Today we started our day with a bit of maths using the straw sums starter activity.A then did number ordering with numbers from 10-20.While X practised his 2 x tables.After discussions with daddy this morning X and A said they would like to have chores to complete where they could earn money. So we then focused on making a chore chart.After dinner X and A completed their maths seeds and reading eggs worksheets before finishing off their work time doing some age appropriate crosswords.On the evening it was time for the makers club where X and A make things with electrical circuits.This week they decorated some tubs and attached pens with masking tape before attaching a motor, wires and a battery to make a scribble bot.

This morning we did some spelling practice using scrabble tiles.

It was then time for mummy and X to go to the local college course.

At the session X learnt about using Microsoft publisher. He had to use some of the details from his ‘party’ he created the spreadsheet for in excel the week before and create a party invitation.

X was very keen to do this as it captured his interest using a nintendo game which he is very keen on at the minute.

During the tea break at the course X had fun chatting to his friend T.

While mummy and X were at the course A did some maths work with daddy. She focused on coin recognition and counting up coins.

A also worked on phonics with daddy.

To finish thier day X and A did a level each of both maths seeds and reading eggs.

Yesterday at the park mummy noticed the giant buds growing on the trees. With daddy growing bonsai it makes us all more aware of the seasons, growth and nature, which is great.

Both X and A are always interested in daddys bonsai. This morning A was playing a game with one of them.

This morning X and A did their weekly spellings on the computer before it was time for our fortnightly lego club. Quite a few people turned up this time.

X concentrated really well and didnt get upset this time. A finished her designs then played some games with another little girl.

A made quite a few small models.

Where as X prefers to spend his time building one model.

After dinner X and A sat with daddy and worked on a computer program called scratch. This is a coding program. A coded a sprite (character) to move around in a chasing game.

X coded a story.

X is always very keen to work with computers and specifically coding but A is usually not so keen. However after this successful session she is keen to do more.

As its British science week this week we thought we would start off the week with some science.

Firstly mummy asked X and A what they thought science was. They actually came up with some great answers.

We then had a big discussion about what science is and what key areas of science children study in school (particularly secondary school). We discussed what is studied in biology, chemistry and physics.

Mummy asked X and A to find an item each that may be used in each science and they had to explain how. They both came up with some great answers and they really thought about it.

Biology – X chose a skeleton and A chose a plant.

Chemistry – X and A both chose toys with slime in them and explained how it is made.

Physics- X chose hot wires and A chose a pen as you have to use force to push it down.

Mummy put out a tray of household items and asked X and A to name what they can be used for in science and whether the item could be used in biology, chemistry or physics.

Mummy then asked X and A to draw what they thought a scientist looked like. We then had a discussion about famous scientists and about how anyone can be a scientist.

We also discussed what a scientist might wear which led nicely on to one of our starter activities.

We had a tray of items a scientist might use which X and A had to find the labels for. There were descriptions on the back of each label if they needed a pointer (which to mummys surprise they didnt).

We then moved on to this kit (well we only did two experiments out of the 120). This kit is fantastic, it explains everything in detail.

We started with a coloured foam experiment

Then we inflated balloons using chemicals.

Even F got involved, she played with some science equipment.

This set of test tubes, beakers and rack that we got from tiger came in handy.

After dinner we went out to a local park for some fresh air.

X was having a tough day but the fresh air really helped him.

X and A were super brave this afternoon, they fed Bobby and Heidi in the playroom.

While F chewed away on her toys (she has two bottom teeth now).

On the evening just before A’s football X and A did a spot of play fighting with daddy while F slept.

This week at football A had to hold the ball between her feet and jump over the cones. Her dribbling is really coming along.

This morning X and A played some lovely games togther. They then watched James Bond with daddy while we waited for it to be party time. This time it was X, A and F’s cousin R’s 4th birthday party at a soft play. A wanted her hair doing for it.

When we got there F slept through a lot of the party. She wasnt well at all.

A had fun at R’s party. X however refused to go anywhere near the play structure until about ten minutes before the end when he then ran around having fun. This was probably due to people leaving and it becoming quieter.

The morning started off with X and A playing their own game with a monopoly board. Its great how creative they are. They can make a game out of nothing.

Nana and grandad were then quizzed by X and daddy using the card game eyetoons. X was very good at being the quiz master and giving clues to the answer.

Then it was party time for A. She was invited to the party of one of her old classmates which was lovely. She spent the whole time playing with O. O was the girl A played with most when she was at school.

A got to make slime at this party.

A and O were like two peas in a pod. Mummy and O’s mum swapped contact details so they can have another playdate.

While A was at the party daddy and X went to a few garden centres for a look around. While they were there daddy found a bargain yew tree. After the party we went back for it. The problem was getting it in the car! A member of staff at the garden centre had to chop it in half.

X was concerned about it being cut where as A was worried about a worm on the floor.

Then mummy and daddy had to lift it in to the car.

And mummy had to have it over her head in the car! We made it home ok though.

Also in the garden centre we picked up two great books (like we need any more!). X was very interested in the coding book and started reading it right away. F’s book is lovely. It has her name on each page so its really good for name recognition.

This morning it was time for a home ed meet at a local send provison. X and A really enjoy this meet as there are lots of toys there to play with.

As soon as we got there X and A came over with toys for F. They are always so thoughful with her.

X then started carrying a stuffed snake around that he was calling ‘snape’ so he could remember it’s name! He even found it a bucket to live in and a box to hide in inside the bucket. A was happy as she found the tiny piglet cuddly she loves.

They both played happily and seemed to be playing games with the others. At the end X came over and said to mummy ‘there was a boy round the corner he asked if i wanted to play with him and i said ok’. This may seem like nothing to most people but this is huge progress for X who wouldn’t talk to other children.

After dinner X and A continued with reading eggs and maths seeds work.

Mummy then read them the book ‘whatever next!’ and they made finger puppets to go along with the story next time we read it.

As today was world book day mummy planned a whole day of book themed activities.

It started with our living room floor being covered in books. This was for three reasons. One, to shock and engage X and A. Two, to do a scavenger hunt and three, to use the books to make a library.

When X and A came downstairs on the morning X was not impressed but A was super excited and couldnt wait to get started. She even went and found a few more books to add in.

She also decided she was going to have ‘books’ for breakfast as she called them (as they were rectangles like books). While A was eating her breakfast F was having a sleep so mummy read seven books from the floor that A had chosen. What a great start to world book day!

We actually started with book bingo. This was a last minute addition to our planned activities as A has been asking to play bingo.

Mummy made it so both X and A would win. X noticed and wasnt happy, oops!

We then got started with the scavenger hunt which lasted quite a long time as they had to find a book, write in every title, page number and where they had found the answers.

Mummy challenged X to not use the same books A had used on hers so he ended up looking in the encyclopedias for some answers which is a great skill to have. By using the encyclopedia he also was brushing up on his reading, alphabet, reading big numbers and knowing what number comes before or after the big number.

A then got her costume on for the day. X wont wear costumes anymore.

F even joined in the world book day fun.

X and A then did a book hunt. Mummy had hidden two books in the kitchen which they had to find.

For the book break daddy put on the enormous crocodile on youtube and we all sat down to watch it. X and A then did a character profile on the crocodile and drew a picture of him.

Then it was time to set up the library. Mummy had a discussion with X and A about fiction and non-fiction books. We talked about catagories and where books can be found in our local library. They then put the books on the shelves under the right labels.

Before playing libraries.

Mummy, daddy, X and A then all played the consequences game. We all had to write a setting then fold the paper over and pass it on, then a character and so on. X and A found the end results hilarious.

After dinner X and A did some world book day count and graph sheets.

They also did some world book day playdoh mats. A had to build three chairs for the the three bears then build someone looking in a library. X had to make pants on a washing line and an alien from aliens love underpants.

After a break, on the evening it was time for X and A’s circuits class. This week they had to colour in a card then use led’s for the eyes. By using sticky back copper tape and a battery they then made the eyes light up.

After they had made the card they then went on to making a torch. This time they just needed a piece of card, a battery, an led and two pieces of sticky back foam.

They worked really hard and listened to all the instructions well. Two other boys in the group moved down to sit near them and had a few conversations with them about what they had drawn on their cards. It was nice that X replied to them. A has always been talkative but this is new to X. It shows the progress he has made.

Their torches worked really well.

What a busy day!

*the newspaper on the desks is so they dont draw on the new desk while we find a cover*

Wednesday morning mummy and X go to a local college for a class. This week we followed on with excel. X had to create a spreadsheet for a party.

He had to think about the costs of the venue, food, party bags per person etc. He had to think about how many guests he would invite. We then put in a formula to calculate the cost of party bags etc for all the people.

X did very well following all the directions from the teacher and staying calm.

He then had to get a total for the whole party by using the sum button.

He also changed the fonts and font size of the titles and headings. As well as changing some of the numbers to currency.

While mummy and X were at the class A did some phonics work with daddy.

On the afternoon X and A both did some reading eggs work while F played with the wooden chopping board and fruit.

X and A then looked at poetry with daddy and wrote their own poems.

Mummy and daddy wrote poems too.

Daddys was about zelda.

One was about F, the other about nintendo games.

Today started with a visit from friends. A really gets on well with a girl the same age as her called S so she came round today for her second play date. Her mum and sister C came with her. C is 9 so mummy didnt expect X to even talk to her. However to mummys surprise he got on great with her and they had lots of fun. In fact they all played so lovely together that it was hard for the mummies to talk for all the chatter and laughter.

After a good play time everyone had a teddy bears picnic.

F even joined in the fun eating party snacks.

They then all went outside for a good run around. Although S, C and their mummy were visiting for two and half hours it just didn’t feel enough. No one wanted it to end, but it had to as X and A had a science class to get too.

At the hall where the science class was to be held X and A both walked off from mummy right away and started playing which was lovely to see as they are becoming more confident. X was playing a fighting game with B (who he was walking round with at forest school last week).

Everyone had to sit around on mats and listen to the lady explain what they were going to be doing.

X and A were then given a paper template to colour in and cut out. They were then given a paperclip to put on the end to make a ‘helicopter’.

They then had to throw them up in to the air to make them spin back down like helicopters.

After that they had to listen to the lady to find out what to do next. They both listened really well and followed the instructions carefully. They were to make an explosion using old film canisters, some tablets and some water. They had to pipette 5 squeezes of water in to the canister, then break up one large tablet in to smaller chunks. They then had to click the lid on give it a shake before placing it down and moving away from it.

A’s made a huge pop and hit the roof where as X’s didnt work. X couldnt cope with this. He got really upset so the lady tried again for him. It then just popped a little and went sideways, again X was not happy. Mummy promised to do our own explosions at home another time (like we have in the past).

Back at home it was pancake day. Daddy mixed up some batter.

Then X had a go at flipping a pancake and dropped it.

Oops!

Then it was A’s turn. She did well at flipping but got if caught on the side of the pan.

Daddy made himself, mummy, A and F some pancakes.

Mummy and A had malteaser spread on them, yummy!

F had her first try of a pancake and seemed to enjoy it.

On the evening F was shouting at daddys red guitar to have a play. She loves playing guitar.