Book Study: Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites: Chapter 4 {Games}

I'm linking up with one of my favorites, Katie, from Queen of the First Grade Jungle, to talk about chapter 4!  This chapter is, by far, one of my personal favorites!  

Strategy 4:

Games:

"When students develop a game's content as well as play the game, the amount of time they are exposed to and involved with the content is doubled." {Allen, 2008}

What I like about that quote is it really targets our primary students as well as our upper elementary, middle and high school students.  I mentioned in my discussion of chapter 1 that sometimes the use of these strategies wains as our students progress through the years.  The use of games can be so powerful - both in the creation of them as well as the actual playing.  I can envision middle school students creating games for their peers just as easily as I can see my little first graders enjoying the games they play on a daily basis.  Games are where it's at, people!

Kahoot is digital game-based learning

My middle school son loves when his social studies teacher has him create quizzes for whatever they are working on/reviewing.  He loves it even more when his Kahoot is chosen to use for a class review.  I love that his middle school teacher understands the value of games in the middle school classroom!

"Games are not only perfect for raising the level of feel-good amines in the brain but also, in the correct amounts, games can also increase cognition and working memory." {Jensen, 2007}

{Amine, in this case = dopamine}

Reading this chapter came at just the right time.  I received an email from a parent who told me that her child is experiencing anxiety over memorizing her math facts. {Math fact fluency in first grade is a whole 'nother ball of wax and blog topic - oy} My teacher-heart was so sad to read this.  It's nothing new, every year I have a parent express concern over this and rightfully so. My automatic teacher go-to was to remind her to keep it fun in order to eliminate the stress factor.  Play games, grab the sidewalk chalk and write some math facts on the sidewalk {once the snow clears}, give her some problems in the tub and have her write the answers with tub crayons, play giant step where you hold up a flash card and have her and her sister take a giant step forward each time they get a fact right  - first.  The first person to reach the person holding the flash cards - wins! 

Cortisol - BAD

Dopamine - GOOD!

This chapter gives TONS of great games that a teacher/parent can play with their students/children!

One of those ideas was bringing in a Nerf ball and tossing it to children as they answer questions which made me think of this...

Wouldn't this be fun to incorporate into your day?  

*Read all of your word wall words?  Take 3 shots!

*Read with awesome fluency/expression?  Take 5 shots!

*Figured out a tricky math problem?  Take 10 shots!

*Helped a friend pick up a dropped crayon box? Take 5 shots!

In a nutshell, games engage student brains!

And don't you just love hearing...

You have really hit the nail on the head when they don't even realize they are learning!

Want to read more thoughts about this chapter?  Go visit Katie's blog and join the linky party!

Care to share any fun & simple games that are a fan favorite!? Leave a comment below!