Gosh, 2022! Doesn’t that seem strange! I can scarcely believe it’s 2022 and that we are already through the first month! People often moan about January but it’s a month that I quite like. It’s a good time to regroup as a family of five and to really plow on with work. The children always seem quite keen to get on with bigger projects and it’s, usually, a month I feel quite productive. And January 2022 has been no exception.
Core Subjects
As ever, we are continuing to work on maths on a regular basis. Maths no Problem is still working for us and H, in particular, is really progressing well with his maths work. All three of them seem to do well with this program so I am happy to continue to use it with additional bits and pieces here and there.
The most significant ‘core’ work this month has been to really get H up and running with his reading. He has been able to read for a little time but he’s needed a bit more regular practice to really build that fluency. We have been ensuring we do his reading practice every day, even if it’s just a page or two and I have really noticed the difference in him. There are still some bits here and there he needs a gentle reminder about, but I am sure in another month he will be that much more confident.
He has also been making good strides with his writing; we seem to be (finally!) seeing the reversed numbers being corrected and his writing is getting a little more controlled and legible which is good.
Project Work
The big project this month was finishing off the Australia project which the children presented at the geography fair right at the end of the month. We did quite a lot on the Australia project. We looked at the First Fleet and a number of different states. We looked at Uluru and the aboriginal people. We had some interesting conversations about the aboriginal people and how attitudes have changed over time and how we might have done things differently. The children particularly enjoyed learning about Kangaroo Island, Luna Park and the Ghan train journey. We did a few creative writing pieces in this project as it’s an area I really need to work on with the older two and I was impressed with E’s work in this area.
For their presentation at the project fair, they focussed their project display on The Ghan which was the part of the project they all said they enjoyed the most. This in turn sparked an interest in trains for D who spent a few evenings drawing different trains and working on his art work. It’s good to see him taking an interest in art as the creative side of life if something that comes less easily to him.
View this post on Instagram
We also completed a short road runner project this month, at H’s request. I’m not sure what prompted his interest in road runners but we did a little bit about them and he enjoyed this (as did the older two) and we learned about these interesting birds!
Finally, we have moved onto Brazil and The Amazon Rainforest project. I had planned to move on to a new history project but the children wanted to do the Twinkl Amazon Adventure so we have moved on to that now and that’s turning into quite a large project! I’m hoping to wrap this project up in early Feb so we can then look to move onto a history project with a view to completing that before Easter.
Regular Groups
Swimming and athletics have resumed following the Christmas break and the children are continuing to enjoy these. Spanish has recommenced, albeit online for the older two.
Em and D have started back at music and D is currently working towards a grading. I’m not sure when that will take place, but his teacher seems content that he is ready for it, so we look forward to that in due course. Em has really come on with the flute now. She got the flute at the October half term and has taken a bit of time to get used to it but she’s definitely managing it and getting stronger and stronger.
Days Out
We started the year being a bit under the weather then both Damian and I ended up quite poorly for the best part of a week in the middle of the month so trips out have been a bit hit and miss. I did take Em swimming to the local pool which she enjoyed and Damian took H out for breakfast one Sunday morning.
We have been to Dunham Massey and Lyme Park for a wander as well as to a local woodland area for a stroll. There’s also been library trips and park trips in there too.
Other Bits and Pieces
I think that pretty much sums up our January. It’s felt busy! We have had friends round for a play at weekends and have been baking and cooking and trying out a few new things here and there. I look forward to the coming month which sees a birthday celebration, a half-term
break and moving onto some fun topics hopefully.
excelent (and busy) as s ever