Game Day

After a rigorous learning day Mon and Tues I decided Wednesdays ought to be "game" day where we play educational games, that way incorporating a bit more fun into our learning. I don't know what I was thinking. We started out playing a spelling game for Jon, but he got mad at Becca because she got more chips then him (of course, because she's a master speller). Then we did "Somebody". I really like it because they each put the organs on their body board. It teaches anatomy. We were going to do a memory game when I looked at the clock and we had 5 minutes to get to Kardio Kids, because I try to get them there Mon and Wed (I actually think I'll stop going on Mon because it really interrupts the heart of our learning day at 11am. We just need one more hour of focus which is hard to regain after lunch).

After lunch I thought we could play more games, but Jon wouldn't stop rolling around in his blanket, Savannah was, of course, sweet as could be, but getting tired eyes, and then there was Rebecca. She has decided to create a BFC (best friends' club) and she's been inviting all her friends to be in it. As a result she needed to make membership cards. So, I thought that was great. She can get in writing and Art at the same time. So I didn't push the game thing and with taking care of Bella, there was our day. Not much "learning". Or was there....

Let's see. Jon got a new Star Wars learning game for his leapster that is Math K-2 and he was working hard on mastering it today. Rebecca wrote a ton in her diary and read for a good while her library book. And Savannah learned the letter U, and is actually starting to retain some of her letters as we went over them and so I let her watch Dora. I let Jon and Becca do Mathletics, which is extra math exercises the fun way (check out mathletics.com it's the program the nation uses for math competitions, and they can play other kids in their skill level across the world). And Becca did some spelling. This was all throughout the day without much instruction from mom, just teaching themselves.

So game day? Sounded like a good idea. Maybe next time I'll have it more organized so the kids can pick what games we're going to play for what subjects. I've got Monopoly, Operation, Uno, Chess/Checkers, I Spy, Scrabble, WII games, leapsters, online games, software, DS games, Battleship, Somebody, US States game (this doesn't include the gazillions more at home in JC). Too much to do all in one day. So I was thinking maybe I should try to add a game a day. But maybe just a game night a week? So then the real lesson would be to not just Wednesday as game day, but maybe a day where mom needs to take a chill pill and not be Drill Sergeant Mom watching over your shoulder. Maybe the Thomas Jefferson Education is onto something with kids learning best at play and teaching themselves through playing, not necessarily seat work/busy work.

I don't do much busy work but writing things down is a great way to get it in the brain. I'm struggling with Jon and the writing thing. I think I just need to remember he's only 6. It's easy to forget because he's as tall as Rebecca and weighs more. He's only 6, finished Kindergarten, half way through 1st grade. Yet he's only 6 and prone to get tired quickly when he required to think too much. It's easy to understand why he gets tired. Here's another list:

What we didn't do today: narration/dictation or coloring pages for the books we read; spelling books, or grammar pages, math worksheets, phonics, history, piano, handwriting.

Sgt mom is looking for balance.

Even though today was "game" day, there was a lull between 1-3pm, as always, and I caved to let them watch TV. We don't watch much TV because we don't have a lot of time and it distracts them from learning. But my new philosophy has been that if they are going to watch, it needs to be something educational. So I record shows off Animal Planet, the Science Channel and Discovery Kids. They watched a show on Jaguars (animal science) and another "How it's made show". After those 2 shows, even I was tired and I realized, sometimes the brain just gets tired from learning so many things. Even though TV is often "mindless", these shows actually make you think! I think I will always need to work on the pacing thing. You can't learn everything in one day. And your brain can get overloaded. Mental note: guess my kids do too, even on game day.