China Update #2

Isaiah has just had his 7th birthday. He is not currently interested in a lot of different things.

He'd like a helicopter that he can fly - we have one, he'd like a remote control car - we have one, he'd like a remote control boat - we have one.

There's a few other things he'd like but only once he's seen them, which means he wants it cos he has seen it. I don't like those kinds of spur-on-the-moment items, they get over them too fast and don't play with them, OR they break.

He was blessed to receive a LOT of money! Some cheeky Aunty gave him all different notes! So we did a lesson on using different notes ;)

Later on today we will head to the bank and bank it, bringing his total savings up past the $200 mark at (I think) $230!!!!!

We worked on his numbers, building a thousand block cube, showing how much he had, transferring $$ into blocks ($20 note = 2x10 rods) and carrying blocks to the next place value. Until we had our final number.

A quarter way through his first 1000 cube block :) and he's happy!

I won't be updating regularly on this btw ;) but wanted to acknowledge this huge blessing to him!

Oh yeah, he's also receiving $$ by paying for things and pocketing the change! Cheeky ah!

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China - update #1

As I've posted before and would like to remember the process of saving for China.

We lay out a 1000 cube block built with Math U See manipulative blocks.

We then discuss how many of those blocks we need. 3. Which is 3000$

Using the (only) block we have I show how much we HAVE and how much we NEED.

I am using the opportunity to instill a deeper understanding of place value. 1000, 100s, 10s and ones.

Today the 'have' is $125 ;)

And the need to save not spend money.

Today I introduced Monopoly money. He wanted to smell it. It smells like paper.

I showed what $3000 looks like and how much he has. And how much he needs.

I look forward to finding and buying atleast two more thousand cube blocks to show all in one go.

This process probably takes 5-10 minutes.

We later discuss the process during random times such as driving down the street or sitting eating a meal together.

The child is so used to having his photo taken that he's begun to pose. Silly. On purpose ;)

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Dreams & Desires

My biggest dreams growing up was having a pile of kids close together in age. Some days I wonder what I was thinking.

I believe it's fairly safe to say that I accomplished those dreams.. With the help of my husband Michael.

But what does a person do when they've completed their life long goals?

I don't know actually..

But I've started dreaming up new dreams. Dreams that include this little family that have grown in my womb.

Another desire that I have had and possibly would have been doing had I not got married and settled down is go overseas and help people.
My compassionate heart wants to help people.

I had begun looking into travelling to orphanages to help look after babies when I started dating my husband. And so it never happened.

Now, as my children have grown I am seeing opportunities exist to complete those other desires, the ones I pushed to the side.

I have this desire to go to Chinese orphanages and look after babies, to have my heart broken where it needs to be broken, and to take my now 6yr old son with me, to have his heart broken where it needs to be broken.

By broken I mean, to see and feel and smell the desolate situations in which many thousands of babies live their life, many dying alone.

I have spoken to my son and other children about the orphans in China, we look at China for geography and he's keen to go!

My son decided one day to start saving for China. He found his old unused money tin, scrounged the car and house for money (small change) and so his collection had begun.

We are putting away $30 every week ($3000+ in 2yrs) for this opportunity. (Budgeting $3k for him & $5k for me - to bump his amount up - but I told him he needed 3 before discovering he needs 4)
He has the opportunity to do 'extra' jobs for me (like clean out the car) for a $1 a job.
And we freely give him the smaller change (& sometimes notes) when purchasing things at the shops.
We'll give him a little bit of money for his birthday and other gifts too.

We will be paying for this anyway right ;)

Every fortnight (it's happened once) the plan is to visit the bank, deposit the money and receive all worked for money to deposit also.

I am using this opportunity to teach on saving money, little bits add up to big bits.
Speaking to the bank teller and do his banking.
Tithing (hasn't happened yet)
Place Value in the thousand. Thousands using manipulative blocks.
Adding & Subtracting
Money

I am hoping that through this opportunity he will learn something that can be carried into his adult life (like saving).

The China information was from me, but the saving to go was done by him.. And I am happy to take his lead in this learning adventure called life.. Because He can do ALL things through Christ who gives him strength xx

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