchy connection

2007-11-01T09:14:00.000+13:00

I have had trouble blogging as the internet connection has been so patchy lately. When I think of something to blog about, I can't get on; and when I can get on, my mind is blank!

We've had a great week with the little kids this week though. Quite windy, but the mornings were good each day, and we had a lot of sandpit plan, and general 'out-and-about-ness'.

Dancing to Bach

2007-10-18T14:05:00.001+13:00

We had a fantastic day yesterday playing outside, and at playgroup, as the weather was so lovely. (It is not today!) When Isla asked for some music on, I decided I didn't want another nursery songs CD, so put on the first classical CD that came to hand - in this case Bach's Brandenburg Concertos.

After school Sophie put the CD on again, and here she is with Grace and Isla dancing with scarves. They really 'got into' the music, and the variations between the movements (and concertos) lent opportunities for a range of movements. Concentration, fluid movements, thoughtful pauses and then more (sometimes changed) movements.

I don' know if I've blogged about the hazards of taking photos when children play. However, it's very easy to change the child's experience by trying to record it - if they see you. Either they freeze up because they think they should do the 'right' thing, and can't think what you might want, or they freeze up in a cheesy grin because they like having their photo taken. Either way, you have interrupted their play, and also don't get your photo.

There are a couple of ways to get around this. One is to sit as inconspicuously as possible (on the floor is good) and keep taking photos until they forget about what you are doing. Another is to be very quiet and sneaky, and hope the music covers the sound of the shutter clicking. I used the later approach, and it worked pretty well.

a whole new way to procrastinate about my essay!!

2007-10-18T13:56:00.001+13:00

Here's a great new time waster!

Go to youtube (try Googling it) and search under any topic you're interested in.

Here's a link to a nature play video clip - relevant because teaching sustainability is the theme for next year's Playcentre Awareness Week.

Quilt show and sale

2007-10-14T19:42:00.001+13:00

If anyone is in Wellington this week and wants an excellent, arty outing, I recommend the Quilt Show and Sale at shed 11 on the waterfront. It's on until Labour day, 10am-5pm each day.

It is an independent event, where every quilt is for sale, and is run in conjunction with the Wellington Quilters Guild. I had a turn on the raffle sales table yesterday.

It is beautiful! The quilts are all lovely, nice mood music, and a real atmosphere of excitement yesterday afternoon. This might have been because so many quilts were being sold, and people were so happy to be taking them home.

I have about 20 quilts as 'unfinished objects' (at some stage or other) but haven't actually sewn any for ages. (I am morally obligated to finish Rowena's birthday quilt before I start anything new - and I'm a bit stuck on it!) So I bought a little wall quilt to have something new.

Water play ideas

2007-10-10T16:19:00.001+13:00

Just doing a Google search on play ideas, and found this one on water play. Seemed appropriate for today.

I've also added a link to the sidebar - a play ideas page from Little Treasurers magazine.

ps, I just read the site properly and the photos are from a playcentre in Southland. Good on them!

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain

2007-10-10T16:04:00.000+13:00

Well that's how it feels. It has rained all day without stopping. We did lots of inside things today, like building with blocks and making pikelets.

Later in the morning we all put on coats, hats and boots and went outside anyway.

The initial idea was 'stamping in puddles'. Cara, Isla and Grace quickly moved to filling and carrying watering cans and teapots and watering the garden (which didn't actually need it, but no worries!).

A rainy day provides a lot more interesting places to get water from than just the trough or hose. A dripping downpipe, shaking it off the bushes, etc - and those great puddles of course!

Beyond Quality in ECE

2007-10-07T16:36:00.001+13:00

Two of the international keynote speakers at Convention were Gunilla Dahlberg and Alan Pence, two of the authors of Beyond Quality in Early Childhood Education. I got hold of this book earlier in the year, and have found it very compelling reading.

In a nutshell, the book problematises the notion of quality in current official writing about early education, (and even the prevailing ideas about childhood). This is largely because they have been developed from a Western, and mainly American, viewpoint, and it turns out that these ideas don't work out comfortably when transported into other countries and cultures (or even many groups of minority culture within America and other Western countries). Then, these singular ideas are used to further disenfranchise groups of local decision making, and the ability to determine how to raise their children (for example).

It was very exciting to meet authors I had read 'in the flesh' (so to speak). As it happened, we sat next to these two on the first morning. This is due to my habit of sitting near the front. We got talking, and, as I have thought that some of their ideas worked out very well in the way that Playcentre works (which is currently very non-establishment, in that it's not meeting government agendas either well or willingly), I was able to talk about how their ideas played out in my area.

(Hopefully I didn't bore their ears off!)

(I had a copy of their book in my motel, so later in the week I tracked down Gunnilla and got her to sign it for me. I felt a bit embarrassed about this, but heck, how often do you meet the author of a book you like when you actually have it with you?!)

ps, the pic is of the 1999 edition. I have the 2nd edition, published (and updated) in 2007.

Cafe Review

2007-10-06T18:11:00.000+13:00

I managed two cafes yesterday.

Elanor had a voucher for coffee and a breakfast bagel off the Wholely Bagels breakfast menu, from her netball team. (I think each child on the team got a voucher.) We had to find a time to use the voucher, and we agreed that she would have the bagel, and I would drink the coffee for her, as she doesn't like coffee much.

The shop is on Willis St, though they have 4 other locations. We hadn't been there before, and once we found out how it 'worked', Elanor chose a cream cheese, honey, walnut and raisin bagel, and I got a latte. (Sophie was with us, and had a fruit bagel, toasted, to keep us company).

The coffee was very good indeed, which is enough for me to recommend the place. An added bonus was that Elanor, who is a bit fussy about things she hasn't tried before, enjoyed both her bagel and Sophie's (they went halves). At $5 for the coffee/bagel breakfast combo I would recommend the place on price too. The breakfast combo is available before 11am. (Standard latte is $3.20.)

After that time the bagels seem to be more expensive ($5.90 or so), so a bit expensive to take kids. Though they have a kids selection which is cheaper.

My other cafe was in the afternoon, when I went with friends to the Empire theatre (in Island Bay). I hadn't been there before, as I'Bay isn't my usual stamping ground. But I do approve of coffee places in suburbs (Brooklyn could do with a better one).

The cafe is at the front of the theatre, and seems very nice. I had a moccachino, which was quite acceptable, and an average price at $3.50. Where this cafe beats the Brooklyn cinema cafe is that it looks out on the street and has much better light for it. I'd have to try a straight coffee to be sure of the quality, but I don't want to sound dismissive. I'd go to the place again.

Early Childhood Convention

2007-10-06T17:49:00.000+13:00

I have put off blogging about Convention as I have needed space to get my head round it. Practically, there isn't going to be 'space' until my essay is done, so I'd better start writing comments anyway!

The 2007 Early Childhood Convention was held in Rotorua last week, from Sunday afternoon 23 September, to Friday afternoon 28 September. Bern and I both went. We had planned to attend together for 4 years (since the last Convention) as he went last time (in his role as early childhood boffin at the ERO policy unit) and I wanted to go, but missed out. The reason I missed out was that we had asked Bern's mum to come and stay with the kids (which she was happy to do), but she suddenly died of cancer during that year. So I stayed home.

Anyway, this year we are both postgrad education students, and I'm working in early childhood (and am committed to professional development) and Bern is doing general social research, with a preference for education, so all good enough reasons to send ourselves to Convention.

We had a ball! Bern shmoozed like mad (I think the 'nice' way to say this is 'networking'!!) and gave away all his business cards to people potentially wanting research done. I met loads of people I knew, including Playcentre, university, teacher and ministry people. We bought some books, (gave away a couple - another story), had dinner with friends, and together, went to loads of workshops which stretched us (and had each other to 'debrief' with afterwards) and generally had a whale of a time.

(Did I mention that it's the first time we've been away together without the kids for more than a weekend?)

The convention had about 1600 participants, and is apparently the largest early childhood convention anywhere in the world. It's probably so big because it's geared to appeal to teachers as well as academics and policy people. We set a meeting point so we could find each other at break times, and that worked well. We spent the ride home talking about the papers that we are both going to present next time - no pressure, as it's still 4 years off!

2007-10-01T14:28:00.001+13:00

You've got to love school holidays!

Sophie decided she wanted to make biscuits, and invited the little girls to help. She did all the setting up; I just gave advice on keeping it manageable, and hung around to discourage spoons and fingers from going in mouths!

They all had a really good go at mixing. This was the best photo for getting all the faces in, but Eva was mixing with the best of them too. Cara had particular persistence, and kept right on to the pressing out stage.

The biscuits will be for afternoon tea shortly.

(ps, at the same time, Katie was making a cake for morning tea and Rowena was putting away dishes, so it was a very crowded kitchen.)