(snowdrops from above)
It’s been a week of added extras. Little extras. Nothing major. Nothing bad. All planned ahead. Some we’ve chosen and some imposed by others, but never the less, embraced. When something breaks you out of your routine, it can go one of two ways. You can either welcome it with a smile or dig your heels in deep. I try the former.
To start with, youngest was offered a day away from school, attending a course at one of our local universities. Only one of his classmates was going. No teachers. He was excited, but also apprehensive of something new. Butterflies the night before, but he hopped off happily when the time came. Probably the best part was having this new experience more than the course itself. Opening his 10 year old eyes to the possibility of going to university.
We also had a next steps meeting for Eldest at school. I’m pretty sure that most of this could have been accomplished by a questionnaire, but a few interesting points came out of it, so maybe it was worth missing an hour at work.
Everything is focused on her exams this summer. She seems upbeat and keen to do well. Even accepting going in to school over the Easter holidays for extra classes that are being laid on.
I’ve bought the Corbett Maths revision cards to give her additional help. She already has two other online practise sites, but this one supplies the equivalent to flash cards, that she can carry around with her. They seem a good way to tackle the subject in bite size revision portions. I hadn’t realised they link to online practise questions (and answers and videos). She’s started using them and finds them really helpful.
I love adding an activity for them all to do after school. Something that they probably wouldn’t do at school. Used to be art or crafting mostly when they were younger, giving them the chance to paint something of their choice rather than the focus of the art class at school.
One of my favourite activities is riddle solving. I pin riddles to the fridge for them to find, but it’s logic puzzles I love the most. I dug out one of my well thumbed code books from when I was their age and my old code wheel fell out.
After showing them how it could be used, I set up a series of clues. One clue leading to the next clue until they found their prize. The clues were written in code and the code changed in the middle of the trail, to keep them on their toes. I know they would have learnt it otherwise. They worked as a team to decipher the message.
They loved it and asked for more. Hope to get time this weekend to help them make their own code wheels so they can send messages between themselves. I’m also going to start showing them ways to crack simple codes, without a wheel next. 
On the same theme, youngest and I had fun creating secret messages using lemon juice. This was fun, and I want to try some of the alternatives to lemon juice, with him.
The best kind of additional at this time of year is when you plant seeds (read old seeds) and more than three come up. That is my kind of additional. Won’t be long until after school activities will include helping me in the garden.
Hope you have a good weekend. Joining in with Jocelyn’s #wotw. What word sums up your week?
How exciting for your childcto check out the university, I hope it goes well for him. I like the sound of little fun activities at home. My son loves learning about seeds and nature X #wotw
He loved it, but very tired by the end. I think any child who has a love of nature is going to have an interesting life. I hope your son never loses that curiosity.
I love seeing seeds sprouting up, and it’s an added bonus if they’re old ones too. Love the idea of the code cracking, sounds like a lot of fun. My nephew’s been at school this half term as he’s in year 11 with exams coming up, so he’s fully expecting to be their at Easter as well. I’m glad your daughter is keen to do well, she’s probably already halfway there just by having that attitude x Thanks for sharing with #WotW
The right attitude makes all the difference. Worth putting the work in now. At least that’s what I keep telling her. Yes old seeds coming up is always a bonus. Feels like free plants. They’re obviously not, but I haven’ wasted them.
I love the idea of riddle solving and hidden messages. Creative and gets them thinking! I’ll definitely be using this when my son is older. #MMBC
Absolutely. It ticks so many boxes but, most importantly, captures their imagination and creativity. Hope your son enjoys it in the future.
Your code wheels sound like great fun. My daughter is also fond of riddles and is always testing me with them. I enjoy the thought process behind trying to solve them. How exciting for your son to visit university, I hope he enjoyed it.
He did. Wonderful that your daughter enjoys riddles. They are fascinating.
The riddles game reminds me of that Tom Hanks film called Da Vinci Code! Its so awesome and sadly I am not very good with it hehe.
The games that you are playing and the activities you are doing sounds lovely. Looks like everyone is learning the fun way in your household 🙂
#wotw
They lve it. Often ask me to do more.
What a lovely week it sounds like you’ve had – wishing you much the same for this new one #WotW
Thank you, Jade.
Those coded clues look like so much fun. I used to love solving codes as a child although I don’t think I’ve ever seen a code wheel before – such a good idea. Love the idea of having an activity for the children to do after school – I might have to try doing that as it’s a much better idea then them just ending up watching TV while I make dinner! #WotW
Yes, something to give you time to prepare a meal. Also makes interesting table talk.
These all sound great additions that will help them and it’s lovely to help them in learning extra fun stuff #WotW
Without them realising they are learning.
Lots of good activities, enjoyable too. I love the code wheel #WotW
Code wheels are fun.