Happy Cry

Miss J tells me a happy cry is when you are so happy you cry.

When she came home from kinder with her newly acquired wisdom, she wanted to know - like every 30 seconds - why I wasn't having a happy cry yet.

Kids, aren't they gorgeous. :)

How the 4 yo pronounces words

Without = Ber-out

Just = Des

First Day at Kinder

Miss J is going through her kinder transition.

In AUS, the educational system is extremely child-friendly.

To cater to kids who may never have been in a school environment, there is a transition programme where kids come in 2, then 3, then 3+ hours each session, with the sessions spaced out (2 a week at first instead of 3) and the class divided into 2 groups. So they get an extremely gentle introduction to school.

From a parent's perspective, it feels like the kids are doing nothing at all.

They wander from station to station, doing play cooking, puzzles, painting, working with playdough, constructing wonderful contraptions with Magnetic Polydron, flipping through books.

No one tells them what to do, but if they run into a spot of difficulty, the teacher or assistant is always on hand to help.

Kinder is also where kids get introduced to routines like where to hang their backpacks, where to place their water bottles and lunch boxes, what to do before sitting down on the mat together (wash your hands!).

There's also an intro to social etiquette - if you want to say something, put up your hand and wait to be called (no calling out); don't be a "space invader" (no sitting too close to another person and touching them or annoying them).

Miss J is familiar with some of these things, having been a daycare kid since 18 m.o. And she does seem able to restrain herself and to act with the required propriety, which is good.

I had thought she would be okay on her own at the first session, since kinder is like daycare.

But she thought otherwise, and wouldn't let go of me.

I ended up staying the whole 2 hours.

Tomorrow she's got a 12.30-3.00 pm session.

Am hopeful she will be more confident by the end of Feb when she's met the rest of the kids and knows the layout of the room and all the routines.

The kinder teacher already has a "job" for me. During the interview, she asked if I know music and play an instrument, and before I knew it, I'd said yes to playing the piano so the kids can sing to nursery rhymes!

Getting Our Learning Act Together

Beth has just been offered a 30-minute slot with her current Yamaha keyboard teacher to start on the AMEB pathway. We had worked out that if she is to attain at least a Grade 5 before Year 6 (the year scholarship applications are submitted), she must start the AMEB now.

We're very excited because the arrangement is perfect: it's straight after her Sat group lesson so we don't have to make a separate trip on a weekday for lessons.

Yesterday was her first lesson with the Yamaha Junior Extension Course. It's so different from what the routine has been like for the past two years. For one, the emphasis is on self-learning, so parents are no longer required to sit next to their children during the lesson. The kids are expected to follow instructions independently; the parents sit at the back of the class and observe. What a relief.

The material is also significantly different. This year's focus is on Solfege singing and reading and Ensemble playing, with a lot more music theory homework (no more childish coloring in!).

Am having to work with Beth to overcome her biggest weakness: expecting Mummy to read the score for her when she should be attempting to sightread!

Yesterday was also the first Chinese class at the new venue: Point Cook Community Learning Centre. The location is splendid for parents who want to go shopping for groceries across the road: Coles, ALDI and Glory Asian Groceries are all within walking distance. And for display home tragics like me, all the new estates like Waterhaven, Innisfail, Alamanda, Featherbrook and Karinya are within 5 minutes' drive.

We spent an hour grocery shopping and the rest of the time on Old Geelong Road looking for a bunk bed for the girls. Have finally found one that both CA and I like, and that we think Beth will love. The colour scheme is white and lilac, perfect for her newly painted bedroom. At $867 for the frame and $219 per mattress, it's going to blow a hole in our budget, but this is just one of those things you can't avoid. If having her very own bunk bed encourages Beth to sleep in her room, I'll consider it more than worthwhile. I'm getting tired of being squashed between two bodies every night, especially when Jordanne keeps kicking me in the face or stomach.

Four Syllables And More

Jordanne is using four-syllable words like 'rhinoceros'.

CA taught her 'hippopotamus' yesterday and she got it after a few tries.

We are constantly amazed at how naturally and comfortably she expresses herself in complete sentences.

At Sunday School today, the kids got started on their mural project for the new church SS room, based on Ecclesiastes 3.

J wanted to take part in the painting too, so CA sat in with her and they had a great time putting together J's interpretation of 'A time to be born': a baby inside its mother's womb. She says that's her inside Mummy. :-)

Days of the Week (LOTE)

Bethany has just memorized the days of the week in French and Japanese.

Monday - lundi - getsuyoobi

Tuesday - mardi - kayoobi

Wednesday - mercredi - suiyoobi

Thursday - jeudi - mokuyoobi

Friday - vendredi - kinyoobi

Saturday - samedi - doyoobi

Sunday - dimanche - nichiyoobi

She's going to have fun when she reaches Grade Three and starts learning Latin.

Aurora Musis amica - Dawn is friend of the muses (in modern English, the early bird catches the worm!)

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)

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!

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.

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.

Learning Ladder Get-Together

Had my first Learning Ladder get-together with Steph Davy today.

We had FUN!

The kids helped set up the display...



Steph played games with the kids, and soon, they were playing Zingo and Mousetrap on their own while she chatted with us about the different offerings suitable for our kids and answered our questions.




Afterwards, we all had lunch. On the menu: potato salad, chicken nuggets, sausages, spag bol, donuts and fruit. Sharon washed up and my aunt restored the dining area to its original state (thank you!).

Beth, Triston and Emmanuel got together to play Monopoly (Aussie Edition), with some parental intervention required because of "financial" disputes involving millions of dollars. :-p

Raising Your Child's Financial IQ

I am listening to the audio CD of Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter's 'Raising Your Child's Financial IQ', which came in the package with the Cashflow for Kids board game that I bought recently.

I agree with most of what they say.

Our kids aren't learning an important life skill that they need to master before they leave school: financial literacy.

That's why I bought the game, so CA, I and the girls can learn basic financial concepts in a fun way that also promotes family bonding.

I was brought up in a Poor Dad environment ("Study hard, get a good job, work hard for the rest of your life..") and I am aware of the limitations I am potentially placing on my children's future if I do not take up the challenge of acquiring financial literacy - and teach them to do so.

I have to:

• get away from "I can't afford it" thinking,
• teach my girls about income, expenses, assets and liabilities,
• teach my girls the Cashflow Quadrant and the implications of being in each quadrant,
• impress on my girls the difference between rich and poor people (the rich make money first and buy luxuries last),
• get away from the dependence on job security and earned income,
• learn the different ways of making money: earned income, passive income, portfolio income and why we shouldn't stop at earned income,
  
• help my children understand that IQ is not the only life skill that matters in life. There are many other intelligences (at least 8, according to the CD) and one of the most important ones to cultivate is Financial IQ, because when you have learnt to master money and make it work for you, it frees you to have more choices. This includes giving to charitable causes and working in a low-paying job because you love what you do and aren't depending on it for your income.
  

Vocab Leaps

Jordanne is astounding us with her rapidly expanding use of words and her ability to appreciate context and humour.

She can reply to questions by prefacing with 'Because' and qualifying what she says with 'Actually'.

She is also speaking in complete sentences more often. I would say 60-70% of the time.

Playing by hearing, not by sight

This morning, Beth tinkled out Waltzing Matilda on the keyboard.

Very shakily, and with a bit of solfege help from Mom.

But by golly, SHE DID IT! :-)

Speaking In Sentences

It's lovely to hear Jordanne stringing sentences together by herself.

Today, in response to my asking if she wanted to feed the dog, she replied: "Let me put on my shoes first."

She has also been greeting me at pickup time with an enthusiastic "I had good day at school!" A sentiment unfailingly backed up by her carers and her food chart (she usually has 2 servings of lunch when she goes to daycare!).

I shall enjoy this transition without rushing it, because I know the day will soon come when she speaks "properly" like Beth.

Which wouldn't be much fun anymore. Toddler-talk is so much cuter.

How To Spell HOMEWORK: F-U-N

Beth came home with a page of links from her teacher.

As part of her extension literacy and numeracy homework, the lucky girl gets to go online and do quizzes and play games, under the guise of learning grammar, spelling, reading and math.

She gets homework on Mondays and has until Friday to hand it in.

Life's good!

Play Acting

J has taken to playing the teacher/the mommy.

"Say 'stormy'," she instructed.

"Stormy," I replied.

"Good gal!"

Tells me a lot about what goes on at daycare.

The Toddler Laughs

Heard chuckles from the direction of the corner of the lounge where J was watching Disney's Bambi on video just now.

Isn't it amazing? My 2 y.o. is developing a sense of humour. :)

As I write, she is curled up on the couch watching Blue's Clues and sniffling.

She's been battling a fever, runny nose and cough for some days and I ran her to the pharmacy today to get some antibiotics.

Hope she recovers in time for our holiday in two days...