Obstacle Course and MORE

A simple obstacle course is a commonly used gross motor activity, which reinforces gross motor skills such as jumping and hopping and challenges kids to sustain focus on the main task.  These are my kindergarten students who try to spell sight words.

First, students pick one word that they will spell out.

Then one student will find the first letter of the chosen word and jump over the hurdles to the other side. He puts the letter down.

Another student will pick up the next letter of the same word and jump over the hurdles to the other side.  He puts the second letter down.

They take turns until they complete the word.

In order to complete spelling the word, each student has to remember the letter that his partner brings to the other side.

At the end, they complete a word together.

They practice spelling more than one word and have fun.

This entire activity may look so simple but it requires so many skills. I will list a few of the skills.
 
(1) Letter Recognition - kids need to know how each letter looks like.
(2) Visual discrimination and Visual spacial skills - I put so many letters on the table and challenge them to look for the letter that they need. Although they know their alphabet letters, if all the letters are upside down, downside up, and facing up all different directions, obviously they need more time to look for the letter.  If child struggles finding letters, you may want to limit the numbers of the letters on the table.
(3) Visual sequential skills - Each student has to look at the word and figure out what comes next. Since we play in a small group, they need to give their full attention to follow through and not to misspell the word.
(4) Short term memory - As mentioned above, the main activity is spelling words.  However, they are side-tracked by performing the exercise, which they enjoy doing it during the session.  Despite of this distraction, they need to complete the words.  How fun it is~!
 
What is your (parent's) job? Let's wait and see. Be patient! Let's encourage our children to problem solve independently. If your child asks for your help too soon, what are you going to do? Are you going to help your child immediately?  If your child does not ask for help and gets frustrated, what are you going to do? It's all matter of when and how to help your child when he/she faces problem.  

Light Writing

Follow the light and figure out what letter I am writing!

This is a visual tracking activity, which also enhances visual attention.  Use a LED pen light through a piece of paper and write a letter or shape. 

(You have to write the letter reversed way for children to see it in the right way in front of you.)  

This is my first graders and I gave them one letter each time.  Then they write the letter on the lined paper.  I would like to encourage younger kids to use the lined paper as much as possible when they are writing.  

Then I ask them to write the word with the light without looking at the light, just to reinforce memorizing the word.

For younger kids who do not know alphabet letters yet, try shapes.  If kids have difficulty with following the light with eyes only, let them follow the light with their index finger first.  Moving their hands and arms will give kinetic sensory input in their little brain and enhance learning.  

Have fun!

Make a pattern

Do you want to find out whether your child is a visual learner or an auditory learner?  Try this!

I have this box of cubes that was donated by a teacher in my school.  You can use these cubes in  many different ways.  If you have Lego blocks, you can use them too.

First, I tell the kids to make a pattern of the cubes without showing them the actual color pattern, only by listening to the directions.  Then I just wait and see if they can make it without extra verbal cues. 

Second, I show them a pattern of cubes and ask kids to make the same pattern without looking at the sample.  I hide my sample pattern while they're trying to make it.  See if the kids can remember and replicate what they saw before.



Do you want to challenge them? Make the pattern a little harder by giving them more colors.  For children who are visual learners, I would like to suggest playing the game focusing on auditory comprehension and memory, and the other way around.  Hence, children can strengthen their weakness by playing and having fun.

Enjoy playing!  

Spring break started.

Spring break started yesterday, 04/03/2015.  We still have one full week.  Are you thinking of how you should spend the whole week with your child(ren)?

NYC Department of Park & Recreation introduces 13 fun things to do in NYC parks this weekend.

I think Kissena Park is one of the close public park from our school (not TOO close, but relatively closer one than others on the list).  They have the "Nature Scavenger Hunt" on April 5th at 11 AM.  It is free. Visit the website and get more info.

I will share more therapy activities when we come back to school.

Enjoy your vacation.  Stay-cation is also good.  :)

Figure 8 exercise

What is the Figure 8? 

It's the infinity sign (a.k.a. Infinity swing or Lazy 8) that therapists or teachers perform with their children as a brain exercise.  

This exercise helps kids to cross the midline, which means their left and right side of the brain actively communicate. It is known as a good exercise that integrates left and right side of the visual fields and improves balance and coordination skills.  It enhances children's reading skills as well.  

As you see it in the picture, you can simply follow the arrow: up and down, cross, back up and down, and repeat.  

How do you make it fun for your child? 

Use many colors! Follow the directions with the color dots, not only one time, but many times with different colors. First, make the dots with the right hand. Second, use the left hand. Third, hold the color dot with both hands and follow the directions of the Figure 8. 

After your child is done with the color dots, you can put up the colorful Figure 8 on the wall. Then have your child follow the Figure 8 with his/her finger in distance.  Make sure your child does not move his/her head too much while he/she trace the Figure 8 in distance.

*It doesn't have to be the color dots. You can use crayons, color pencils, and/or finger paints.

This is also Figure 8 exercise. A child walks on the Figure 8 track.  Directions are the same: up and down, cross in the middle, back up and down, and repeat.

As I mentioned in the last post, draw this Figure 8 with the outdoor chalks at your local park.

Enjoy time with your child~!