小２娘の近況報告(12/12)　A Recent Update on My Second-Grade Daughter (December 12)

こんにちは！お久しぶりのToko（トーコ）です。

長らく投稿していませんでしたが、また書きたくなってきたので、最近の学習状況などを綴っていきたいと思います。

最近、算数検定９級を受験してきました。ただいま結果待ちです。インフルエンザなど流行っているので、無事受験できただけでも一安心。

受験にあたっては、日本数学検定協会が出している『過去問題集』と『要点整理』で勉強しました。（合格するために勉強する「過程」こそが、検定受験の要だと思っています。）『過去問題集』はやり切ったけれど、『要点整理』は最後まで到達できず、少し心残りでした。でも、いろいろ忙しい中で、よく頑張っていました！

そろばんは現在、珠算５級を練習中。割り算が難しそうですが、ゆっくりペースで頑張っています。

習い事は、バイオリンや運動・ダンス系も継続して頑張っています。

バイオリンは、１年生の時と比べると、先生のご指導への理解度がグン増したと感じていて、弓を使う分量や、弓で弦を押す時の「力のかけ方・抜き方」について、気を配れるようになってきました。 最近、第三ポジションの奏法も学び始め、 なかなか上手にこなしています。 弓を使う分量や「弓の先で弾くか元で弾くか」という違いによって、 バイオリンの音色に色々な表情が出てくるのが面白いなぁと、 最近娘のレッスン風景を見ていて実感しています。まだプロの音色（典雅で艶がある）になっていないので、これからも継続して、そういう音色に近づいていってくれたらな⭐️と願っています。

英語学習は、あまり力を入れないまま、２年生も残り少なくなってきたので、そろそろ本腰を入れなくちゃ・・・と思っています。ママのやる気と継続力に喝を入れなくては（汗）・・・オンライン英会話に入る前にまずは、英検５級の勉強をしたりORTを読んだりしていこうと思っています。

１１月に受けた四谷大塚の全国統一小学生リストは、算数も国語も偏差値60を超えており、テストの結果を受け取りにいった時に「無料招待講習」のお知らせをいただきました。（どれくらいの偏差値だと、無料招待講習に参加できるのかは不明です。）娘は算数の計算より図形の方が間違いが多かったので、図形の講習に招待されたみたいです。以前、同じく無料招待講習に参加させていただき、娘が楽しかったと言っていたので、今回も申し込みました。今回は３回中２回参加したのですが、最終授業では数字を結んで直線を書いていくと、曲線が浮かび上がるという問題を解いたそうで「不思議だった！」と目を輝かせて報告してくれました。算数の内容自体を純粋に楽しめるのって素晴らしい☺️良い経験をさせていただき、感謝です。親は・・・送迎頑張りました！

本日はここまで。お読みいただきありがとうございました🙏

Hello! This is Toko.

It has been quite a while since my last post, but I’ve recently felt like writing again, so I’d like to share an update on my child’s recent learning and activities.

Recently, my daughter took the Math Proficiency Test (Level 9), and we are now waiting for the results. With influenza and other illnesses going around, I was honestly relieved that she was able to take the test safely in the first place.

For her preparation, we used the Past Exam Questions and Key Points Review books published by the Japan Mathematics Certification Association. I believe that the process of studying for a test, rather than simply passing it, is the most important part of taking these examinations.
She managed to complete the past exam book, but we couldn’t quite finish the key points review, which left us with a small sense of regret. Still, considering how busy things were, she really did her best, and I’m proud of her efforts.

As for abacus practice, she is currently working toward Level 5. Division seems challenging for her, but she is taking it at her own pace and continuing steadily.

She is also continuing her violin lessons as well as sports and dance activities, all with great perseverance.

With the violin, I feel that her level of understanding has increased dramatically compared to her first-grade year. She has become much more aware of how much bow to use and how to apply and release pressure on the strings. Recently, she has started learning third position, and she is handling it surprisingly well.
Watching her lessons, I’ve come to realize how the tone of the violin changes depending on how much of the bow is used and whether she plays closer to the tip or the frog. It’s fascinating to hear how many different expressions the instrument can produce.
Her sound hasn’t yet reached a truly professional tone—elegant and rich—but I hope that through continued practice, she will gradually move closer to that kind of beautiful sound ⭐️

As for English learning, we haven’t been putting in much effort recently, and now that second grade is nearing its end, I feel it’s time to take things more seriously. I need to give myself a bit of a push in terms of motivation and consistency (💦sweat…).
Before starting online English lessons, I’m planning to begin with Eiken Grade 5 preparation and reading ORT bookstogether.

In November, she took the Yotsuya Otsuka National Elementary School Achievement Test, and her deviation scores in both math and Japanese exceeded 60. When we went to receive the results, we were offered an invitation to a free special course. (I’m not sure what deviation score qualifies students for this invitation.)
Since she made more mistakes in geometry than in calculation, she was invited to a geometry-focused class. She had participated in a similar free course before and said she really enjoyed it, so we decided to apply again.
This time, she attended two out of three sessions. In the final class, they worked on a problem where connecting numbers with straight lines caused a curve to appear. She excitedly told me, “It was mysterious!” with sparkling eyes.
Being able to genuinely enjoy mathematics itself is such a wonderful thing ☺️ We’re truly grateful for this valuable experience.
As for me… I did my best with the transportation!

That’s all for today.
Thank you very much for reading 🙏