Thursday, July 31, 2008
Paper boys
The boys are gracing the front page of today's Mosman Daily: http://www.mosmandaily.com.au/ and http://www.mosmandaily.com.au/images/2008/07/30/crosswalk.jpg.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Callum's project
For the first time Callum had a major project that stretched over several months: it was handed in today. It fell into two parts.
The first was to write a biography of an Olympian. Callum created a little book on one of the Australian Tae Kwon-do team. It wasn't a bad effort but did reflect the only less-positive comment from last term's report: that he doesn't always take pride in his work. Jennifer and I decided he had to take responsibility for it and after having pushed him into some minor tidying-up left it as it was.
The second part was to make a model of the sport. For this the boy who's current motto is "books and computers are my life" decided on programming a game. Both boys have done some programming with me using a fantstic programming environment called Scratch. Scratch is incredibly intuitive and designed from the ground-up to be accessible to kids (although it's fun for adults too!). So Cal only needed minimal help to put together what you'll see if you follow this link.
The first was to write a biography of an Olympian. Callum created a little book on one of the Australian Tae Kwon-do team. It wasn't a bad effort but did reflect the only less-positive comment from last term's report: that he doesn't always take pride in his work. Jennifer and I decided he had to take responsibility for it and after having pushed him into some minor tidying-up left it as it was.
The second part was to make a model of the sport. For this the boy who's current motto is "books and computers are my life" decided on programming a game. Both boys have done some programming with me using a fantstic programming environment called Scratch. Scratch is incredibly intuitive and designed from the ground-up to be accessible to kids (although it's fun for adults too!). So Cal only needed minimal help to put together what you'll see if you follow this link.
Self-image
We have a couple of things where the boys need to make little avatars to represents themselves on screen. In Mathletics the major reward for completing things is the capacity to buy new clothes, hairstyles etc. On the Wii you can create a Mii, or more than one. And then, of course, there is Club Penguin, Toontown and Indiana Jones which also allow creation but less directly tied to the real individiual.
It's fascinated me to watch the process of picking a look in action. First, both boys like being girls; not exclusively, but certainly very happily. Callum tends to stay closer to reality though; he likes to create characters that look good. Declan loves strange clothes, coloured hair and generally strange names for his characters. I fear this may say something about their personalities and more concerningly about their fashion choices in later years.
There is hope, though. We were all watching The Aamazing Race recently when a couple had to get a tattoo as part of the race. Jennifer and I were at pains to explain how this worked and the fact it would never come off. I think the boys went off to bed having firmly placed tattoos in their personal pantheon of 'bad things' on a level only slightly below that held by smoking.
It's fascinated me to watch the process of picking a look in action. First, both boys like being girls; not exclusively, but certainly very happily. Callum tends to stay closer to reality though; he likes to create characters that look good. Declan loves strange clothes, coloured hair and generally strange names for his characters. I fear this may say something about their personalities and more concerningly about their fashion choices in later years.
There is hope, though. We were all watching The Aamazing Race recently when a couple had to get a tattoo as part of the race. Jennifer and I were at pains to explain how this worked and the fact it would never come off. I think the boys went off to bed having firmly placed tattoos in their personal pantheon of 'bad things' on a level only slightly below that held by smoking.
Mathletes
Both boys finished their year-level in Mathletics this week. Because we wanted to be sure of their competency before moving them up, they've each also completed half of the next year-level. So Dec is now working through Year 1 and Callum is doing year 4.
Declan's reading
In the last week Declan's reading has shot forward. It's been pretty good compared to most of his classmates, but we've never been able to grasp why a child who has been able to play i-spy so effectively for such a long time hasn't been able to consistently recognise the same word twice on a page.
Suddenly this week he's reading books 3-4 levels above those he was reading two weeks ago and reading them surprisingly fluently and with expression.
It's either 'just one of those things' or due to encouragement over the last couple of weeks to read three letters at a time when sounding out words instead of one at a time. I honestly don't know, but I'm happy wither way.
Suddenly this week he's reading books 3-4 levels above those he was reading two weeks ago and reading them surprisingly fluently and with expression.
It's either 'just one of those things' or due to encouragement over the last couple of weeks to read three letters at a time when sounding out words instead of one at a time. I honestly don't know, but I'm happy wither way.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sports carnival
The boys had their sports Carnival today. Much enthusiasm at the beginning and much exhaustion by the end.
Both very very happy to have come seventh in their main foot race (their reaction was lovely to see). Dec came second in his egg-and-spoon race; Callum came third in his.
Both very very happy to have come seventh in their main foot race (their reaction was lovely to see). Dec came second in his egg-and-spoon race; Callum came third in his.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Wasting energy
Today we went to Cockatoo Island, which is hosting the lion's share of the Sydney Biennale. It is a fantastic site - lots of old rusty machinery to look at and figure out (reasonably safely fenced off, where necessary) with huge indoor and outdoor spaces to run around in.
We didn't get that much out of the Biennale itself (although there were a couple of installations that caught everyone's imaginations, notably the huge hall full of sails, which was fantastic for hide and seek), but had a great time wandering around the island, and will definitely go back.
Although both boys had a great time, Callum is still very bitter. He was in charge of the map, but Evan overruled him at one point to take us through the longer of two tunnels through the middle of the island. Callum could see very clearly on the map just how much longer we had to walk, and has been complaining about the energy he wasted at 10 minute intervals ever since.
We didn't get that much out of the Biennale itself (although there were a couple of installations that caught everyone's imaginations, notably the huge hall full of sails, which was fantastic for hide and seek), but had a great time wandering around the island, and will definitely go back.
Although both boys had a great time, Callum is still very bitter. He was in charge of the map, but Evan overruled him at one point to take us through the longer of two tunnels through the middle of the island. Callum could see very clearly on the map just how much longer we had to walk, and has been complaining about the energy he wasted at 10 minute intervals ever since.
Go Australia!
Yesterday we went and saw the Australian (men's) Olympic soccer team play NZ at North Sydney Oval. Very civilized - walking up to the oval, sitting on the grass in the sun, and best of all, watching Australia beat NZ 3-2. The women had also won earlier, but we only saw the end of their match - didn't think the boys would sit through two full length soccer matches.
Declan loved waving a flag, and insisted that we buy Australian flags to take with us. Callum spent most of the second half draped over a fence with Griffin cheering madly. Declan and Callum were both shocked when I explained to them that their Grandpa would be cheering for NZ if he had been there - but eventually they understood. Declan also spent a fair bit of time drawing pictures in Isabel's sketchbook which Jane had thoughtfully brought with her for them both.
It was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon - North Sydney Oval is a lovely ground.
Declan loved waving a flag, and insisted that we buy Australian flags to take with us. Callum spent most of the second half draped over a fence with Griffin cheering madly. Declan and Callum were both shocked when I explained to them that their Grandpa would be cheering for NZ if he had been there - but eventually they understood. Declan also spent a fair bit of time drawing pictures in Isabel's sketchbook which Jane had thoughtfully brought with her for them both.
It was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon - North Sydney Oval is a lovely ground.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Distraction
I remembered today why I shouldn't be surprised that Callum's maths report was better than his english. As we were waiting for the tae kwon do grading to finish (you have to wait while each level is tested, and the lower levels don't have to do much compared with the higher), Callum complained of boredom.
Evan, inspired, started asking him to find the square roots of things. All boredom vanished, as he tried to puzzle out first 81, then 121, then (a very tricky one as its more than the times tables) 225. He was stumped at 400, interestingly enough.
Evan, inspired, started asking him to find the square roots of things. All boredom vanished, as he tried to puzzle out first 81, then 121, then (a very tricky one as its more than the times tables) 225. He was stumped at 400, interestingly enough.
Wii
The boys were on a promise that when they both completed a difficult task they would get a Wii. They got the Wii on Thursday and have been largely glued to it ever since.
The perfect wii-moment came yesterdya. They were doing the boxing game and both got so hot they took off their shirts. So there they are, bare-chested boxing on a computer game.
The perfect wii-moment came yesterdya. They were doing the boxing game and both got so hot they took off their shirts. So there they are, bare-chested boxing on a computer game.
Grades
It's been a bit of a testing and results couple of days for the boys.
First they got their reports. Both did very well indeed. Declan's kindy report doesn't involve as amuch detailed information as Callum's year 2 report, but both were extremly positive. Callum's was truly so.
Then, today, they did their taekwondo grading. Jennifer and I were extremely proud of the way they focussed and tried; and both have moved up a grade - Declan is now a Yellow-tip and Callum a Green-tip.
Have to say Declan was etraordinaily cute doing his grading amongst a group of adults - especially when the teacher pointed out that he was the only person doing the kiyup (the shout you do as you complete a punch).
First they got their reports. Both did very well indeed. Declan's kindy report doesn't involve as amuch detailed information as Callum's year 2 report, but both were extremly positive. Callum's was truly so.
Then, today, they did their taekwondo grading. Jennifer and I were extremely proud of the way they focussed and tried; and both have moved up a grade - Declan is now a Yellow-tip and Callum a Green-tip.
Have to say Declan was etraordinaily cute doing his grading amongst a group of adults - especially when the teacher pointed out that he was the only person doing the kiyup (the shout you do as you complete a punch).
Belts
Today was the Tae Kwon Do grading, and we all went for our belts. Declan is now a yellow tip, I am a yellow belt, Callum a green tip, and Evan a green belt.
Callum and Declan both did really well remembering their patterns and doing what they were asked by the graders - especially Declan because it was his first time.
Callum had to do some sparring to get his belt, and we were pleased to see him actually trying a few tae kwon do moves, rather than randomly kicking and punching. One of his fellow (now) green tips is about the same size as him, which made the whole thing very cute to watch.
Callum and Declan both did really well remembering their patterns and doing what they were asked by the graders - especially Declan because it was his first time.
Callum had to do some sparring to get his belt, and we were pleased to see him actually trying a few tae kwon do moves, rather than randomly kicking and punching. One of his fellow (now) green tips is about the same size as him, which made the whole thing very cute to watch.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
End of term
It's the last day of term 2 today, and I'm not sure if the boys could have lasted another day. They've been waking up really early lately (5.30 yesterday) and as a consequence have been really ratty in the evenings. They're both really enjoying school, but it'll be good for them to have a bit of a break.
They both got reports from the first half of the year - both very complimentary (Callum's especially so). Interestingly they are both better at maths than literacy, which surprised me somewhat (although doing well in both).
They both got reports from the first half of the year - both very complimentary (Callum's especially so). Interestingly they are both better at maths than literacy, which surprised me somewhat (although doing well in both).
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