Holiday Activities 2010

The girls have been surprisingly undemanding since the hols began.

Other than a 2-day trip to LaTrobe City on 27-28 Dec, we've been home-based.

They sleep late and wake up late (after 10!).

Watch TV and videos.

Read.

Beth has her daily Kumon workbook and I try to remind her to practise on the keyboard. But sometimes I get a bit lazy and (deliberately) forgetful myself and think: it's the hols, let her relax!

Most un-Singaporean I know.

If I were a bit more energetic and brave, I'd be driving them everywhere visiting museums and playgrounds and all the fascinating places suggested in Melbourne's Child, that free parenting magazine that is such a boon when you run out of ideas.

But I prefer to wait for hubby to be available. :)

Tentative activities for the rest of summer:

• Paul Sadler intensive holiday care program
• Visit to Geelong Wool Museum/Ford Discovery Centre
• Library
• Camping in Wilsons Prom

Multi aging and composite classes

Heathdale is offering a 2/3 composite class next year.

The official reason is that it wants to accommodate all the students on its waiting list. However, there aren't enough to form an extra Grade 3 class.

Something like that.

We heard on the grapevine that only new students would be in the composite class.

But yesterday, we received a letter informing us that Beth has been nominated to be part of the composite class.

Apparently, those who are independent learners, can think laterally and have a good work ethic will benefit most from a composite class.

If that's the criteria for nominating Beth, then I suppose it's a good thing.

In any case, we had already been thinking of transferring to Good News Lutheran, which also practises multi aging in the classroom. Except theirs is a permanent arrangement: Prep, 1/2, 3/4, 5/6.

Have read up a bit on multi aging on the Net and it's mostly a benefit to the child.

However, gifted or talented students may find themselves held back if the teacher does not adequately cater to their needs.

And an older child (eg a Grade 3 in a 2/3 class) may feel left out of peer development.