Nonna has fun with pre-reading

Hi R
I forget what your granny name is.  Mine is Nonna and I'm getting a great deal of pleasure in that role.

My grandchildren don't live close  - a few hours away, but fortunately, with visits and calls, we get to spend quality time.
Here I am with OJ who is now 3 - he's ready for pre-reading activities and instead of just writing to my daughter, Elle, I decided to share it with you and perhaps others might be interested. 

 My teacher background, mothering,  nannying experience, tutoring  - in other words a lifetime of being with children, means that  I'm vitally interested in how they learn.

Maybe you have a few hints that you can add at times.
Love Nonna C


OK - Lesson 1 - Pre-reading.  OJ knows the name of the letters and sings the ABCDEFG  HIJK LMNOP etc. Now I know my ABCs.  Can you sing along with me.   Suggest you get out the  books which have the letters and pictures and ask him randomly what the NAME of the letters are.

Next step is to become familiar with the sound of the letters eg the sound of 'a' is as in  ant, 'b' as in bear  etc
So - distinguishing between the name of the letter and its sound.  Lots of fun ways to do it - like 'I Spy'

Work in lowercase at first - upper case can work beside lowercase or include later.

There are many great apps to start with but best to begin with books and incidental pointing out what letter SOUND a word begins with. 

Have fun!!  It's important to have fun and  that the learning is  incidental and without pressure.

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Leafy Greens - a treat for eyes and waistline

Dear Clara and other friends
If we are to 'fitinmyjeans', we need to cut down on this bacon etc that G is cooking and bring out the greens.

My favorite home alone meal and one which I fall back on after a holiday weekend of too much food, wine and song.
Makes enough for 2 pounds of chicken. Published May 1, 2009. From Cook's Illustrated.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts should be marinated for no less than 30 minutes and no more than 1 hour. Skin-on, bone-in chicken should be marinated for at least 45 minutes and no longer than 90 minutes.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh herbs , such as tarragon, chives, basil, or parsley
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons water



Instructions
Whisk together ingredients in medium bowl. Place marinade and chicken in gallon-sized zipper-lock bag; press out as much air as possible and seal bag. Depending on chicken type, refrigerate 30 to 90 minutes (see note), flipping bag halfway through to ensure that chicken marinates evenly.

Grill marinated chicken breasts (no not on the mouse grill)  Clara would say bake in oven.
Serve on a bed of leafy green spinach and organic wheat pasta sprinkled with parmesan.

Sorry G, but not every meal can be from the Silver Spoon.


Welcome to my journey as I photograph something I create everyday for a year... RRT

Leafy Greens...April 8th



Necklace of leaves, jadeite beads and yes, snow.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reservations Required...April 7th

Loom knit chenille scarf, hand dyed and printed