The Launch Speech



Even as a 2 year old I was ready to help Mummy and teach my baby brother to read...upside down none-the-less

So even though you can't be with us in person, here is a transcript of the speech from today's party.
 
When I tell people I’ve written a book and  starting a business for families to make learning fun the first question I usually get is “how many kids do you have”. Well I don’t have any, but I do have 22 nieces and nephews! The next question I get is “oh so you must be a teacher then”. Well no, I’m not a teacher either. But I’m a crusader for education and I believe with my whole body that a quality tailored education can give any child the keys to the universe!  

But there’s a particular story I wanted to share with you, that is my bottom line.

When I was in school I always finished my work and helped others, even in high school I did cross age tutoring and loved it. I loved reading to my brothers and to this day I am the person my family and friends come to when they need help doing something!

But in primary school, there was a younger boy in my class. e was a bit naughty, his older siblings had a reputation for fighting, and it was pretty obvious that things weren’t great at home. But I made friends with him, and when I was finished my work I would move over to his side of the table and help him out. Maths sheets, spelling sheets, reading, whatever. Just that bit of extra one on one attention helped him to get it. He probably would’ve never asked the teacher for help, and would have gone and played or distracted the other kids, but with a little attention he could work out the answers and finish his work. But I went off to high school, and by the time he came through I guess nobody had the time to help him with his maths sheets. His misbehaviour had really stepped up a notch, and by about year 8 he was out. Expelled, just left, I can’t even remember. After this I would see him down the street, jobless, with kids of his own, dead beat friends hanging around just doing nothing and causing a nuisance, so I gradually stopped acknowledging him and would just walk on by as if I never saw him. Then one day I read his death notice in the paper, and through local gossip I found out he’d died of a drug overdose leaving behind a girlfriend and 2 little kids. All because there was nobody to give him that one on one help he needed in class, so he just gave up.

The worst part of this story, is that it isn’t an isolated incident. There are kids out there struggling through school, struggling through life with unemployment, poverty, violence, drugs, alcohol, crime...whatever, all because nobody took the time to spend with them in school to help them with their maths sheet, or with their reader. Some kids pick it up easily, but others struggle with undiagnosed learning difficulties that get labelled as behavioural problems, laziness or just plain dumb.  Even kids who are experiencing bullying or peer pressure might struggle at school and nobody would ever know why. There’s a whole bunch of things going on in kids’ lives but the teachers’ hands are tied because of process and policy. And it’s the “What can I do?” that makes me tick. Can I fix it for all those kids? Can I change the society? Can I change the world? I don’t know. There’s a classic saying…How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Same deal here. I can’t change the world in one bite, but I can take a few bites and give it a go!

So I wrote a book that’s easy to read, it’s not full of scientific facts or research studies. It’s based on my experience, and the stories I’ve heard from my parents, the ideas I’ve tried in tutoring sessions, inspiration from my beautiful little sister and my army of nieces and nephews and great things their parents have shared. It’s just a little book with a really big message!

What I’ve come to realise though, is that sadly many of the people who this book is written for may never read it. So I want to bring Blossom to life and turn the idea into a space, a place where people can come and find information that’s relevant to them at the time they need it. And so they can get some benefit out of it. Which is where the purple poster over there is taking me. Blossom Connect. An interactive website connecting parents to local businesses & services through social media, an iphone app, through targeted offers, specials or events that meet their specific needs. Do they need tutoring help. Do they need access to free or community services. Do they need toys or books? Do they want to find a sport or a club? Can the businesses offer them a special discount? Is a group holding an event? Anything local, relevant to the needs of young children and their development in life.

So this is the next part of my journey. You can see some of my concepts drawn up on the purple poster, and I’ve also put together a little sign up sheet for anyone who would like to be on the list when it goes live? Or anyone who might be interested in advertising on the site, being a part of the project, or even just holding a few copies of the book on your market stall or on your website for customers to purchase through your own business. So please head over and have a look and sign the sheet to be a part of something really exciting that I hope with all my heart will make a difference to at least one bite of my elephant!

Also remember to get your raffle tickets $2 each or 3 for $5. We’ve got prizes donated from Jess from Tupperware in Daylesford / Ballarat. Trecia Bik from Letter Gems who runs programs for pre-kinder kids to learn the basics of ABCs and 123s.. Angela East from School of Mum, a local blogger and online retailer for educational toys. Ballarat Books, our local educational book specialist and also ETSY business Fait Avec Lecour who handmake Montessori inspired learning toys. All the money from the raffle tickets will go straight to the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation who run programs to teach indigenous children all around Australia. Also 10% from every book sold today will also go to them. You can get a copy of the book today for $15. Online it’s available from Amazon or Lulu, the publishing site for $19 plus postage. And it’s also on Amazon Kindle as an eBook for $2.99, so if you’ve got the kindle app on your phone, or you’ve got a Kindle you can grab a digital copy too. And just for today it’s actually free. So great opportunity to download it to keep it handy to show your friends.

And inside your goodie bags you’ll find a flyer that has 3 ways you can help share the blossom message. So have a look at that, but basically the more you guys interact with Blossom online, the wider audience I can reach. So if you have a read through the book, then go onto the Amazon or Lulu publisher websites you can give it a star rating and also leave a written review if you like. But those reviews & ratings are what helps push this book up the list of search results and gives it more credence to potential readers. Then on our social networks like Pinterest, Facebook and blogger, jump on those sites and follow or like the page. And sign up to the blog using your email address so you get the latest updates delivered straight to your email account. And then once you’ve done that, get involved. If you see something you like…click on it, hit the like button, make a comment about it, even if it’s just a couple of words. The more you interact, again the wider audience we can reach. And tell us about great things that happen with the kids, at school, at home, when you’re out and about having fun family adventures or problems you’re having so other people on the sites can share your stories and offer advice or their experiences. Send us pictures and share your stories! Especially from today, if you’ve got a great snap or want to tell us what you really got out of today drop us a line on the facebook page! 

So finally, I’d just like to thank everyone who has helped make today possible. Erin for doing the food, Miffy for being my amazing sales woman, Donna and the girls selling the raffle tickets, Megan for being my official photographer…my Mum for having me.… and all of you for being here today! And especially Earl for providing today’s entertainment! Earl is studying to be a teacher at the moment, and is a musician with kids…so he made music for kids his job! Which is just what Blossom is about, fun and inspiring ways to get kids moving, thinking, letting loose and being creative and learning from those experiences!  

Remember to visit the discount link to get your 20% off the hard copy book, delivered to your door:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/learning-thats-fun-discount/13802254

Or if you've got a Kindle or the Kindle App on your phone/iPad get the $2.99 eBook:
http://www.amazon.com/Learning-thats-fun-ebook/dp/B008OQV5EM

And please visit our sponsors:

http://www.schoolofmum.com.au
http://www.lettergems.com.au
http://www.faitaveclecoeur.com/
http://www.tupperware.com.au

Make a Book

In this spirit of all things "book" lately like the local exhibition The Space Between, upcoming Literacy & Numeracy Week, the Book Fair and the launch of Learning that's Fun next week, I thought this week we should do something bookish! 

Make your own books! 

This is a fun activity you can do with the kids any time. You can make it as simple or complex as you like and just let loose with the imagination. Getting hands on creating your own books is a great way to get the kids involved in how books are put together, how they feel, look and what they can contain. 

An easy one that I like to go for is the A4 page book. I've done this a few times in tutoring and it was always a good formula at school for projects too. 

All you need is:

 Sheets white A4 paper

2 sheets coloured A4 paper

Stapler 

(or you could use needle & thread to stitch for effect)

Pens / Pencils / Paint / Glitter

(whatever you like to add colour and beauty)

Write a draft of your story, then using their best handwriting get the kids to write out the plot and add some beautiful illustrations. 

Then comes the best part. Sharing your story! Read it to the family. Perform it as a play. Give it as a gift to your Nan. 

If your kids are a bit younger you might like to try something more simple with easy to read words and pictures.

Cut an A4 sheet in half long ways. Then fold it into 4. 

Write simple words on each section and they can draw the pictures. 

You could write favourite things, family names, places, numbers / counting...anything really. 

And if they are a bit older and past making up stories you could try a Family Journal or a Message Book! 

Pick a nice notebook or make your own from recycled paper or coloured paper. (use the A4 idea above).

Family Journal - each day every member of the family writes a journal entry. Write the day / date, what happened that day, what they enjoyed, how they felt, anything. This will get them practicing their handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation...and will be a beautiful momento in years to come.

Message Book - take it in turns to write messages to each other. Give another family member a compliment, tell them something you love about them, or something you would like to do with them on the weekend, ask a question, whatever you like. Again, practicing the literacy skills, and adding some extra love. Everybody loves a bit of love. My Mum always used to tell us "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". 

I loved making books as a kid. Cinderella was my favourite that I wrote at my Nanna's. I think she still has it. I wrote one on Medieval Life, I wrote another on Ancient Greece just using school exercise books. Diaries, journals of poetry...if I had a book I had to fill it! All those empty pages needed something on them. 

But don't think about this is a reading & writing exercise...it's art & craft at it's best. Learning that's Fun! 

The Space Between

 For the next couple of weeks Ballarat will be treated to a fine exhibit of all things bookish. The Space Between is a gorgeous display of interactive sights & sounds for young and old!

Books aren't for everyone though, especially for those who have struggled to read through learning difficulties or disinterest. But that doesn't mean they can't enjoy the stories within the books, the stories behind the books or the way the look, or feel, or smell. What history lies in those old dog-earred covers? What adventure awaits within the pages?

So even if the kids aren't "readers" as such, there is still fun here for everyone!

Being a go-go-gadget girl, naturally I stopped first at the iPad. A digital library of eBooks, collections and even a digital version of Amy's very own book written & illustrated with her Gran when she was 10. You can stop by here and flick through the books and collections of old pictures. Any kids out there NOT want to play with an iPad?

Then there's the part where I wish I was 3 again and could go to these story tellings & mobile library visits? Now that the big kids are back at school, the little ones can have some learning that's fun of their own. You get to dress up in your favourite Catepillar or Wild Things outfits! How cool is that? Click here for the dates & times.

This was the bit I loved the most. A collection of Amy's very own handmade books from her childhood. Exercise books, pages sewn and stapled together, illustrations & blurbs and wildly imaginative stories. Reminded me of a Cinderella book I made for my Nan once, and then my non-fiction books I made about Medieval Times, then Ancient Greece. Not for school, just for fun.

Grab some paper, some pencils and some time with the kids and make your own books. What could be more fun. If they would rather draw than write...let them do it. Shaun Tan barely writes a word and his books are AMAZING!

And while you're there take a couple of books to exchange. The collection has started off and will grow over the next few days I'm sure! I love this idea. You could try it with your friends & family with children's books. A constantly rotating library in your own home. Wouldn't that be great?

Well as you can imagine, I absolutely loved the exhibition. There is so much to see, touch and be a part of. It was literally a case of the more laps I did, the more I found. Even got myself a little art work. If the kids are interested in history there is plenty to be found there too. Pictures & books of old Ballarat, old books from your childhood you can show them and ancient copies of The Courier!

Go here to find out more.

Now that school is back treat yourself to a special time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Or take the littlies for some bookish fun!

Happy Learning :)

An Invitation

Dear Blossoms,

In just a couple of weeks I will be hosting a little party! A little party, for a little book with a very BIG message!

For all the locals please join me to celebrate Learning that's Fun, the book. And for my long distance friends, save the date too! There will be online goodies for you too. So don't miss out on the fun.

Sunday 4th August
Eastwood Leisure Centre
2:00pm to 3:30pm

Festivities include:

• Charity Raffle
• Prizes from local businesses
• Proceeds going to The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation (ALNF)
• Goodie Bags
• Snacks & Drinks
• Chitter Chatter
• Fun for the kids
• A teeny weeny bit of talking from me
• AND we will have a show from Earl Leonard - Music for Kids!

Long Distance Buddies, join the Facebook Event and stay tuned for some online fun and specials at the same time.

I'm so nervous and excited, I've imagined every scenario possible...good & bad. So to make sure only the good ones turn out, your support means everything to me! Can't wait to see you there.

For anyone interested in finding out more about the book or getting a copy delivered to your door head to Amazon or Lulu. If eBooks are your thing you can get it for $2.99 on Amazon as well.

Join the event and share with your buddies to spread the BIG message :)



Happy Learning!

Winter Holidays

So far Winter has been kind to us in my little home town, but no doubt we are in for some stormy weather, cold, rain, possibly even snow in the coming days and weeks. That means lots of time indoors, keeping rugged up by the heater and staying all warm and snug.

But just because it's holidays doesn't mean the learning ends does it? Nope, there's always some big fun learning adventures to be had no matter the weather! This is the perfect time of year to start a new tradition. 

Family Games Night

Invite some family or friends over and make it a weekly winter event! Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary, Boggle, Greed, Yahtzee, Monopoly...whatever you have, dust it off. Grab a few munchies and make a real winter's night of it.

If that's not for you, but you're still looking for something for the kids to do scroll through some of our previous blog posts. We have lots of ideas for holiday fun and activities. 

Visit the downloads page and print some of our DIY & Kids Activity Sheets. 

Here's a new one especially for the Winter Holidays. Happy Learning!

Click to Download