Until now, I’ve had a structured timetable for the
boys, but the new school year has properly settled in, and school is now sending
home more specific work for each child. So naturally, our learning at home is
changing too.
Zachariah: Writing, Phonics & Pencil Control
Let’s start with Zach, who is in Reception.
Our big win this week is that he can finally write his
name by himself!
He completed an activity at school today and remembered to
write his name at the end without being prompted. He inverted the Z, which is
perfectly normal at this stage, but the fact that he remembered his name and
knew to write it? Oh, that filled me. ❤️
So this week, we’re doubling down on writing. He’ll continue
using the name-tracing sheet I created using an AI prompt, alongside
connecting-the-dots activities to improve his pencil control, you can also use AI prompt for this, we use Twinkl.
His phonics is moving quickly too. School has started
sending home the sounds they’re learning, and he’s already secure with last
week’s set. Thankfully, we did quite a bit of this during the holidays, so some
of it is already familiar.
I’ve also created a nursery-rhyme playlist for him here. Rhymes
are a simple way of exposing children to sounds, rhythm and language,
which all feed into those early reading and spelling skills.
So for Zach this week: writing, pencil control, phonics
and lots of singing nursery Rhymes.
Oliver: 11+ Prep, Reading & His New Eco Role
Oliver’s focus is very different.
We’re continuing our 11+ preparation, particularly
maths, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. He’s using Atom Learning,
IXL and Kumon, but rather than leaving him to work through everything alone,
I’m learning alongside him.
For now, I am his tutor.
Eventually, I’ll introduce practice papers to see where he
is and whether our method is working. If we reach a point where he needs a
tutor, we'll get one. But for now, we're learning together.
He has also joined his school’s Eco Committee as his
class representative, which gives us another little learning opportunity at
home.
I want him to understand what being environmentally
conscious actually means not just have the title. That includes little everyday
things like not leaving a crisp packet on the table for Mum to pick up 😂,
thinking about water usage and understanding how our everyday choices affect
our environment.
And Our Biggest Reading Win…
Oliver has officially graduated from guided reading!
He no longer has to stick to staged reading books and can
choose books independently.
This one makes me especially happy because we have consciously worked on reading over the years. Even when family
members ask what to buy him for birthdays, I often say books. I want him to always have something to pick up and read.
He's currently working through a Roald Dahl collection, and
recently I heard him laughing while reading.
That was such a lovely moment because he wasn't practising
reading anymore.
He was simply enjoying a book.
Consistency, Not Perfection
And this is probably the biggest thing I want another parent reading this to take away.
I don't do all of this perfectly every day.
Yesterday, I went to work and came home exhausted, so we did
the basics. Today, I'm working from home and have more energy, so we'll do
more.
Consistency doesn't mean doing everything every day.
Some days you'll manage an hour. Some days twenty minutes.
Some days it might just be reading a book together.
Do what you can and keep showing up.
When I look at Oliver now and then look at Zach, learning his
sounds, controlling his pencil and writing his name, I’m reminded that Oliver
started there too.
Those little ordinary days really do add up.
P.S. I’ve linked some of the books Oliver is
currently reading, along with some of the activity sheets and resources we use
with Zach, in case you’re looking for ideas for your own little ones. Have a
browse and take whatever might work for your family.
Have a lovely Tuesday. ❤️
With Love,
Ayo
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