Key Stage 2 Maths Problem

Following on from my rant about Key Stage 1 Homework last week, it clearly paid off for Thing 2.  He's in Year 5 and is currently half way through the maths curriculum for Year 6.

So by the start of Term 2 in Year 6, what will my child be learning?

I'm quite confident that they will find him the work he needs to stretch him and keep up his current status of Interested and Learning.  I do worry however about when he switches to high school.  What will happen then.

My experience of school, albeit ...oh a few years ago now (they did have GCSE's though not O Levels!!)...was that I was bored at school because the classes were easy.  Although I was in the top sets for all my subjects, the class was still the pace of the slowest learner and that was too slow for me.  My mum often bewails how wonderous I could have been had I actually tried at school.  But the thing was I didn't have to try.  It was easy and I took the easy route.

I certainly don't want the same thing happening to my boy.

So, should I get a private tutor for him?  Should I become a pushy mum and try and get him through his maths qualifications early while he is interested?  What is your advice?  

Blackpool - It's Coming Back!!

The football team may have not made the grade to be Premiership next season, but this season, Blackpool, as a holiday destination is on the map.  It's affordable, family friendly and fun.

I've lived here for 5 years and prior to moving here, I had the image of Stags and Hens done up in fancy dress and basically trashing the town.  Since living here, my eyes have been opened to the fact that this still is, and probably always will be, a family resort.

Blackpool is a very long town.  The nightlife has been pushed into one zone, kind of opposite North Pier and upwards a block.  If you've got kids, you're unlikely to be there after 8 when it gets lively anyway.

Central Pier Blackpool

The Central Area is probably where most families gravitate to.  There's the Central Pier with a fairground, arcade, family entertainment in the bar and the best chips in Blackpool.  Over the road is Madam Tussauds and the Sea Life Centre, both of which have seen massive investment over the last few years.  The promenade has been restructured and is full of artworks which are intriguing to children.  The RNLI and tourist information office are also in this zone.  Then of course, there is the Blackpool Tower.  You need a full day for the tower - and the circus is a must.

South Shore is houses most of the hotels and B&B's and entertainment is in the form of The Sandcastle Waterpark (again another full day) and The Pleasure Beach.

But if money is tight and you can't afford the attractions every day, there's loads to do which costs little or nothing.

Blackpool has a lot of great parks for the kids.  I would say all have been refurbished within the last two years. Stanley Park is a great day out.  The park itself is huge.  There's a large playground with some really challenging rope structures, trampolines, a mini train, a cafe, mini golf a boating lake complete with geese and ducks.  And the newest feature is a BMX park. If you time it right there's sometimes bands on the bandstand.

Sand Dunes at South Shore

The beach really doesn't deserve the bad press it gets.  I live 3 streets away and frequent it often.  I wouldn't if it wasn't clean.  It is and I have no qualms about myself, the kids or the dog going in the water or on the beach.  The sand dunes at south shore can be a day out in themselves, climbing up and exploring then running down to the sea to cool down. The promenade is great if you're a roller blader or cyclist and it's your key to the rest of Blackpool as its a safe way to get from one end of town to the other.  There's also a free air show in August and the free Fireworks Championships start at the end of August.

At the Bispham end, thats the north end, there's lush green grass for pic-nicing and a couple of play areas to let off steam.  If you continue to Cleveleys theres a Vue Cinema (cheaper on Tuesdays), an ice rink and a small fairground for under 5's. If fancy your chances sea fishing, you can hire equipment on the prom and cast your line off the sea wall.

Marine Hall, Fleetwood

Fleetwood is the extreme north and can be reached by tram.  The new trams are clean, buggy friendly and an adult day ticket of unlimited travel is only about £4.  Fleetwood has lovely boating lakes on the front and a plethora of markets and bargain shops.  There's the marine hall which has lovely, large gardens. The large ferries go from Fleetwood and there's a small drive on ferry to Knott End.  There's a toy museum and an outlet village also.

I could go on all day about how great is it.  I've not even touched on Lytham and St Annes!!  

Oh one thing I haven't mentioned is the weather.  When it's hot, it's HOT.  The forecast for today was overcast and 19 degrees.  It started off cloudy but by 10.30 the sun was beating down.  On the school run yesterday at 8.30, it was 23 degrees.  The majority of the time it has that holiday feeling, where you step out and the heat hits you.  You can always tweet me for a weather update if you're considering a day trip! @Claire_Sheehan

Seriously, during the summer holidays, we do all the tourist stuff, we make the most of what we've got. And we love it.

What's your experiences of Blackpool (Clean stories only please!!) 

I have not been approached or paid to write this post.  I just think Blackpool is great and I am a strong believer in bringing money into my town!

Homemade Colslaw

This is soooo much nicer than the shop bought watery versions.

The best coleslaw I've ever had was at the Kentucky Fried Chicken at Salmesbury in the days before it was processed bought in stuff.

I learnt how to make coleslaw at school.  We didn't make much involving heat.

It keeps in an airtight container for about three days, but it doesn't usually last that long in our house.

Ingredients

Half a white cabbage
One red onion
Two medium sized carrots
Mayo
Salad cream
Aromat (its near the spices in the supermarket, its like a savoury seasoning type thing)

Method

Shred the cabbage
Cut the onion into quarters and slice thinly
Peel and grate the carrot
Add two tablespoons of mayo
Add one tablespoon of salad cream
Mix well

If the consistency is too dry, add more mayo and salad cream in the ratio 2 to 1.

Sprinkle a little (you only need a little - like a pinch) of aromat over the top and stir in well.

Proper Pickles

What? I hear you cry?

How can a pickle be proper or not?

Well, my family's proper pickles take a day in the making (two if you're not keen on the raw onion tang) and they are devine.

Ingredients

A brown onion
Malt vinegar

Method

Cut the onion in half and then slice into thin slices
Place in a bowl
Pour over loads of malt vinegar and leave to soak

Voila

Lovely crunchy fresh pickled onions.  Devine on any salad, burger, roast dinner....I could go on.  We always had a bowl of them in the kitchen and they went on everything!

Meal Planning Monday: The Heatwave Edition

Whoa!  How Hot?!?!


Just a quick post today as its just too hot to be sat here typing!

My lot don't eat properly when its hot, I don't know if thats just us or if you suffer that too.  So most of the meals are what I call picky meals where they can graze and eat in the garden (or on the beach!!)

Here it is...

Monday
Quiche, beans and jacket potato

Tuesday
A big old fashioned salad.
(none of this cut up tiny and mixed in mayo mullarkey....
A dinner plate full of lettuce, raddish, tomato, beetroot, spring onions, cucumber, ham, cheese, chicken, picallili and proper pickles)

Wednesday
Beans on toast followed by a huuuuuge fruit salad

Thursday (Its supposed to rain here so...)
Bangers and mash with peas and onion gravy

Friday
Mini Food
Mini pizzas, mini sausages, mini scotch eggs, big bowl of salad, home made coleslaw, potato skins and dips

Saturday
BBQ!

Sunday
BBQ!

My Homework Hell

I know kids need to have homework and on the whole I know why.

But do they have to have it when they are 4?

Is a reading book not enough?

I understand it is to get them into the habit of doing homework, but with a disillusioned 10 year old as an example, the homework battle is really getting too much to bear.

I've had two conversations with other parents just this week about the dreaded Learning Log.  As a free learning type book with hints on what we should fill it with, it really is becoming somewhat of a parents competition.  Particularly when good examples are put on display for all parents to see.  (although, actually, I was quite proud when my efforts - I mean Thing 2's efforts - were on display!)

And the way I see it is that the best learning logs are rewarded with The coveted Bear and His Diary for the evening.  Even more pressure to put on a good show, to win The Bear they all want!  We've only ever got The Bear when we've gone over and above on the homework front.

I'm drained by it.  My hobby has had to become homework.  Although that said, I reckon I'm almost on to the next stage of reading books!

What are your thoughts on Key Stage 1 Homework?  Is it just me being reluctant to teach or do you feel the pressures to perform?  I'd love to hear what you think

Hosepipe Ban - So What!

Whilst flicking through twitter earlier, I happened upon a tweet from @geekisnewchic blogger Sian To. It said

"They've dug a 6ft deep hole to find the water table. They scoop the water using bowls before carrying back home. #ShareNiger"

Sian is in Niger with @LizScarff and World Vision to raise awareness of the horrific conditions people are just about surviving in. Their journey can be followed on twitter by searching on the hashtag #shareniger

We've has two days of good weather. Our underground water stocks haven't recovered over the winter, so it won't be long before a hosepipe ban is imposed. And people will moan, people will feel hard done to but really it doesn't compare does it?

I urge you to follow Sian and Liz's Journey and be grateful for what you have, be that a dirty car, a dead hanging basket or a dry, brown lawn. You still have safe water to drink hosepipe ban or not. Your family's health will not be at risk and it's all conveniently piped to your home.

I will never complain about a hosepipe ban after reading that short, hopeless tweet.

More reports from Niger can be read on Sian's blog Geek is The New Chic