R is for Repetition, Reading and Rag Rugs

Repetition - it sounds so boring - right?  But it is essential for certain learning to take place so the aim of the game is to make it fun, make it different - allow children to repeat and practise things without becoming bored by it.  That's why I like creating games, making a child competitive so they strive to beat their score, suggesting they'll never be able to do this even better this time!!

It's difficult to get the balance right - repetition so they can learn how to do something and master it and this brings it's own reward but without them becoming bored or turned off.  I think that's why we need to be flexible - if a child asks to do something again let them and if another child says they've had enough then don't flog a dead horse - but this does mean we need a flexible timetable - which is becoming harder and harder as more demands are made on teachers.

I can remember being at school and afternoons often being times when we could choose what we wanted to do (the perfect time for repetitive play/learning to take place) nowdays afternoons are spent teaching all of the rest of the curriculum because maths and literacy are taught in the morning so there is little time for children to practise any of their skills and feel confident in their learning.

Sorry this seems to be turning into a RANT!!!

READING - possibly the most important skill any child could learn.  And following on from the above - children need to repeatedly read to maximise their potential as you can see from this
amazing graphic.

This comes from an outstanding teacher's blog post - please visit to see the full post

http://ckisloski.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/five-for-friday-february-27.html

And just think how much we learn when we read - I know just by taking part in this challenge and reading 10 new blogs a day I am amassing loads of new information and I consider myself quite well educated!!!!

Rag Rugs - I have made a number of rugs (some were maybe mats because they were small) over the years - using french knitting, latch hooking, tapestry and weaving to accomplish them. However, I would love to make a rag rug!!  So far I have bought the hessian and a number of garments that will become shredded to make the rags - I just need to get myself a "rugger" and I will be away - 

                                        (Photo courtesy of http://www.makings.co.uk/)

I was hoping to get started before Christmas as it seemed a traditional "sit-by-the-fire" type of craft but I wasn't organised enough so hopefully this will be a craft I can look forward to as we come to the end of this year (which will help me feel better as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter).

I wanted to share some pics of what others have done and what maybe I could aspire to :)

                         craftyblvd.com/2014/04/30/how-to-make-rag-rug-using-recycled-t-shirts/

         http://patches.typepad.com/notes_from_the_patch/2012/06/tutorial-tuesday-shag-rag-rug.html

http://www.cartwheelscraftcentre.co.uk/workshops_and_courses/shaggy-rag-rugs/

I think I would like to do one in yellows and reds to go in my sitting room - what colours would you use if you made a rag rug?

Finally - freebie for R is this Rabbit Writing set that features different writing pages - which I am not securing in pdf so that you can size it precisely for what you need - as I know it can be really annoying if you can't make it how you would like for your class/student.  Please enjoy :)