Wow 10000 
Cayden has been mesmerized so I looked further into how this was created and found out about a book called You Can Count on Monsters
Here is a brief description and link if anyone else is interested
This special counting book visually explores the concepts of factoring and the role of prime and composite numbers. The playful and colorful monsters are designed to give children (and even older audiences) an intuitive understanding of the building blocks of numbers and the basics of multiplication. The introduction and appendices are designed to help adult readers answer questions about factoring from their young audience. The artwork is crisp and creative, and the colors are very bright and engaging.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568815786/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

Karma for the link - Just ordered it

I am really enjoying this thread. It is a lot to digest. The one thing I have taken on board already is no sugar for the kids. Sophie (almost 3 years old) is generally pretty well behaved. However, after attending a birthday party a few weeks ago where she ate an entire cupcake, I noticed a deterioration in her ability to cope with challenges and frustration. I decided to cut out sugar to see what difference, if any, it would make. Well, I am delighted to say that she is on much more of an even keel since then.

Now, if I could only cut out my own chocolate addiction! Oh, I am also feeling ashamed of my internet/facebook/brillkids forum addiction!

Tamsyn - karma for the link to this post, I love it.

MamaOfWill - I cannot wait to see that file!

Funny, I was just thinking about Saxon K this morning - we have not used it in ages as it is so slooowwwwwww. I have been thinking of just taking the concepts from a few lessons and combining them into one longer lesson/play session.

Oh wow! Massive karma to you Kimba. This is an excellent site    thanks

Finally got around to searching for lyrics to these songs:

1. Tap Tap Tap (Violette de Bartillat)
2. Sur Le Pont D'Avignon (Mathieu Lenestour and Jean-Francois Alexandre) www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=155&c=22 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/uJKfxtYAt0s&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/uJKfxtYAt0s&rel=1</a>
3. Il Etait Un Petit Navire (Mathieu Lenestour and Jean-Francois Alexandre) www.mamalisa.com/?p=139&t=es&c=22 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pHNiPMO5q_s&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/pHNiPMO5q_s&rel=1</a>
4. Frere Jacques (French Songs for Kids) www.mamalisa.com/?p=180&t=es&c=22 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/BC6rvbxdywg&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/BC6rvbxdywg&rel=1</a>
5. Bebe Dors (Violette de Bartillat)
6. Un Petit Pouce Qui Danse (Laura and Pierre) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-x5Gx06Vn-I&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/-x5Gx06Vn-I&rel=1</a>
7. Savez-Vous Planter Les Choux? (Charlotte Grenat) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/uMIyKweAptk&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/uMIyKweAptk&rel=1</a> www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=162&c=22
8. Viens Dejeuner (Violette de Bartillat)
9. Tapent, Tapent Petites Mains (Laura and Pierre) www.mamalisa.com/blog/tapent-tapent-petites-mains-clap-clap-little-hands-a-french-pat-a-cake-song-with-a-youtube-video/ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/_AdLfZVlqJE&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/_AdLfZVlqJE&rel=1</a>
10. Les Petites Marionnettes (Pierre) www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=151&c=22 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tm1X6B3ttkI&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Tm1X6B3ttkI&rel=1</a>
11. Fais Dodo, Colas Mon P'tit Frere (Chloe Vincent) www.mamalisa.com/?p=181&t=es&c=22 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/LB-RUwDaz20&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/LB-RUwDaz20&rel=1</a>
12. Au Clair De La Lune (Mathieu Lenestour and Jean-Francois Alexandre) musicvideoswiz.com/artist/Mathieu%20Lenestour%20and%20Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois%20Alexandre <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/IYLTc3tGdzc&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/IYLTc3tGdzc&rel=1</a> www.mamalisa.com/?p=161&t=es&c=22

Update:

I have printed the pattern block puzzles, 92 in total, which I will bind into book format. I printed and laminated some of the pages to make the blocks (2 copies of pg 22, 2 copies of pg 26, and one copy of pg 41 and pg 44) - I think that will be enough blocks to complete each puzzle.

I am making them available at the kitchen table. Sophie is super excited about them as watching me make them has really built up the anticipation.

I am writing out the verbal questions onto multicoloured record cards, which again will be stored at the kitchen table.

I'll post about this again soon with updates on how we are using the materials and on our progress.

Aaagh - my post deleted - hate that!

I love the scavenger hunt idea, I'll definitely have to try that.

I have been thinking of using the cards as part of a living room obstacle course where there is a card at the end of the tunnel...at the top of sofa mountain etc.

Are there any board games that could be modified to incorporate these questions? It has been so long since I played any that I am drawing a blank!

Keri - that is so funny!

We were having spaghetti for dinner this evening and Sophie spent much of the meal pretending she was eating worms. I read her the worm poem and she fell around the place laughing!

Thank you everyone for all the ideas and motivation. I really did not like poetry in school and I am determined not to pass that on to my kids 

Well, I finally joined testingmom.com and I am in the process of downloading and printing all the questions. However, now that I have them, I wondering how to use them in a fun way. Any suggestions on how to use them in a game-like format?

I really enjoyed the blog - thanks for the link TmT. I often think about the amount of time I waste on the internet and what I would be capable if I devoted even a fraction of it to learning a new skill!

MummyRoo - the FLYlady recommended that very thing on FB today!

Thank you all so much for the recommendations. I just bought WAY too many of them on Amazon! I'll let you know how we get on with them.

Does anyone have a link to the 60 second sweep game please? thanks

Wow, well done cub! (& mom and dad)! Incredible progress. What was the name of the swimming book you recommended? Think I'd better get it!

With regard to the difference of opinion on education, it is a very difficult situation, one that many of us can relate to, whether it is coming from partners, family or friends. My approach is to simply continue teaching as much as possible in the most playful and fun way possible - I try to remember Doman's advice 'always stop before they want to stop'. Whenever anyone criticises me for EL, I point out that my kids LOVE it and my toddler begs me for more. Once, when my dad saw Sophie literally begging "just one more lesson, pleeeaaassseeee" and "can we do Saxon maths, pleeeaaasssee", they began to understand a little. 

From a psychological point of view, be careful of being hardline as this generally pushes the other person into being more hardline than the were originally. Always try to be open to negotiation (or at least give that impression anyway  ) as they will be more likely to see your point of view if they think you are trying to see theirs.

Anyway, the most likely way to change anyone's mind with regard to EL is when they personally witness the results - well-rounded, kind children with an insatiable thirst for knowledge!

PS I also believe in teaching to the whole child, constructivist math, discover everything for yourself - these beliefs and EL are not mutually exclusive, they just inform my approach to EL.

  what am I like?!

I took Mandabplus3's advice and I am getting the game shipped to a friend in the US who will then ship it on to me - hopefully that will be cheaper. Is it $160 to ship to the UK too?

Aaagh - did you get a better deal? I paid for one month & the game...I always suffer buyers remorse