Letting Go, Holding Back

I am trying my best to let go of my need for instant results and to hold back on being critical.

I am talking about listening to Beth practise the keyboard.

Today, she decided to play through Book 4 JMC. Definitely heard a few wrong notes there, but I bit my tongue.

Now she is trying out The Magic Flute, one of the extracurricular pieces in the Workbook.

I sang the bars in solfege for her and she played through the piece twice.

As with any new piece, there is no such thing as instant perfection, especially for someone who is not yet reading (music notes) confidently.

She has now got through the RH of The Magic Flute, and asked me if it's from the Pied Piper story.

Another of those random questions that kids love to befuddle adults with. :-)

While she is in a motivated mood, she has decided to try Royal March of the Lion too.

We're working on the first 2 lines.

Her challenge, I think, is to coordinate the finger work with the reading of the notes. She's got her head down all the time looking at her RH and waiting for me to sing out the next bar. Her hearing's pretty good, so now we need to work on her reading.

Then she'll be ready to fly.

Learning To Stand Up For Herself

J's carer says she is doing very well in the resilience department.

J used to have a blase "whatever" attitude when more bossy peers snatched her toys or ordered her around.

These days, she has the perfect rejoinder: "You're annoying me!" or "That's not nice! Give it back!"

J's carer thinks it is a very positive development.

Innocent Inarticulation

Don't you just love how toddlers talk?

That brief period from when they first start to make themselves understood and when they speak as well as any other primary schooler is so adorable.

Mair-wee had a widdle wam
Widdle wam
Widdle wam

(to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb)

Potty Talk

CA was recently marveling at how smooth J's transition to no-more-diapers has been.

Over the weekend, we were at a friend's 21st. CA took J to the bathroom, whereupon she barred him from entering and said she was going to do a wee by herself! And she did.

At church this morning, she pushed open the door to the Ladies' (or Big Girls' as she calls it) without asking Mummy to come with her. And proceeded to climb on to the adult toilet and do her thing. I had to send Beth in to help her and J protested at her sister's presence.

It's amazing when you think about it. This tiny 2 y.o. whom everyone still says looks like a doll, climbing on to an adult toilet by herself and doing her business calmly and confidently with no dramas.

We haven't even had a chance to use the blue potty we picked up at the Opp Shop for $3 all those months ago. Guess I'll just donate it back to the OS!

Chinese Language School: Which Is Best For My Child?

Beth has just finished her third year with Werribee Chinese School...

...And still can't hold a decent conversation in Mandarin.

The school's not to blame of course. Learning a language has to be reinforced on many fronts, especially at home. Three hours a week on a Sat afternoon is the bare minimum.

It's poor consolation to know that we are not alone in being somewhat lacking in self-discipline when it comes to equipping our kids to be bilingual.

We have friends who are holding off sending their kids to Chinese class because it's such a hassle, because one or both parents can't speak Chinese/aren't terribly interested in Chinese anyway/ had bad experiences at school/moved to Aus to escape compulsory Chinese language learning so what's the point of forcing their kids to learn Chinese. Certainly, most would agree that weekend classes can be such a damper when there are more fun things to do, as they regularly take half a Sat away from precious family time and require considerable commuting time.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have friends who are contemplating transferring their kids to a 'better' Chinese school. One that has is well-regarded by other Chinese families, conducts lessons only in Chinese, offers tutoring up to Year 12, and is professionally run with native speakers.

Some schools that have come up in conversation are:

• Xin Jin Shan Chinese Language and Culture School in Braybrook
• VSL@ Taylors Lakes
• VSL@Melbourne High

The trouble is, these classes all run in the morning (from about 9.30-12 plus), and Beth is already committed to Yamaha keyboard class from 9.45-10.45 till 2011.

So for now, the options are:

• Homeschool Beth myself (she would love this option because it means getting away from three-hour Sat afternoon classes in a subject she is not yet competent in, but it will mean enormous patience, diligence and discipline on my part)
• Continue with Werribee Chinese School (which is moving to Point Cook in 2010, a much more pleasant learning environment compared to the current Glen Orden PS).
  

Sat 12 Dec was the last class for the year. During the annual party, I had a chat with the principal about Beth's progress. She had some interesting comments. She said it was for us as parents to decide, but she feels Beth still needs a lot of encouragement and hand-holding but she is otherwise doing well and has a good learning attitude (as evidenced by the Outstanding Student of the Year award she received).

I had a look at the new curriculum for 2010 and was pleased (being a typical Singaporean parent) to observe that the new workbook sets out daily homework to be completed. This regimen of forced daily learning will definitely help her build confidence and competence and sustain her interest and motivation in time to come.

One problem we have as a family is that I haven't been very diligent in making sure I converse in Mandarin with Beth or that we watch Chinese DVDs and play Chinese computer games. So that will have to be a goal for 2010: to offer daily exposure in the form of age-appropriate and level-appropriate activities and learning opportunities that stimulate, engage and help her become gradually proficient in Chinese.

Just because we no longer live in Sg is no excuse to be slack about learning languages.

As a recent study by the Uni of Melbourne puts it:

No country wants 18-year old citizens whose education has not challenged the naturally ethnocentric worldview they held as kindergarten children, and this fundamental benefit of language learning at school, along with the cognitive skills and affective maturity it also develops, is recognised internationally.

If previously monolingual Aus is now beginning to recognize the importance of proficiency in Chinese, how much more we, who hail from a tiny but successful country that has insisted on bilingualism at school, and whose graduates are well placed to live and work in other countries because of this far-sighted policy.

**Breaking News**
Beth decided - quite unexpectedly for us - that she would like to continue with Werribee Chinese Class next year.

As long as her good friend Jennifer (who has been her classmate @ WCS for the past 3 years and goes to HCC) is still attending classes with her!

Music Achievements in 2009

Beth and her classmates have just completed Book 4 and marked their first milestone with Yamaha: completion of the two-year Junior Music Course.

Next year, they move on to the Junior Extension Course, which will have more exciting learning opportunities like harmonization, composition and peer review. Wow.

They recently sat the Fundamental Skills Survey and received acknowledgment of their music achievement.

Basic Math Skills

J's carer @ Wyndarra is very excited about J's Math intelligence.

According to her, this was an actual conversation they recently had:

Keshni to J: If Sheridan goes home, how many kids are left?

J: Two.

Keshni: What if you count me in? How many altogether?

J: Three.

Keshni: What if we include Chloe as well? How many then?

J: Four.

The amazing thing, says Keshni, is that J answered just like that (*snaps fingers quickly*).

Intuitively. Without stopping to work it out.

Which I think, means J has above-average Math intelligence for her age (she turns 3 next month).

Hubby and I are grateful that Wyndarra has dedicated staff like Keshni who take the trouble to observe and pass on these delightful vignettes which we would otherwise miss out on.

And of course, excited about how well our little girl is doing.

Summer Holidays 2009: Day 2/53

Beth got off to a less-than-desirable start this morning. She was first to rise BUT got into her library books (Emily Rodda's Key to Rondo, Wizard of Rondo) instead of her morning ablutions!

Breakfast was toast and kiwi fruit, with J insisting on spreading cream cheese on her toast by herself.

After brekkie, the girls and I baked a chocolate cake for afternoon tea. From packet mix of course. Orgran Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake. I got them each a whisk so they could both have a turn at folding in the mixture, and Beth tried her hand at cracking an egg...Oops!





The girls have just finished a round of Whatever's Next, the board game we bought from Steph Davy of Learning Ladder. We're going to play it as a family tonight with Daddy. It's easy enough even for 3 y.o.'s to take part, which is great for families with very young kids.




While they were busy pretending to be on rollercoasters and walking like ducks (and playing really nicely together), I did a bit of weeding and trimming in the backyard.

Good news: the grapes are back!

This time last year, the drought was so severe the vine just stopped fruiting. I think the birds will be keeping a watchful eye on this exciting development.



Tonight is Movie, Games & Pizza Night.

J has voted that we make the pizza instead of buying one, which will mean a trip to the shops for ingredients.

Yamaha JMC: Fundamental Skills Survey

The FSS is what your child undertakes after the first two years with Yamaha.

The components are:

• Chord recognition (teacher plays random chords e.g. do-mi-so; child identifies them in solfege)
• Note recognition (teacher points to random notes on the sheet; child identifies them in solfege)
• Impromptu singing (teacher plays short piece; child sings the piece)
• Prepared pieces (child plays two of her favourites from any book; Beth chose Lavenders Blue and Gypsy Dance)
• Prepared singing (child sings her favourite song e.g. La Di Da; Magic Rhythm Time)

Thought Beth did very well overall, except for a few hitches in identifying chords played by the teacher. She carried herself confidently and approached the whole assessment with her usual solemnity.

I got the sense that she rose to the occasion beautifully, which is more than I can claim when I was 7. She relishes the opportunity to prove her ability - especially if she knows she's competent.

In 2010, she moves on to the next course: Junior Extension Course, another 2-year commitment.

Am wondering if she is ready to take on private lessons and AMEB...But that's just the kiasu Singaporean parent talking.

Coping With Holiday Inertia

I am determined not to let the hols slip away in a flurry of inactivity this year.

So Beth and I have agreed that we will have a daily timetable with (hopefully) a balance of activities and learning opportunities that interest her and that Mummy & Daddy feel she should apply herself to.

Today is Day 1 of 53 (I'm keeping count!).

We went to the optician to get Beth fitted for her new glasses, then to the library, where we bumped into Triston, Trudy & Yvonne. Beth borrowed, inter alia, two audio books (Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban; The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe).

Tonight, we will listen to CD1 of The Lion before bedtime.

As usual, Beth dove straight into her newly borrowed books and spent too much time reading.

Coaxed her into playing Jingle Bells (RH only) and some old pieces (Lavenders Blue; Marionette Dance).

Tomorrow's activities:

Bake a cake
Make a Christmas angel
Figure out chords for LH of Jingle Bells
Read Chinese textbook and do Chinese writing

Beth The Flower Girl (And The Other Future FG)

What You Get After 2 Years With Yamaha Junior Music Course

Grade One Dress-Up Day 2009

The Good and Bad of School Hols

The school hols are upon me.

Yay to sleep-ins, lazy days with the kids, and no need to worry about what to pack for school lunches.

Nay to having the kids around me all day long, fighting with each other and driving me nuts with their endless need for interaction and entertainment.

This year, we are doing things a little bit differently.

First, we're not going away. That'll take some of the $ pressure off while I build my organics business.

Second, we're setting GOALS. For Beth especially.

My big goal for J is simple: getting her 100% off training pants by June. Shouldn't be too hard as she's already 90% there with her timing accuracy.

With Beth, I'm finding that she needs specific, measurable, achievable etc etc things to aim towards.

She's a bright girl with lots of potential. But we do need to work on her resilience, her attitude and her temperament.

So I've started listing some things for her to focus on in the new year.

Simple things like school awards, Principal's Reading Challenge, VIC Premier's Reading Challenge, knowing her times table by heart up to 12x12, playing through Books 1 to 4 of her Yamaha JMC in different keys...

Next year, she wants to take up gymnastics @ Gym Monkeys, which is run by one of the school mums (Zoe's mum Sue), self-defence and keep up with swim lessons, which she loves. She's doing really well under her swim instructor David who's from China. He is very firm with the frisky kids and very encouraging towards kids who display a positive learning attitude (like Beth and her pal Catherine, also from China).

We've also agreed on breaking up the hols with play dates, day trips and excursions to places that interest Beth, like Melbourne Museum/IMAX, Eureka Tower ... Beth has the list in her brown notebook.

Tomorrow is Bedtime Story Day/Dress-up Day, and Beth is going as Susan the Archer (Chronicles of Narnia). I got her a green T-shirt, green netball skirt, and Mandy kindly lent us a plastic bow and quiver of arrows and a lovely maroon velvet cape that can be tied around the neck. The Grade Ones get an icy pole at lunch as a special treat, and an afternoon snack while they watch a DVD.

CA and I often jest that we pay more school fees ($5k a year) and get less actual study (by Sg standards).

Potty Training Progress

Am very proud of how quickly J is learning.

She now insists on dressing herself after a bath or a trip to the toilet.

Knows to tell me one minute before she REALLY needs to go.

Knows exactly what to do while she is there (lift shirt so it won't get dirty, lean forward so Mummy can clean bottom).

And that look of knowing when Stuff happens while she's on the potty...

I just love watching my little girl grow in wisdom and understanding. :-)