JacquieL

There are 12 days of Christmas and 12th night is on the 6th. This is the feast of the Epiphany when the Wise men gave their presents. In some traditions Christmas gifts are given then, in others they are given on St. Nicholas day which is the 6th of December. Decorations are traditionally taken down before dusk on the 6th of January in UK. Custom has it that there were 3 kings,wise men or Magi, but this story is only told in Matthew's Gospel and the number of kings was never mentioned, or any names. These were added in Medieval times. In Eastern tradition there were 12 Magi. The idea that there were 3 men is because in Matthew it says that the Magi gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, so as 3 items were mentioned it become 3 Kings/Magi. These gifts are also symbolic in the story of the death and resurrection of Christ.

Mothering Sunday is March 22nd this year.

Nicky Sussex I think that you have got it right in your setting. I am really impressed and I'm sure your children will benefit from this way of doing things. You are lucky to have an HT who supports this process.

What creative people you all are! I am sitting here with splitting sides. why oh why does my husband not understand

Happy birthday! I hope that you pop into the forum and see that we remember you. Now that would make your day really special.

Wonderful cait come on folks this is going to be fun!

I googled SEAD and the choices were very interesting and amusing.

I am just wondering if it is Scottish Education and Action for Development with Beau having worked north of the border?

Have a wonderful day.

Wonderful news for everyone, but especially for her family I'm sure they must all be thrilled. We're all looking forward to your company again Peggy. Lots of loveXXX

Tina Bruce is a Professor and consultant, and author of books on Early Years Education. She has been influential in the development of the EY's curriculum. She is one of those authors on book lists which include Janet Moyles, Cathy Nutbrown, Margaret Edgington etc. Hers views sometimes challenge accepted practice, and always put the individual child at the centre of learning.

And a chequebook and pen for Maz !

Yes they are Marion. What was that programme with a big yellow bird that my own children used to love? ( Senior moment ). I do think it is clever of young children to copy lower-case in upper-case.

I feel sorry for parents as we, me included, get very frustrated when they write everything in capitals or mispronounce phonemes, and not just the parents either! I once had an HT who came into my room and wrote for the children in capitals!! I have tried all sorts of ways to help parents support their children, information sheets, workshops etc. I think we all have to learn to live with these problems as they were all around when I moved into EY's donkeys years ago. At least those parents are supporting their children with their learning. Sadly I have worked with many who don't, or couldn't.

When you read through this thread we are all more or less agreeing aren't we?

A useful chart from Marion. In the LA I worked for we all had something very similar to help us 'level' writing and support children appropriately.

I think children like capitals because they are easier to form, relying on many straight lines. What always amazes me is that young children can have a name card with a capital letter for the start of their name, lower case for the rest, in front of them, but copy it all writing in capitals.

I totally agree re correct modelling, sensitively and appropriately, but have had one or two disagreements with the 'powers' over this!

Have a wonderful day. Doubly so as it is New Year as well.

So do Tescos and M & S. Oh well the world moves on and the lines between festivals become blurred. Didn't it say in that article link that Summerfields hailed Easter as the celebration of Christ's birth! At this rate we'll be having Christmas all the year round. Perish the thought!

The nature of a person's name is that it is as it is, a word picked for that use in that language, so it would be the same where-ever in the world you are. Modern names like Chelsea or Mia etc. would be very difficult to translate. Some names can be translated into a different form and many of those are Biblical or other religious names, Mary, Maria, Abraham, Ibrahim, John, Jean, Johann, Giovanni, Mark, Marc, Matthew, Mateo, Jacob, James, Rebecca, Rivah. What can be fun is changing the name into Chinese or Arabic as the script is so different.

Happy New Year to all of you wonderful FSF people. I wish you everything you would wish for yourselves.

Is there wine and nibbles in the lounge? I do hope so.

It sounds really wonderful. I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself. One year together and everyone celebrating was a really nice touch. I bet you missed your Mum though.

Gosh how wonderful! I'll swop with you next year if you like

So are you back home now? How else did you celebrate Xmas in France?

You know what I mean Maz

Easter is later this year and in April not March, so even more time to buy and eat those eggs before Easter itself. I can only buy nibbles at the last minute before an 'occasion' as I have no will-power, and will end up eating them too soon. Then I have to go out for some more.

I used to like Cadbury's creme eggs but now find them too sweet. I think they've got smaller or is it a matter of comparison and have I just got bigger?

Yes I saw them. Isn't it ridiculous! Easter is in April this year as well.

I quite agree that the thought of children 'being made' to form letters is dreadful and hopefully something that doesn't happen in any of our pre-school settings!

In the main I agree with this statement. I think a formal approach with young children is not desirable at all. But if a child is frequently writing his/her name confidently and continues to do so in Nursery, then there is a place for occasionally intervening and demonstrating how a letter should be formed, if it is incorrect. I know how difficult it is for deeply ingrained habits to be corrected later on, which can hold up a child's natural flow when learning cursive writing. Sensitive practitioners who know their children well can do this without discouraging a child from wishing to write.

Lots of love and good wishes for a speedy return to health. You are really missed on here Peggy.

Jacquiex ((((Peggy))))

There is a link on the home Page to' Mark Making Matters' which makes interesting and valuable reading.

In my experience writing is an area in which children develop more slowly than in other areas of learning. It is a difficult skill and is made up of several components, composition, phonetical knowledge, letter formation and punctuation. I think the most important area to develop first is that of composition, as obviously children need to be able to say something that they wish to write. I think letting the children have a go, valuing their own mark-making and sometimes scribing for the children is very valuable, as children often have a lot to say. Having to try to write it all down themselves would be an impossible task in the early stages. It also serves as modelling so can be used one to one, with a small group or the whole class. I do not like tracing and copying. This turns their composition into a handwriting exercise, and there are other ways of developing letter formation. The problem with tracing and copying without supervision is that the children may start each letter wherever they like, which can defeat the object. I think we have all seen children who can form letters beautifully until they then do a piece of 'free' writing and then their 'lovely' handwriting goes to pot as they try to concentrate on several things at once. Bit by bit the phonics, letter formation and composition come together as the child becomes more proficient at these.

In my opinion we expect too much too soon in terms of writing considering the complexity of the task.

We took our Grandchildren to Martin Mere Wetlands Trust today. It was cold and frosty but very beautiful with the sun shining on everything. The swans and geese looked amazing. It certainly blew the cobwebs away!

Have a wonderful day.