From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

badmemory - in terms of vocab, if we take pronounciation out for a second, talking wise, LG does have quite a range - probably better than their prescriptive age-level, and yes, I think the teacher is coming at it from a 'capacity to improve - because LG can'.  But I do think there is a parallel point that LG's written vocab isn't on a par with their spoken vocab.  This is possibly quite common (or vice-versa, better at written than spoken), but you have to write/type, to use/expand vocab.  I think the school do still rely on writing, lessons are still conducted on paper/in books rather than tablets. Now, of course, we're in a changing world and we've been on the cusp of 'paperless everything' for approximately the last 40 years, so there is a point about the 'usefulness' of handwriting, whereas vocab comes into things whether you're typing or handwriting.  

On pronounciation, there is the issue of mangling 'unknown' words - and we're all guilty of that - Hi-un-di/Hee-yun-dee, anyone? But LG's slips in pronounciation are more about scanning the word and rushing, rather than encountering unfamiliar words all the time. Which is why, reading together is a worthwhile exercise as it would illustrate whether LG just needs to slow down and read carefully, or whether they are tackling text that is above their ability at this moment in time.  Their reading level has been assessed at 2 years above their calendar age, by the school, so it possibly boils down to 'just more care'.  

Greying X

badmemory

Have you tried LG with word type games.  Scrabble maybe or online the new york times spelling bee.  The daily one is free to the first stage.  A bit of wet weather play!  There is also wordle in there but I suspect LG may be just a little young for that yet.  What teachers can spot as soon as children go back in September is those who have & those who haven't used their brains during the holidays.

Greying_Pilgrim

badmemory - no, actually we haven't - something to ponder on. 

And yes, that is 'sort of' all I want to do with LG is keep their brain cells 'ticking over'.  I don't need them to read War&peace now, or anytime in the future as such.  I just want them to maintain-ish the skills and abilities they have, and keep engaged.  The good thing about holidays, is that it doesn't have to be engaged at a purely 'book learning for book learning's sake' level, it can be frivolous, fun.  It can be about application - reading the instructions to put up a tent.......  reading the recipe to make ice-cream etc etc.   It can be looking up the postcode to put in the sat-nav to go on an adventure etc etc

I hope I'm not coming across as requiring LG to do 8hrs of 'school-endorsed learning' each and every day of the holidays.....  They already consistently score 'above average' at school, by their own endeavours.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Back to money saving! 

I made lentil soup for lunch.  It has been driech all morning..... 5 minutes before I dished up, the sun came out and it is now splitting the pavement 🙄😂  Anyhoo, the soup has been eaten, with the last slices of bread from the bag, so I think that counts as a thrifty lunch, as had we taken our sandwiches out I would have used more bread.

LG and DH went for a pootle on the bikes, and my observation about route/destination clearly left an impression as they went through the town park and cycled a longer route.  Bravo! 👏

When the decks are clear, I will fire up the SC to make some qu0rn fricasse.  I'll add veg in and serve with pasta.  

Greying X

greenbee

My brother had feedback from school about one child's reading (we were all aware - eldest is a voracious reader like me, youngest wasn't interested like him at that age!), so we now have a family holiday 'tradition' of a book that we read together every evening - everyone takes it in turns (including any visiting adults and kids). Adults may read a bit more than kids, my brother and I do most (he's best at different voices!) so not only do they get help with unfamiliar words but they also get to hear other people reading (and making mistakes/discussing words) - and it's a fun group activity for half an hour before bed. 

Blackcats

Another of LG's online honorary aunties just had a bright idea for you to think about.  I was pottering about listening to my audio book earlier and suddenly thought that listening to a book which is beautifully read is a joy as well as turning the pages of  an actual book yourself.  

I use aud I ble which costs but you can get a free 30 day trial which fits nicely with the remaining school holidays but search online for Harp er Coll ins children's audiobooks and it seems to be free.  It might be a nice variation, help with pronunciation and professional actors will really bring the story to life.  You can listen together while doing other things or just relax on the sofa together (if you can squeeze some "spare" time into your day or evening.)

MrBC rarely reads a book these days but thoroughly enjoys listening to audiobooks.  We are eagerly anticipating the release next month of the latest in the Strike series.  Robert Glenister is an amazing narrator.

Greying_Pilgrim

My dearest greenbee and Blackcats (OA's - online Aunties 😁).  Success!  We have literally just been doing what you have both described.  Yesterday LG had seen a film advertised on TV - announcing it as 'Ken's Kingdom', and could they tape it to watch.  'Hang on', says I, it isn't Ken's Kingdom, it's Kenzuke's Kingdom'.  Reply comes back, 'Oh yeah, you're right.'  Prog gets taped.  

Today, I am thinking about this, in addition to the whole reading thing.  This book is bugging me.  'I'm sure Michael Morpurgo authored it, and I'm sure as heck we have that book, I got it from a chazzer.....'.  I get the usual 'mummas gone delulu' looks....... 🤣  So I wander off and look everywhere to find it.  Can't.  Look it up online and recognise the cover, I DID buy it.  So off I trot and look in a different place.  Book found 😁

I strike a deal with LG, they can only watch the film, once we've read the book.  We will alternate chapters.  My challenge is accepted.  I start.  LG takes Chapter 2, and DH (who has consistently read bedtime stories since LG came home from hozzie as a little itty bitty baby), took chapter 3 😁  We are currently working through Chapter 4, and that will be today's session.  It's not a huge book, but it's engaging.

LG has just started up again.  

Must go 😁But thank you all - we're getting towards a lovely balance.  I agree with audio books, especially good character actors/readers - Richard E. Grant reading the modern 'Wombles' stories - excellent 😁

Greying X

Suffolksue

If I remember correctly LG is 10-11 ish ?

my GC liked scrabble at that age ,you can often find it in Charity shops .wouldn’t bother with Junior scrabble 

what really sparked them all though was RUmmikub which DH and I came across by chance at his sisters ,
for years I had Rummikub championships on going with all 5 of them and in various combinations ,from my point of view it was interesting to observe the different approaches and how they changed over the years 
I correctly predicted the mathematicians (2 out of the 5 ) and even though 3 are now older than 18 they will still get it out when they visit 

again might be found in a charity shop 

Suffolksue

Suppose they could just be humouring Grandma !,

Cheery_Daff

I probably listen to more audio books than I read physical books these days (although I do plenty of that too) - because I'm so often driving back and forth to work. I take it you know the library does audio books through an app?? I use ours all the time