tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post6947768226778783160..comments2024-03-17T03:16:28.914-04:00Comments on Toys As Tools Educational Toy Reviews: Review + HUGE ThinkFun Giveaway: WordARound: Movement, the Brain, and Readingjennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07740390517301793433noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-16160009907383991842013-09-04T11:06:46.544-04:002013-09-04T11:06:46.544-04:00Reading Tip, after cleaning up and readying my dau...Reading Tip, after cleaning up and readying my daughter for Bed we read every night (laying in bed)for 15-20 min while in bed and it helps her reading ability as well as helps to wind her down for sleep. Alison Ktonanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-4963867612281674592013-09-01T21:49:20.056-04:002013-09-01T21:49:20.056-04:00Hello Sunshine looks interesting to me because my ...Hello Sunshine looks interesting to me because my own children are too young for most of the games, I'm intrigued to see one geared towards younger kidsChava Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-21544722163603063872013-08-30T00:20:02.887-04:002013-08-30T00:20:02.887-04:00I like the hello sunshine game for young children ...I like the hello sunshine game for young children because it looks fun and engaging.Nicole L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-89040031004060317092013-08-30T00:19:25.041-04:002013-08-30T00:19:25.041-04:00We do story themes at home and sometimes choose bo...We do story themes at home and sometimes choose books that have a coordinating movie we can watch after reading it.Nicole L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-865338261288345412013-08-25T15:06:48.970-04:002013-08-25T15:06:48.970-04:00Let your child find books that interest them. Rea...Let your child find books that interest them. Reading should not be a forced or bad experience.Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-59636997462454675922013-08-21T17:45:21.399-04:002013-08-21T17:45:21.399-04:00You are amazing. Thank you soooo much. You answer...You are amazing. Thank you soooo much. You answered a 30 year mystery for me.Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-87719113686817223192013-08-21T11:33:05.007-04:002013-08-21T11:33:05.007-04:00Was it Trouble at Timpetill by Henry Winterfeld? ...Was it Trouble at Timpetill by Henry Winterfeld? http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1200721.Trouble_at_TimpetillYvonneJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-64256085377691846032013-08-21T09:25:14.525-04:002013-08-21T09:25:14.525-04:00Yes. start early and never stop! (my mantra)Yes. start early and never stop! (my mantra)Nadinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-62254357730235330772013-08-20T22:37:55.007-04:002013-08-20T22:37:55.007-04:00I love the idea of a Swish Jr where one has to lea...I love the idea of a Swish Jr where one has to learn to move the cards into their minds. It sounds like a lot of fun for the family after dinner.Faye Mcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-10220500539999409372013-08-20T22:31:44.866-04:002013-08-20T22:31:44.866-04:00Reading tip? I would say, read to children from da...Reading tip? I would say, read to children from day one while nursing them. Have one of their favorite book with you at all time so you can read to them whenever there is a chance. Have them help you pick the books at the library and engage them when reading by asking questions and above all, make it fun.Faye Mcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-5854086193401440662013-08-20T17:43:08.879-04:002013-08-20T17:43:08.879-04:00my favorite reading tip is to read a chapter a nig...my favorite reading tip is to read a chapter a night you will retain more than reading the whole bookJoBeth Butchernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-4589822369432958862013-08-20T17:42:32.269-04:002013-08-20T17:42:32.269-04:00the solitaire chess I have always been a chess gee...the solitaire chess I have always been a chess geekJoBeth Butchernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-49927955530525694492013-08-20T16:53:03.011-04:002013-08-20T16:53:03.011-04:00While I definitely did research, I must confess th...While I definitely did research, I must confess that I am no scientist. I am just a mom with a hunch. I gather there must be evidence based practices somewhere but I have a feeling that it is not heavily researched and that is a shame because seeing my kid read on a spiral like that was simply insane. It was so much more fluid! <br /><br /><br /><br />I think it is totally cool that your son is amazing at this game. Who says words need to be written on a straight line. A long time ago, East Asians wrote vertically. Imagine if we did that now. It would look crazy but there is no reason that it really would be. <br /><br /><br /><br />And I am making a pact to NOT let homework bring drama home. I refuse to let it.Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-74118528274267835742013-08-20T16:44:55.553-04:002013-08-20T16:44:55.553-04:00Wow, this seems to be the big winner today... I h...Wow, this seems to be the big winner today... I have not reviewed enough brainteasers here. They kind of scare me.Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-17300289716439892952013-08-20T16:43:35.990-04:002013-08-20T16:43:35.990-04:00I know what you mean. I remember my fifth grade t...I know what you mean. I remember my fifth grade teacher read a book to us about a town of kids that had no grown ups because the grown-ups disappeared one day. (I think). I wish I could find that book again.. I think it was called Our Town? I haven't a clue. Maybe you know... I tried looking for it but couldn't remember... Nevertheless it was fifth grade and certainly I was able to read but having my teacher read us that story is still a well-cherished memory for me.Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-27761834113340250362013-08-20T16:40:25.606-04:002013-08-20T16:40:25.606-04:00I thought I knew everything that ThinkFun has to o...I thought I knew everything that ThinkFun has to offer and lo and behold, there goes a kit that I have never seen before. I love it. I would call it the keep-out-of-trouble kit because smart brains sometimes need to be teased to stay out of trouble, right?Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-52364431628228052562013-08-20T16:39:03.065-04:002013-08-20T16:39:03.065-04:00Thanks for checking that out! I think that kit lo...Thanks for checking that out! I think that kit looks awesome!Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-33651317075658310462013-08-20T16:38:37.257-04:002013-08-20T16:38:37.257-04:00John, Totally agree with you there. The trouble is...John, Totally agree with you there. The trouble is always trying to find high interest books that are easy enough. This is why I love Learning Ally!!Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-46871481313607729372013-08-20T11:36:31.416-04:002013-08-20T11:36:31.416-04:00Great article! My 9 year old son is also a kinesth...Great article! My 9 year old son is also a kinesthetic learner and sensory seeker --- and is amazing at WordARound, loves it! He’s impulsive and gets bored easily with typical play, so perhaps it feeds his desire for movement and input like your studies suggest. For example, he looks for ways to make learning fun like hanging upside down for writing assignments. Drives me a bit, crazy but effective for his needs I guess. .. So your studies ring true to me. Especially Karin’s comments below. <br /><br />"…. If there's more movement, he gets better feedback," said Karin. "And<br />that helps him to direct his focus." Karin further added that he is able<br />to direct not just his focus but also his senses and that because of movement, his cognitive process work more efficiently. She then went on to describe the connection between our sense of movement and interhemispheric communication (both sides of the brain talking to each other). Reading requires one to use both hemispheres. Did you know that? I did not. One thing I do know about the vestibular system is that it is super important to one's daily functioning. If your system is off, you can become so dizzy that you can just fall over just by closing your eyes. <br /><br />Thanks again for your input. So very insightful! <br /><br />PS - Love your idea of an app that incorporate tasks like homework and studying for exams. Brilliant! Will check out the program you mention that turns texts into spirals and other shapes to start. Maybe it will eliminate some HW drama at home. Always up for that! :)Mom of 2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-23761527160887009352013-08-20T11:01:33.415-04:002013-08-20T11:01:33.415-04:00AHA! Brainteaser Kit... :)AHA! Brainteaser Kit... :)John Zukowskihttp://javajohnz.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-69939703392803413432013-08-20T10:41:20.028-04:002013-08-20T10:41:20.028-04:00The AHA! Brainteaser kit appeals to me because it ...The AHA! Brainteaser kit appeals to me because it features concrete, 3D examples of abstract visual-spatial concepts. I think it would be a great collaborative effort between friends or siblings.Adrianne Braunnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-23399105331762999022013-08-20T10:36:38.494-04:002013-08-20T10:36:38.494-04:00Continue to read aloud to children even after they...Continue to read aloud to children even after they are able to read themselves. With my grandchildren we have a rule that they have to read for at least 30 minutes every day before they can play any video games. Usually this means they read just after waking up or immediately after breakfast because they really want to play their video games. This works well for us since the GCs only stay with us during summer or school breaks and we don't have to deal with getting ready for school or homework issues.YvonneJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-38544639031413562872013-08-20T10:35:16.044-04:002013-08-20T10:35:16.044-04:00The solitaire chess - my son has that app and it i...The solitaire chess - my son has that app and it is so much fun!Leah Wallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-65287465837682844242013-08-20T10:15:02.500-04:002013-08-20T10:15:02.500-04:00The AHA! Brainteaser Kit looks like fun. I'm ...The AHA! Brainteaser Kit looks like fun. I'm thinking that, individually packaged, they would be great to take along to a restaurant or doctor's office. <br />http://www.thinkfun.com/shop/product/aha-brainteaser-kit,157,9.htmYvonneJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-64238039325775267182013-08-20T09:51:39.013-04:002013-08-20T09:51:39.013-04:00Oh, you have to use the link for new games! I rev...Oh, you have to use the link for new games! I reviewed Cartoon It! A long time ago. I highly recommend it! http://www.toysaretools.com/2011/12/brain-sharpening-games-part-1.htmlJenn_Choinoreply@blogger.com