Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain

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

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

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

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!

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.)

Cafe Review

I have just got back from the Early Childhood Convention in Rotorua, and could blog it all week. Five days of international speakers and local presenters, and so many topics... It was great!

But first, if you're on the Napier-Taupo road, I suggest you don't go to the Summit Tearooms. First off, the latte was from a push-button machine, but they charged espresso prices ($3.50). Very disappointing. Then, the scone was fridge-cold at 11.30am. (It should have been fresh that morning.) And about $3.00 too. To add insult to injury (and I wouldn't have worried about them if the first things had been right), the 'butter' was marg, and the loos were out of paper and hand-towels.

They are obviously taking advantage of a monopoly position - only cafe for miles. Hmmm.

I'm usually the one behind the camera, but here is a rare shot of me with the little kids. (Isla's mum was at playgroup and took the photo for their photoboard.)

Computer....

I have had a computer melt down this week - followed by a resurrection!

Bern was on the phone to the Telstra technition to fix the internet problems we've been having. He moved some plug on my computer - and it died!!!!

The computer repair man (it's still under warranty) picked it up Tuesday morning - and delivered it back all better on Tuesday afternoon! I'm so happy!

(I was afraid I'd have to finish the essay on the laptop.)

Grrr - Study!

My essay is doing my head in!

It's for the Education Policy paper, and I'm trying to weave about 20 theads together to comment on a particular EC policy. I keep finding new things (like Third Way political management, and globalisation) which turn out to be relevant and which I need to say 3 intelligent sentences on. (Which involves reading 3 books!)

I still have the option of writing a 'bad' essay, which I'm holding back in case I need to use it later. (I could write that sort of essay (and get a C) with no more reading at all.)

I'm sure that spending the last 2 days reading a novel has helped me to be refreshed and to focus...!!

Playgroup

We set off for playgroup today, which is our usual Tuesday event, though sometimes interrupted by bad weather. The new thing is that Cara has picked up an extra day (which Isla has dropped), so now comes to playgroup too. A new environment for her.

Here she is working on the butterfly puzzle. She has a lot of patience with puzzles, both at home and at playgroup, and will keep trying a piece, seemingly in confidence that it should fit, and so it will fit if she keeps working on it.

BTW, the butterfly puzzle is a really nice textured one which I bought when I was buying toys for the playgroup some years ago. It has a very interesting hand-painted finished too. There seems to be fashions in puzzles (and other equipment) and you can't always get more of a similar item.

On Sunday evening we all went to the ballet Cinderella. (You can read more about it here.) This is our annual ballet trip, and is Grandad's birthday present to all of us (and Uncle Michael). The first year it was on 1 November (Elanor's birthday) and we have called it 'birthday ballet' ever since.

It was wonderful! It was beautifully staged. The costumes where fabulous. They usually are good for ballet, but were especially so this time, possibly because of the fantasy theme.

I think it really helped knowing the story ahead of time. It meant we could be aware of the ways the designers (and so on) brought out different elements and themes.

As it was a 6.30 show there were a lot of little kids attending. It was really lovely to see the little girls who had dressed up, and watch the ones spinning around in the lobby at interval.

(One point - Katie noted that the woman playing Cinderella didn't look healthy - very thin indeed. Made Elanor look positively chunky!)

Today was the last day of netball. And a lovely sunny day too. Sophie's team has had their ups and downs over the season, but ended on a high note, winning 20:10. Sophie scored about half of her team's goals, and was thrilled!

Bern is the coach of the team, which is made up of girls from the three local schools.

Elanor didn't play today as she felt unwell. So I don't have a photo of her or her team.