Children and Scrabble: The Perfect Match Contributed by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 14 @ 22:52:58 EST
Topic: Playing
|
Scrabble was a tradition in my family. From the time I could barely see the board from my vantage point at the edge of the table, I witnessed the subtle strategies used by my older brother and sisters at play. I dreamed of the day I was old enough to play—how I'd dazzle them all with my victory! But that day was long in coming. If there’s any game that makes kids feel left out, it’s Scrabble. Because it requires reading, spelling, and vocabulary skills, many parents think Scrabble isn’t for the very young. Think again! Parents these days can easily introduce the game to a child as young as four or five years old. With a little time and effort, they can help children even develop advanced skills that many adults don’t know.
After the Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary, the best Scrabble tool introduced by Hasbro in recent years is the Scrabble Junior Edition. This by far is the best way to introduce Scrabble to your four year old. Play resembles regular Scrabble, getting children accustomed to the flow of the game. First, children draw seven tiles from the pool. In turns they lay down tiles from their racks to match the letters on the board. Letter by letter they eventually spell out entire words, winning points. By game’s end, they will have used over a hundred tiles to work a variety of different words. Few preschool teachers could match that for reading practice!
Children who have mastered this simplified version can then “graduate” to the next level of play by flipping the game board over to reveal another basic version of the classic Scrabble game. Using this board and modified scoring rules, children progress in difficulty and skill level.
By eight years old, most children will be ready for regular Scrabble. Don’t get caught up in talking rules and strategy at first. Just jump right in and let your child experience the game for him or herself. Even better, you might play an opponent as a team, allowing the child to suggest plays and explaining tactics as the game goes on. Even if it’s not the best play, use your child’s suggestions occasionally so that he or she feels like a valuable member of the team and experiences first-hand the triumph or failure of a move. Having a teammate to share the disappointment will help when moves aren’t successful, or when the child doesn’t win.
Particularly in their early years, allow children to use a dictionary while playing. One rule variation used in my home while growing up was that players were allowed to “browse” the dictionary for word options as long as it wasn’t their turn. This way, young players didn’t get bored waiting for their turns, while they acquired a great learning skill! Dictionaries are a terrific safety net and their use can help children broaden their vocabulary base.
Outside actual play there are a few games you can teach that will help children sharpen their Scrabble skills. Using the Scrabble tiles, have your child spell out his or her name. Add up the score. Then spell out the other names of friends and family members, cities, states, countries, or other favorite words, adding and comparing the scores of each. Play for fun, taking off the competitive edge, and allow the child to explore the value of different word options.
Few skills are more important than anagramming to a Scrabble novice, and this is a skill you may want to explain as your child progresses. Give them a word and a time limit, and challenge them to find five, ten, twenty, or even more words using only the letters given. As they improve, encourage them to find lengthier options, maybe even offering a reward for using all the letters. I’ve used this game frequently in the elementary classroom when my class is waiting in line, and I haven’t yet found a youngster who doesn’t like it. Students especially love comparing their lists. If they’ve found a word nobody else found (or a word I didn’t) it is especially rewarding.
You may be surprised how fast your child picks up on more advanced strategies after introducing Scrabble this way. More importantly, he or she will develop an interest in word play, which is infinitely more valuable than alternative interests in TV and video games. Go ahead, invite your child for a game of Scrabble—it’ll be a perfect match!
About the Author:
Emma Snow works a pragmatic puzzler at the Puzzle Place http://www.puzzle-place.net and Chess Strategies http://www.chess-strategies.net leading puzzle portals.
|
|
replica watches (Score: 1) by replica on Thursday, July 29 @ 01:20:50 EDT (User Info | Send a Message) | Dreams Come True "is a wonderful blessing. Everyone has their own miu Miu replica handbags, some people lack a good loewe replica handbags, juicy couture replica and mulberry replica. Let dream come true for many people an important way to realize their own celine boogie bag. But some people Have a dream, handbags tods after, or long-term hesitating,marc jacob handbags showing no specific actions to achieve the dream; or encountered a little difficulty back down, or dolce gabbana handbags completely abandoned his dream. As the saying goes: got it all. another beautiful dreams and goals , then a perfect plan and program, if not in discount dior handbags as soon as possible to implement, can only be on paper, some fantasy Mulberry handbags .With the dream, it should be implemented rapidly effective. Sits where waiting for the opportunity, the replica hermes handbags as in the hope come true. Not hesitate to take action as soon as possible, to create conditions for the realization of paul smith handbags, dreams come true is the only route. Some people set a good versace replica handbags, it was worried that the process was too long, afraid of upholding not go on; was worried that the task too difficult, fear of the last failure. Wolf ysl handbags scared so afraid before, in a loss of hesitant, chloe handbags in the opportunity slip away in the side, wasted time. Well-known British writer gianni versace handbags had a famous saying: The secret of success is to develop a good habit to do quickly. Around us, replica chloe handbags observation is not difficult to find many contributions greater than the cheap fendi handbags achievements comrades, not their knowledge, d&g handbags, ideas how outstanding their dreams and goals and the people around them are often similar, only because they realize dream ahead of the action than others, and it can be assiduous. dior replica handbags .Dream not only "willing to do" need to persevere, "insist on doing." Dreams are often a hard, persist in the replica loewe handbags, rather than step straight away. Those of exc
Read the rest of this comment... |
|
|
nike shox (Score: 1) by shengrui4 on Monday, August 23 @ 22:40:56 EDT (User Info | Send a Message) | | nike shox [www.shoes-on-line.com"] obtained described (during the before interview) that he obtained situated an astounding nike sb dunks [www.2buyshoes.com"] leather-based he that he was utilising to single his up coming nike dunk shoes [www.s-shoes.com"] of shoes. thinking of it obtained been nonetheless in jordan shoes [www.shoes-on-line.com"] I was not using the nike dunks [www.sxhgz.com"] to discuss any nike air max [www.buynikeairmax.com"] until they obtained been all nike sb dunks [www.2buyshoes.com"] for community view. So, nike shoes [www.shoes-on-line.com"] here they are. I certainly really like it each Jordan Basketball Shoes [www.ajordanshoes.com"] a performer pays thought to the much less nike shox [www.shoes-on-line.com"] places of the shoe that is really flirty and playful. Plus, if you transpire to show up closely, there normally be considered a obvious nike shoes [www.shoes-on-line.com"] sole-protector sewn in too much of the nike air force 1 [www.sxhgz.com"] to lessen scuff put on and extend the nike air max 90 [www.buynikeairmax.com"] of the vibrantly-colored Michael Jordan Shoes [www.ajordanshoes.com"] sole. |
|
|
mbt shoes (Score: 1) by yun on Tuesday, August 24 @ 23:43:21 EDT (User Info | Send a Message) | | MBT [www.mbtstore.org] is a revolution of an innovative training method. MBT shoes clearance [www.mbtstore.org] gap affects the entire body and provides a unique and interesting design, reduce the harmful effects. The unique design unique MBT shoes [www.mbtstore.org], and appropriate training, to achieve a more active walking posture and health. Casual fashion MBT kisumu [www.mbtstore.org] sandals, elegant and simple look for movement of the MBT Kimondo [www.mbtstore.org] shoes, or fitness for more comfortable MBT Baridi [www.mbtstore.org] shoes, will be your best choice, in our site. When you wear stylish Moncler [www.discount-monclerjacket.com], you would like to let your personality show a significant act anything, moncler jackets [www.discount-monclerjacket.com] unique style, so that you fully shown women sophisticated side. moncler coats [www.discount-monclerjacket.com] without breaking the rigid personality coat, kind of all themselves. moncler jacket [www.discount-monclerjacket.com] coating used on the inside of hairy help maintain a normal body temperature, very warm people can enjoy. I believe we are no strangers to the timberland boots [www.cheap-timberlandboots.net"], this brand can be said in public is gourmet, there is no critical timberland boots uk [www.cheap-timberlandboots.net"], not only look beautiful to attract a lot of people like the warmth of shoes is to win a lot of human heart. In our website, timberland boots sale [www.cheap-timberlandboots.net"] has been most beneficial to provide to the people most worthy of preferential treatment. |
|
|
| |
Article Rating | Average Score: 0 Votes: 0
|
|