Learning

We don't let the kids have too much screen time. I was in Phnom Penh with them a month or so ago and was in a workshop so out of necessity allowed them unrestricted time on the computer for two days! They watched movies and played on Scratch. Scratch is a kids programming program allowing them to make up little moving pictures with sound etc. Amelie learned how to use this during her few months at the computer class at the local primary school.

Well Jarrah is always begging to be allowed to play on the computer. She usually wants to play Scratch. At home I prefer just to say no, so she knows it is not an option. It is just much simpler, as usually, when it comes time to end, or she gets frustrated - we end up in tears.

She still hasn't got it in her head that it is not an option. The latest ploy has been, "I just want to show you the picture that we did last time!" We had had a productive morning and the afternoon was spent making a kite and a wall chart for letters for Jarrah (sewing!). She was begging again. I said, "Scratch is too hard for you, you don't know how to use the program." She replied, "Well that is how I learn, I need to use it!" Good point. She is a good arguer. So, I gave in. 10 minutes. It always ends up with Jarrah asking Amelie something, "How do I get the background" or something like that. Amelie hops on and works on the project for the rest of the time. Time is up. Jarrah cries, "Amelie used up all my time!!" Today was no different.

Yesterday we started in on Jarrah's school. I think she has been feeling a little neglected with me spending a lot of time teaching Amelie and leaving her to play by herself. Her attention getter is "I'm hungry" every 20 minutes or less. So I got out some workbooks I have been keeping for her and asked her if she wanted to start school.

I had tried this a month earlier with another book - 100 easy lessons to reading or something. She wasn't impressed at all and not at all interested. But this latest workbook seems to have got her motivated. She was even asking to do more lessons this evening at 5:30pm. We'll see how long this keeps up for. Not trying to push her as i don't see any need for her to really start school, but mostly I want her to feel included and to have something constructive to do - if that is what she wants. It is quite cute seeing her sitting there, all excited about her book, asking for more!

Amelie's experiment for the day was kite making. I got home from my run (/walk!!) at 6:30 am and she was outside trying to cut up bamboo to make the frame for her kite. She had actually gotten dressed already (an aside - the other morning I slept in and when I woke up at 6.30am, she told me she had already been to the ball field by our place - in her night attire still (panties only! it is really hot right now)). So very surprising to see her dressed already! Anyway, this afternoon I got my sewing machine out and sewed up a kite. Tried to. Assembled it, and the two went to the ball field (both dressed this time, also something for Jarrah who has been spending her hot days in panties!) No luck with the kite flying. It is not windy season. But I should go out with them tomorrow to try again.

Last learning for the day. I have been doing this fairly intensive grammar program with Amelie. She gets it all and seems to be having no problems at all. It is kind of coming back for me too, although I don't think there is too much more that I know than what she is being taught right now. While teaching this, I am constantly wondering why, why, why do I need to teach grammar. Why did I choose to teach grammar. I am way too easily persuaded. I read one book and say, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Then I read another (contradictory) book and also agree. I talk to people who also easily persuade me this way or that. Grammar is one of those topics. This program was a recommendation from someone I talked to, once. Anyway, other things I have read is that kids don't need grammar if they are native English speakers and are exposed to good books and lots of reading.
Well, today, I learned something! There are three types of pronouns! Subject, Object and Possessive pronouns. Possessive is obvious. But it is important that the subject and object pronouns are used correctly! For example..

Me and Amelie went shopping today. (obviously wrong)
Amelie and I went shopping.

"I" being the object pronoun and "me" being a subject pronoun.

This is what has never really been clear to me - or I have never really thought about it, nor understood. Maybe I regularly make mistakes in my speech and writing, who knows!

Ben took a picture of me and Amelie.
Ben took a picture of Amelie and I.

I guess the latter really doesn't sound right. But now I know why!
And.. should it be "...me and Amelie" or "Amelie and me" ????

Well that is my learning for the day. I guess we'll keep on the grammar for this year and see how much more we need to do!
Signing off..