Meet in the middle at the schultuete shop!

[PiratesKnittingTreasure]

Here we are .

linky

Interesting thread Pirate! Particularly interesting that there is an undercurrent even among the most moderate posts that play-fighting and other energetic behaviour = bad and quietly colouring in = good. So basically the behaviour that is easiest for adults is automatically better? I didn't read it all, but the posts I did read seemed to ignore the comments from a pretty balanced post that acknowledged that while boys might have a fight and move on (visible, easy to spot and deal with) girls possibly more likely to be subtle about falling out (not letting someone play etc, more hidden and harder to deal with). I think the differences between gender in children is really interesting but share your at parents who generalise and reinforce negative stereotypes.

Skimmed that thread- what I can't get over (and you and others made that point) is boy or girl , that is utterly unacceptable behaviour and fuck all to do with gender. And at what point did the op not do something- I would have sent kids home certainly at point started food throwing. Even mini gig gets (gently) discouraged from food throwing.

Oh and big gig can throw tantrums, act up about some crisis at school (eg her friend "pushed" her when did no such thing) and can smack out so girls are Angels is bollocks. And totally agree about colouring v running about- its a stupid argument (and I notice that a false one as pirates boys will play quietly with playmobil etc or watch tv and chat so it is not that can't).

Reception teacher advice here. I am doing my very best to change books mon, wed, fri. Like pirate says repetition is good and this site has really good ebooks, if you are really fed up with the books from school. My rec group are still on the ORT stage without words and when we have learned a few more sounds and they have begun to blend them, then I will move onto books they can read because they have the phonic knowledge needed or there is a repetitive text.I don't think LaG that your ds should be on the level with sh, ch , th. They appear to have missed out a whole level .Ethan hasn't had a book home yet, just a shared library book. He has had homework though - a sound book showing which sounds he's learned and then a book to practice his writing in.He know some of the sounds but it's not easy for him.

Physio yesterday and we have exercises and stretches we must do everyday with Ethan in order that he doesn't have to wear a splint. I'm hoping that she was just scaring us into doing them, the thought of him having to wear a splint throughout childhood horrifies me.She also said how tired he would get and not to plan much for half term or the beginning of Christmas holidays as he will just need time to recover.

Deb - thank you for taking the time to post I know you have a lot on. I feel better knowing that having a level 2 sounds book sounds odd to you too. DS did say this afternoon that he got to choose that book himself which doesn't sound likely/sensible either based upon my limited knowledge of how reading schemes are administered. So I think I might ask tomorrow how the books get chosen rather than continue to speculate. She can't really think he is ready for it.

Sounds like the physio appointment was emotionally draining. In my limited experience physios do use the tactic of prescribing more exercises than they expect the patient to complete. That's certainly what happened to me when I was treated for post partum divarication (split tummy muscles). At the follow up appointments she seemed very pleased with my progress whilst I was convinced that I would get told off for not having done enough work. However, for Ethan it is obviously much more serious and he needs the best possible chances of avoiding the splint

Well, I have made the most of DH being away by having a quick cry watching the Gareth Malone choir programme. A combination of the music and being so blown away by watching DS start school is having its affect. I am tempting fate here, but he has just been so happy going in and coming out. It's lovely to watch. He asked this evening if he could go and do "great singing" at school on Thursday's after school. I think there is a choir for the infant years, and he loves singing. So at home time when 3 of his classmates went to choir he thought he would like to do it too. He already has two after school activities which I already think is pushing it this term, so might see if he could do it later on in the term.

Off the subject of my PFB's education . Did anyone watch Kirsty and Phil this evening? If you did you might be interested to know that the church they rejected is on our walk to school.

Deb, I was told in my early 20s if I didn't do some physio on my back (my spine slightly wonky) I'd have to wear a back brace for life. For reasons I won't bore you with (and very obviously me in RL) I didn't have the physio and I've never had to wear a brace!

Randomly though, I've discovered the wonders of physio recently following my knee injury so might now have some on my back following injury last year to sort out ongoing niggles.

Sounds like you've for a lot to contend with though so for you and best wishes for DS.

On phonics, DS gets a lot out of the alpha blocks pages on the cbeebies website. There's a load of phonics games on it which he mastered really quickly. He only plays them for a short time when he asks for it, so really driven by him, but maybe a fun way to reinforce learning if school books are a bit tedious?

I'm currently en route to London for a girlie w/e - cant wait!!!

Deb, I'm impressed you change books three times a week! You put me to shame .

LG, you may have got an answer already but I think it's quite standard practise to have a choosing book and a teacher book - that is certainly what DS1 and his buddies seem to have.

Deb, (((()))) for you and Ethan.

Secret, enjoy your weekend!

But this is choosing just one book themselves from the reading scheme. No second book chosen by the teacher.

Anyway, yes I have got an answer. The reason for DS getting a blended sound book and not a level 1 book is because, "We didn't think, well yes we did think, but not soon enough about how much extra ORT stock we would need for going from an intake of 60 to an intake of 90." So they have more books on order and in the meantime there aren't enough level 1 books to go round. To tide them over the children are allowed free choice of the harder books.

In the "education is a marathon not a sprint" world view this isn't a biggie. It is a bit dim though to send home books that the children have little chance of being able to complete and not forewarn the parents that it would be fine just to read the book to them. Did they really think that the parents wouldn't notice? I was not the only person asking about this this morning.

Oops! Yes an explanation would have helped!

That sounds a bit pants about the books lag.

Am absolutely knackered as big gig keeps waking early. Am sure it's a phase (probably over tired) but has anyone had any luck with those light up alarm clocks? She is waking everyone else up and it is killing dh and me

Oh and have just got complete at someone asking mothers of boys whether she should get Lego or duplo for christmas

Thanks for support everyone, much appreciated. Hoping to get planning finished now in time for Downton

LaG - at your school and their reading book fiasco!!

Which Kirsty and Phil am I missing? new series?

We have a sleep trainer clock Gig - I personally wouldn't recommend them. Once the novelty wore off it just became a very expensive clock! DS has a small jar - when he sleeps all night in his own bed until at least 6 am he gets pasta in his jar (and gets some taken out when he doesn't) and when it's full he gets a pre-agreed treat. It works quite well. When it started we gave him pasta for a few different things so he could see it build up. What was the Lego or duplo thing - I didnt get it?

Did you get finished in time to watch Downton Deb?

Back home following w/e away - brilliant time but cream crackered now!

We have a gro clock. We got it when DS1 was 2.5. He understands it and it works for us (kind of) i.e. if he gets up before "the sun" he comes and tells us that it is still night time . I would say at 4 yrs though there is no need for the clock. I have read that you can just give them a standard digital clock, tape over the minutes and tell the child to stay in bed until it is a "6" or "7" or whatever you are aspiring to.

I have just dipped into Downton as I was ironing (again). I'm not a fan it is akin to Acorn Antiques for me . Tolerable as ironing fodder though.

I think it is a new series - mid week sometime . Did you see downtown deb? Agree its a bit acorn antiques lag (did you see parades end- thought that was brilliant ).

secret have you got today off to recover?

thanks for clock advice - big gig was up at 4 but got sent back to bed and is still asleep now. An going to try clock/stars for a while. I think she is overtired from school which is causing all this.

Friend over to visit today- will be low key as I am a bit one armed (still badly bruised where put line in).

deb how is Ethan doing? Is he bit more settled?

Didn't watch Parade's End. Anything that can be classed as a costume drama gets DH moaning. Mad Men sneaks onto the approved list because it is 1960s. I am still lobbying for an Atlantic Boardwalk DVD. Most of our viewing is US HBO things. Just finished the latest season of True Blood. Not one for the squeamish, but we enjoy it.

On terrestrial TV we regularly watch:

"Quiz Hour" in a Monday. Which comprises University Challenge followed by Only Connect. Only Connect is a guilty pleasure. We love the nerdiness of it; cringe at Victoria Coren's terrible jokes, and are genuinely excited if we get any of the answers correct.

Kirsty and Phil obviously. Deb - the new series is on Thursdays. I have missed at least one episode.

And the Great British Bake Off as Gig is already aware!

Oh and can I note here that I have had ANOTHER Monday encounter with a SMOG. I won't go into the details as I know I am boring on this subject.

You have missed a treat lag but I like
The viewing list . I am afraid our list
Is much more low brow (lots of
Crime drama and sport) but quiz night sounds good.

Pandoras box open here - just had first incident of big gig trying to hit little gig. Was always going to happen and predictably now little gig crawling , it has tipped it off. Might have to get my referees
Whistle out

Just realised I meant "Boardwalk Empire" earlier on.

On the hitting issue you will be comforted to know that at 22 months old the tables have turned and DS2 is now the main protagonist of sibling violence. DS1 is now amazingly tolerant of being poked, jumped on, scratched, hair pulled etc. normally responding with a "DS2 you are very naught. Say sorry to me." Which DS2 of course ignores.

Oh no LG, you must share details of the SMOG! I really wish we'd recorded the play that our boys shared last time I was down - it was such a lovely, thoughtful, imaginative game. No charging around, no violence, just lots of chat and copying of adult lives (I seem to remember one of them going off to work with the 'laptop'! ). I'm not for one minute saying that I don't have groups of boys charging around my house sometimes, but it's so one-dimensional to portray them as this is all they're about .

at DS1 expecting DS2 to say sorry. My DS1 was winding DS2 up the other day (seems to happen more this way than the other nowadays!) and DS2 said "DS1, your behaviour is annoying me and I'm going to ignore you!" Wonder where he got that from?

Watching Vexed at the moment - think it was on a while ago but we recorded it. Very good .

Am assuming you don't mean me as a smog. . I am not surprised we had hitting- mini gig goes for big gigs toys and looks for reaction (Barbie being a particular target - her first crawling was to get her hands on Barbie and knock over big gigs pyramid). Just hope it's not going to be more frequent (until they are old enough to be more equal then it was no holds barred if like me and my sis).

Gro clock in place and star chart here so hope no more 3am visits ...

Oh and I may be overruled on gbbo tonight as its a new midsomer murder on other side and dh is having a particularly rubbish day at work so will pull that one . I need to explain to him how vital it is I watch it live to comment .

That shows how rock and roll we are .

caught Downton, may have to download K and P!

Ethan OK, getting support in school , SALT appointment tomorrow.

The SMOG incident was technically a SMOGOB incident now I come to think of it. That's a brand new acronym that I have just invented, "Smug Mother: One Girl, One Boy".

Said SMOGOB who has a girl in reception and a 2yo boy said, "I just don't know how you cope with only boys," and then proceeded to detail the ways in which she finds her DD preferable to her DS whilst her DS was at her feet.

Better stop and get some sleep.