Three days since my last entry….I kind of knew this would happen once I got back to work 
. The weekend couldn’t have come soon enough this week and it was wonderful to get a lovely long lie-in this morning. I would love to be more of a morning person but it’s just never meant to be. By the way, I’m using a theme I created a couple of weeks ago based on work by one of my all time favourite artists: Carl Larsson, a Swedish artist (1853 – 1919). A site link can be found at the foot of this page.
The last few days have been spent during numerous assessments on the children. The Foundation Stage curriculum is just one assessment after another and if you’re not careful you can end up spending all your time assessing rather than teaching! CRAZY!! Today I’ve read in the news that eight different literacy teams believe we try to teach children to read too early ie age 4/5. They believe it puts children off reading long term. Not sure what my views are on that but I do agree that some children (particularly boys) are too young and that it may well put them off.
Today the weather has been beautiful…sunny and quite warm and I’ve been out buying t-shirts and sandals. I’m desperate to expose my legs now 
but not until I’ve used a little fake tan and nail varnish…nothing worse than legs and feet that haven’t seen the sun for a few months!
I kinda knew you’d have a long sleep! Really good for the body to be able to have that rest. Like it makes you look forward to the coming week. A good contrast.
Love your compassions to balance with teaching verses
evaluations. Am sure it is quiet distracting. Likely you’ll get into routine soonest.
I can attest to girls being more advanced then boys. it is the natural make-up. I have three boys and three girls [G, G, B, B, G, B] over almost three decades now, and I am assured of the saying “Girls are girls and boys are boys”.
With lilttle effort on my 5th [G], she realized her ABC’s at 15 months, pointed them all out just after 2nd B-day, and actually read text at 3! It was a no pressure approach, and I was quite amazed at her ability of interest. In contrast my 6th [B] he is at 4 yo been more of a dabbler, but still at this age he has now good ability.
I actually lean more toward “better late than early” point of view. I personally love to read, especailly to my babies. I am a collector of Childrens Books and cherish my pile. I even made felt story board of two of my favs!
Hey that is so true about wanting to get your legs exposed! I had on capris when we went to beach other day. No matter just having that little bit of sun is incredibly refreshing. I hope you get that soon!
On the islands in Hawaii, our island had a product called Maui Babe[www.mauibabe.com], it was a help at getting a tan. What is funny is it’s base is coffee! Sidenote: it is a insect repellent too.
When I left my below 2nd comment your page showed a new layout. Am hoping I getta see it again after this post. Oh it was so cute. Fun being artistic huh?
Hugz!
Ooooh I won’t be able to make a post as long as Nancy’s but I’ll try to post what I think.
First, I really love the new layout here. It’s such a refreshing color & the header is splendid ! Great job ! I also think that the side presentation looks a bit clearler.
About learning to read … I am not learning my boys to read, but Paul of course knows his alphabet, can recognize them & pronounce them. I don’t want to push them at all, but we do have a million children books at home & must admitt I have much fun shopping online & offline for them.
I don’t know exactly what they teach them about reading in the first year of preschool, like Paul is in. So it’s hard to fit the progression & way of teaching.
I’ll deeply miss you when I’ll be away. I’ll be sending you a snail mail before I go.
Will email you tomorrow.
Lots of hugs your way, sweetie ! Have a peaceful Sunday !
You are creeping me out, Nikki. I love Carl Larsson. I have had one of his prints, only one, for about twenty years, and sometimes I just go through his window. How beautiful your site looks today.
I know your week has been hard because I know my next one will be. All these assessments and the like are good things, but we’re still human, and we have our limits. I don’t know about your system, but we are approaching that craziness you mentioned. I hope you get a good rest before Monday.
I think that’s horse feathers about reading too early. If you read and read to your child in early childhood, they will learn to love reading and probably be ready to read early because they want to. So many theorists are just trying to make a name for themselves, I think. Of course, they may actually believe this stuff along the way.
Well, I’m off to discover your Larsson site. Have a lovely Sunday and take care of Nikki.
Hi Nikki!
WOW… I just love your new Layout. It is so beautiful… and I love Carl Larssons pictures. I remember one book I had when I was a child with beautiful summerpictures by Carl Larsson. Have a wonderful Saunday evening and a wonderful week!
Hugs Bente
Hi hon! Thanks for the tag! Did you just redo your site??? I think I have been here before but it looks different. LOL Since I do not really ‘know’ you I forgotted! **slapping head** Anywho, it is lovely regardless!
Hi Nikki,
I’m just here enjoying the scenery here again!
After being with children for the last 30+ years, I have to say that I wish they would “lay off” them ! Four years old is just a baby still…..no need for them to be bullied into learning “big kid” stuff! ( In my humble opinion, anyway!)
I was reading about how someone tried a new approach to teaching in Sweden, many, many years ago. After the children finished elementary school, instead of going to upper grades (High School), to learn more Math, etc., they taught them a Trade for 4 years. Sounds excellent to me, and I wish they would do that here in the U.S. ! If a child knows they want to be a teacher, then they can have the proper schooling so much earlier. Same goes with someone that wants to be a Pilot, or an auto mechanic!
Hope you’re doing well! I’ve been thinking of you!
Hi Nikki
It looks really lovely in here, I loved the last theme you had too, you are very good at putting themes together
Hope you’ve had a restful weekend after your working week, I have my Mum staying for a couple of weeks and we had a nice relaxing kind of day.
I learnt to read when I was 4 and I LOVED it, my Mum taught me before I started School and I remember feeling really clever because the other children had to be taught to read and I already knew how and I could write my name! I think Girls are more creative than boys generally so that kind of thing is more important to them
Have a good week! Hugs2ya!
Hi Nikki- Just wanted to say you have done a great job on this new website.
Love your graphics and style.
Hugs, Judy/Chicago