Enjoy Learning: Play with Putty and Do the Math.

These are my two kindergarten kids. They're trying to find small buttons in the putty. This is the therapy-putty (theraputty) and has some resistance to it.  It is a good tool for finger exercises. But you can simply use the play dough for this activity.

I hide some buttons before I split the putty in half.  So kids and I wouldn't know who has more or less buttons in the putty. Then kids try to find all the buttons inside. Then they will count the buttons and play math game.

When kids play with the putty, I usually don't give instructions how to play with the putty.  I simply say, "Find all the buttons in the putty."

Kids sometimes stretch the putty and make a long strand of the putty.  Then it's easy to find the buttons.
Kids sometimes pound on the putty and make it flat.  Then they will feel the buttons as it gets flat on the table.
I sometimes encourage them to pinch the putty with three fingers (the thumb, index, and the middle finger) if they need to strengthen those three fingers to improve his/her pencil grasp.

Remember! Kids play in their own way naturally and creatively.  We do not want to kill their creativity by giving them answers or how-to.  Of course, you can show other ways of playing if you have better or more ideas.  I bet kids will show you more ideas that you do.  Just wait and see.

After kids find all the buttons, we try find the total number of the buttons, who has more, who has less, and how many more or less.  Kids will practice simple addition and subtraction together.  

You can modify this game by hiding different items in the putty such as different color lego pieces or the coins.  If you use the lego pieces, you can play categorizing each color and count them.  If you use the coins, you can ask kids to find the total amount of the coins. Say, "Get it right and take the money!"

Enjoy teaching and Enjoy learning~!!   

Enjoy Learning: Spelling Words

This is a simple activity that can help kids to remember spelling of words.  You randomly write down alphabet letters on a piece of paper.  You can also have your child to write down the letters.

Then use a color dot to stamp on the letters.  You can practice spelling sight words or everyday words with your child.

How do you give extra visual cues?  For those kids who need more help with spelling, I usually go over the spelling with them before they stamp on it.  

Adult: "So give me a word."

Kid: "say" "It's one of my everyday words."

Adult: "Spell it for me."

Kid: "s...a...y"

Adult: "Can you use the word and make a sentence for me?"

Kid: "Why did he say..."        

Adult: "Ok, now you can stamp the word on your paper." "Spell it for me."

(You can leave the writing on the board for extra visual cues or erase the word to challenge the kid.)

My child is too young for spelling words.  Can this activity be modified?  Of course.  You can have your child to find alphabet letters in order. "Let's stamp on ABC's in order!!"  It is good for recognizing alphabet letters and sequencing letters.  And it is FUN!! 

Use different colors and make it more colorful.  Kids LOVE colors.  They are usually more attentive to the task when they perform activities that involve colors.  I usually suggest kids to pick up their favorite color.  You can also think about the color theory and let them choose either warm or cold color depending on their needs.  This picture was excerpted from blog.edynco.com.

What's the purpose of this activity? My kids will improve their visual attention, visual motor skills by tracking and scanning the letters, and short term/ long term memory performance by remembering words.  Ultimate goal is to become a better speller.  In addition, they can do something fun!  

Play and Enjoy learning~!!