Russell really likes to take pictures with my digital camera. Lucky for me, it is digital and I can let him snap away to his heart’s delight without using any film. As an amateur, I thought he did pretty good. Since I’m usually the one taking pictures, I hardly have any pictures of myself with the kids. With Russell handling the camera, the ‘missing’ parent finally appears in our family photos.
Here are some of the shots:
mama and 妹妹 daddy and mama
Our dog Our neighbor’s dog
WATER! Lots of water play time.
The summer heat here is relentless, it is so hot that we wouldn’t want to be in the sun between 10 am to 6 pm. The slides at the playground are so hot, you’ll probably burn your bottom playing there and going to the pool alone with 2 kids is too much trouble.But it is very boring to stay at home all day long, not just for the kids, even I need some fresh air. To let them do something outside the house without risking a sunburn, I find a shady spot near our garage, give them a bucket of water with a few cups and some water guns and let them splash, pour or squirt. They can do whatever they want with the water as long as they don’t drink it (Netanya would if I don’t keep an eye on her). They always have loads of fun getting themselves all wet.
Russell is almost turning 4 (in 3 months’ time) and he’ll be attending pre-k this fall, I started to step up on teaching him more academic stuff. Maybe I’ve been taking it easy for too long, especially when Netanya came along, I hardly do any craft or plan any structured lesson for him anymore. There’s really no excuse, I’ve just been too lazy. When I think about all that needs to be covered, I feel a little overwhelmed, suddenly there seems to be so many things that Russell must learn.
English
What he know:
Recognise and name all the alphabets in capital letters, about 70% in lower case. He can write about 60% of the capital letters, about 40% in lower case.
Things to work on:
Recognise and write all the letters in both capital and lower case.
Phonics.
Read independently simple sentences.
Math
What he knows:
Count from 1 to 10 (100% correct). Count from 11 to 20 (60%). Recognise and write the numeric symbols of numbers (some). Number sequence (1 to 8). Shapes.
Things to work on:
Count with confidence 1 to 30. Recognise the numeric symbols and write 1 to 30.
Simple additions and subtractions using objects (1 to 10)
More or less etc etc
Chinese
What he knows: Name of some animals, a few colors and counting from 1 to 13. He’s conversing more in mandarin now.
Things to work on:
Numbers 1 to 20. Counting with confidence. Writing???
Naming colors, animals, daily activites and objects etc
I’m sure there’s more. lots more. Those listed above are all I could think of now and guess they are enough to work on for the moment too. I want to make the lessons fun to keep up his interest in learning. (Not easy) He’s really not very keen to do writing, he doesn’t enjoy practicing penmanship. So far, drawing on the sidewalk using chalk is the easiest way to get him to write, but that method doesn’t help him improve on his handwriting. Anyone has any idea, please share.
Russell drew this for his 婆婆.
Think I like Russell’s Sunflowers better.
What do you think?
Russell: Mama, I think 妹妹 is a deer.
Mama: Why do you say so?
Russell (giggling): She has 2 horns on her head, just like a deer!
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