It's true enough - my daughter asked me today how long it is until Christmas. She is desperate to start school, and she knows that she has to wait until "after Christmas". It was at that point I realised that we are close enough to halfway there. And this is my first post since January....and apparently blogs don't write themselves....so with all good intentions, I'll give the rusty writer's brain a shake and see how I go.
Frankly, Christmas can't come soon enough. Nor 2012. Last decade, for all that it was called the 'noughties', and for all the war and terrorism and horror that it contained, was really pretty benign to me and mine. This year has been very different so far. I am feeling very unsettled. It seems that stresses and tensions that are appearing in the natural world (and let's face it, it's got to the point where I think we are all wondering what new disaster each month will bring), are being mirrored by sad upheavals in our family. And as Forrest Gump would say "That's all I have to say about that". I know that blogs are supposed to be fora for opening one's heart and baring one's soul (messy!), but sometimes there is also a need to retreat, hermit-like.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Australia Day
Our family celebrated Australia Day in a very stereotypical way: at the beach, with a sausage sizzle. However, it was also lovely to come home for a light tea of (homemade) sushi, which I feel illustrates another reason to be grateful we live here - our multiculturalism which has seen Australia accept, accommodate and later welcome people from many countries. It has saddened me in recent years to see Australia Day marked by jingoistic outpourings of superficial nationalism/patriotism. I would like to see it a more reflective time (although it could be argued that we have ANZAC Day for that.) How do you feel?
This is a great post from Trevor Cairney's blog. It is filled with suggestions for exploring different aspects of Australian identity through children's literature.
Literacy, families and learning: Australia Day
P.S. The sushi was not intended as a symbolic gesture - it was delicious! The symbolism occured to me later!
This is a great post from Trevor Cairney's blog. It is filled with suggestions for exploring different aspects of Australian identity through children's literature.
Literacy, families and learning: Australia Day
P.S. The sushi was not intended as a symbolic gesture - it was delicious! The symbolism occured to me later!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Parenting Ideas - Help your child ACHIEVE this year
A timely post from Michael Grose's Parenting Ideas page. I appreciate his core messages of being involved and interested in your child's education, without taking over; maintain open communication with and trust the teacher and the school.
It is a little sad, however, to think that parents may need to be reminded to make sure that their kids eat healthily, get plenty of sleep and arrive at school on time - this was also a key message on the first note home I received from my son's grade one teacher. This must be a pretty serious problem if teachers are having to remind parents of something that is so commonsense. What advice would you give to parents with children starting school?
Parenting Ideas - Help your child ACHIEVE this year
It is a little sad, however, to think that parents may need to be reminded to make sure that their kids eat healthily, get plenty of sleep and arrive at school on time - this was also a key message on the first note home I received from my son's grade one teacher. This must be a pretty serious problem if teachers are having to remind parents of something that is so commonsense. What advice would you give to parents with children starting school?
Parenting Ideas - Help your child ACHIEVE this year
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Reading Rockets: Building World Knowledge: Motivating Children to Read and Enjoy Informational Text
Hello and Happy New Year! I will do a proper New Year/Australia Day post soon. I the meantime, I wanted to share this article which has some good ideas for tackling non-fiction texts in the early years. It contains some very simple strategies for helping students to get the most out of a text, and to support comprehension and thinking skills.
Reading Rockets: Building World Knowledge: Motivating Children to Read and Enjoy Informational Text
Reading Rockets: Building World Knowledge: Motivating Children to Read and Enjoy Informational Text
Monday, December 13, 2010
A soundtrack to Christmas
Looking for a soundtrack to Christmas? I would like to give a plug to transit jazz , a really talented group of musicians who take their inspirations from traditional Christian music, and well- and not so well-known Bible verses.
Their music is easy to hear and to listen to (ie it's nice to have playing at dinner, and stimulating to actually listen to), with vaguely familiar refrains which infuse a sense of the sacred with the profane (in the old sense of the word...).
Whether you hold strong Christian beliefs or not; if you like jazz, or if you would like to like jazz, have a look and a listen!
Their music is easy to hear and to listen to (ie it's nice to have playing at dinner, and stimulating to actually listen to), with vaguely familiar refrains which infuse a sense of the sacred with the profane (in the old sense of the word...).
Whether you hold strong Christian beliefs or not; if you like jazz, or if you would like to like jazz, have a look and a listen!
The sum of innumerable privileges
It is coming to that busy Christmas end of year season here. In Australia, the weather really heats up, the temperature rising in tandem with the excitement of children anticipating a period of surprises and treats. For me, Christmas is always a period of reflection and evaluation, as the year draws to a close replete with images of new life welcomed in surprising and unconventional circumstances, ancient promises made and kept, and the tenuous vulnerability of life and relationships. At this time of year, above all others, I am acutely aware of being the sum of innumerable privileges.
"Of those to whom much is given, much will be expected." I don't know the origins of this expression, but it has been a theme in my family for as long as I can remember; the implication being that those with talent or intellectual or material wealth have an obligation to give of themselves, and to make the most of their opportunities to unselfish ends. And this is something I strive for. And yet how can I hope to give in accordance with the abundance of privilege I have? Privilege I did nothing to earn or achieve.
I was born in a time of peace in a stable democracy. I am a part of the dominant culture, speaking the dominant language. I grew up in a loving and supportive family with many excellent role-models. I received easily, willingly and happily an outstanding education. I was blessed to have outstanding teachers. I attended university with a minimum of fuss, and at a reasonable cost. My gender is, to all intents and purposes, irrelevant. I have excellent health. My children are healthy, happy and amazing. My husband grows more impressive - in thoughtfulness, character and integrity. The debt I owe to life, or humanity, or the future is humbling.
"Of those to whom much is given, much will be expected." I don't know the origins of this expression, but it has been a theme in my family for as long as I can remember; the implication being that those with talent or intellectual or material wealth have an obligation to give of themselves, and to make the most of their opportunities to unselfish ends. And this is something I strive for. And yet how can I hope to give in accordance with the abundance of privilege I have? Privilege I did nothing to earn or achieve.
I was born in a time of peace in a stable democracy. I am a part of the dominant culture, speaking the dominant language. I grew up in a loving and supportive family with many excellent role-models. I received easily, willingly and happily an outstanding education. I was blessed to have outstanding teachers. I attended university with a minimum of fuss, and at a reasonable cost. My gender is, to all intents and purposes, irrelevant. I have excellent health. My children are healthy, happy and amazing. My husband grows more impressive - in thoughtfulness, character and integrity. The debt I owe to life, or humanity, or the future is humbling.
http://www.parentingideas.com.au/newsletter/pdf/HK2_ebook.pdf
I know that in the quest for an easy pun I was a bit of a meanie about Michael Grose in an earlier post. In fact, I opened my first can of blogging worms....but 'tis the season of good will, and he has a lot of practical, straightforward, and positive ideas.
Please enjoy this "Best Of" compilation which I received via email today. Also, if your appetite is whetted, he's now on Facebook (for those of us who indulge in that guilty pleasure....)
http://www.mnwd-hosting.com/emanager/members/link.php?M=2264334&N=14962&L=11448&F=H
Please enjoy this "Best Of" compilation which I received via email today. Also, if your appetite is whetted, he's now on Facebook (for those of us who indulge in that guilty pleasure....)
http://www.mnwd-hosting.com/emanager/members/link.php?M=2264334&N=14962&L=11448&F=H
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