194/365 Chapter One

4:45pm | The wallpaper. Bernadi's Gelateria, Brunswick Heads.

JK Rowling Releases New Harry Potter Short Story!

Harry fans rejoice! 

JK Rowling has just released a new story that gives us the first updates on Harry Potter since she finished the last book in the infamous series seven years ago :)

Harry, now 33 (!!) is married - to "Ginny" - with two young boys of his own: James and Albus. Nawwwwww. Ron { of the Weasley Wizard Wheezes joke emporium } is still with Hermoine, and they have a son Hugo and a daughter Rose together. Even Neville Longbottom gets a look in; he's now a teacher at Hogwarts!

Released on her Pottermore website, and written in the voice of Quidditch World Cup gossip columnist 'Rita Skeeter,' this is a small glimpse into the 'current' World of Wizarding. But the BIG question is asked:

"Is the Chosen One embroiled in fresh mysteries that will one day explode upon us all, plunging us into a new age of terror and mayhem?"

Oooooooh! Exciting. JK Rowling had previously stated that she was leaving Harry behind her but maybe, just maybe; she's had a change of heart?! ;)

Let's hope that's true. I certainly have two rabid HP fans here. Oh and that makes me think that I should probably put a post together from our day at "The Making of Harry Potter" Warner Brother studio tour in London shouldn't I! #abouttime

Who would like to see our behind-the-scenes Harry Potter photos?!
Amber. XO

p.s. Read the full short story at Pottermore { or follow this link if you don't have a Pottermore account } and leave me a comment here on the blog or on my facebook or twitter to tell me what you think :)

The Adventures of Trim (and Matthew Flinders)

I only scheduled a dash of Australian history into this year.

We were working through Our Sunburnt Country last year. Now, as our travels draw closer, our focus has turned to World History and the Great Artists and learning French!

But I digress.

I didn't want to completely ignore Australia. So I included a book recommended by Jeanne at A Peaceful Day (*waving hello*) in her Australianised AO2 list: Trim by Matthew Flinders.

I was surprised to find a copy of this quaint old book in our own public library system.

The story of a brave, seafaring cat who, in the company of Matthew Flinders, circumnavigated the globe in the years 1799-1804 

To the memory of Trim, the best and most illustrious of his Race, the most affectionate of friends, faithful of servants, and best of creatures. He made a Tour of the Globe, and a voyage to Australia, which he circumnavigated; and was ever the delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers. Returning to Europe in 1803, he was shipwrecked in the Great Equinoxial Ocean; This danger escaped, he sought refuge and assistance at the Isle of France, where he was made prisoner, contrary to the laws of Justice, of Humanity, and of French National Faith; and where, alas! He terminated his useful career; by an untimely death, being devoured by the Catophago of that island. Many a time have I beheld his little merriment′s with delight, and his superior intelligence with surprise: Never will his life be seen again! Trim was born in the Southern Indian Ocean, in the Year 1799, and perished as above at the Isle of France in 1804. 

Peace be to his shade, and Honour to his memory

It's rather short so we were finished within a few weeks. And that was that. We planned to leave Australian History until our return next year. And then L discovered something... The Mostly True Story of Matthew and Trim. A graphic novel. His favourite!

It's the best thing ever when your child comes running to you, full of excitement, about something new they've discovered all by themselves that ties into something else you've been learning! Layers. Rabbit trails. Building connections. Love.

So we were back in!

What have you been learning about? Do tell :)x

The Reader

Long-time readers of my blog might remember the days when I wasn't sure how to get Hug interested in reading. I wrote about it a few times & I'm linking to some of those posts here:

"Mama I can read" 
The Art of Storytelling
The Textual Paradigm & Other Ways of Knowing

Well, time passed (as it does) and something happened...
He became The Reader.

Now, my boy LOVES to read. L-O-V-E-S.

There were days when I wondered if it would ever happen & now there are days when I have to stop him reading ;)

And it's amazing how often we are stopped in cafe's and stores (yes, he'll follow me out of the car and into stores with his nose still buried deep into a book) by people telling us how refreshing it is to see kids reading.

So, what happened? 

It's hard to put my finger on it. But, I really think it was about TIME. It just took him time to want to read. And then, the next part of the magic was, I believe, EXPOSURE. He has always been surrounded by books and by people reading. Books are important here. 

He always has enjoyed books but for a very long time he was happy to experience them visually.

Now, he knows there's something hidden in the jumble of letters too. A million things. A million worlds. A million ideas. He's hooked. And it's a beautiful thing to watch.

Do your kids like reading? Did it take time for them too or did it come easily?
A. x

Currently reading / watching / thinking about...

+ Time Ideas proposes Salman Khan: The new Andrew Carnegie?

+ Dan Myer talks problem solving: Math Class Needs a Makeover

+ the Ground Breaking Inventors, Unstoppable Creators and Powerful Thinkers of the 1JR Class Blog (a class for 5 and 6 year olds :)

Is that not the coolest?! Thanks edte.ch

+ What are you feeling inspired by?

{image credit: I found this pic online this week and loved it but can't find the source. Sorry copyright Gods. x}

Paddle To The Sea

We have been reading Paddle to the Sea by Holling. C. Holling all year. Yes, you heard that right. all.year.

But what a journey it's been. In many ways it's just a picture book, with a full page illustration for each 1-page chapter, about a little wooden canoe. But this little wooden canoe, carved by hand by a Nipigon Indian child has a destiny far beyond the landscape of its creation; traveling through the Great Lakes of Canada towards it's final destination... which we are 3 short chapters away from.

This was one of our very first Charlotte Mason-inspired reads, taking the approach of slowly, gently traveling through a book. Absorbing it. Living within it. We generally only read 1 chapter a week (there are 27) and I have the boys narrate the chapters as we go... and the dipping in and out approach is an interesting one.

I recently discovered that there is a short film (30 mins, 1966) which was nominated for an Oscar in its day. We will watch it in celebration when we finally finish :)

At the beginning of the year we visited a timberyard and selected timber with the plan to make our own canoes... Ummm, that never happened. Whoops! A bit of a #mamafail there ;) I'm not the handiest person ever.

I can, however, get an art project off the ground *smile* and this was how we narrated our reading yesterday: wet-on-wet painting (starting with yellow, then adding blue to make green) which we let dry and completed today with the addition of some very crumbly white charcoal pencils. and a little coloured-canoe being tossed in the waves.

We will miss Paddle! But I know he will live on in our hearts, I think that's the true gift of taking it slow :)

What books have you and your children been savoring?

Lazy Sunday Breakfast..

Hot dairy-free rice pudding with lots of berries, tea (of course!) and read-alouds. Mmmmm :)

Margaret Homfray: The Montessori *Reading* Curriculum Lectures

Here are links to the Margaret Homfray Reading Curriculum Lectures Videos: 

Montessori Reading Curriculum, Lecture 1 Preparing Children to Read

Montessori Reading Curriculum, Lecture 2, The Insets for Design

Montessori Reading Curriculum, Lecture 3. Sandpaper Letters

Montessori Reading Curriculum, Lecture 4. (no link)

Montessori Reading Curriculum, Lecture 5 Phonetic Reading

Montessori Reading Curriculum, Lecture 6. Phonetic Grammar

Montessori Reading Curriculum, Lecture 7. Phonograms