Word Play
© Heather Goldsmith
Here are some great ideas for playing with words!
Q: How do electric eels taste?
A: Shocking.
Everyone loves a good laugh. Laughter is one thing guaranteed to help make life more enjoyable. It lifts spirits and lightens loads. It makes a hard situation appear somehow easier. It can take the work out of an unpleasant task. Laughter comes naturally and easily to most kids, so it makes sense to use this for their benefit. The above riddle may seem corny to you, but kids enjoy word play, puns and jokes.
Unscramble these words:
TUCMOEPR ESAGM
COMPUTER GAMES
Have you ever noticed how much you enjoy having fun? So do your kids. They simply want to enjoy their lives. It's not too much to ask parents and teachers to make learning fun and enjoyable for them. This is achievable. Probably more so with reading than many other subjects. If something is fun, you can't help but enjoy it.
How many other words can you find in the word:
NOODLE
den, doe, dole, don, done, end,
eon, led, lend, lode,
lone, loo, loon, nod, node, noel,
ode, old, olden, oleo, one.
Words are a lot of fun and word play is a fun way to learn. Playing with words shifts the focus off reading and concentrates on, well, play. Word games are excellent for reluctant and advanced readers alike, as playing them sharpens reading skills. Kids might need to be grouped together with others of similar skill to get the most out of such play in a classroom situation. At home follow the simple rule of:
KISS.
K - keep
I - it
S - simple
S - stupid
(Keep It Simple Stupid.)
Instead of desperately trying to force your kids to learn, get on their side straight away using their desire for recreation. Word games are an invaluable learning tool for creating a sense of learning enjoyment. They also provide a way for kids to remember specific details. Such as, the order for music notes - Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit. This kind of memorizing stays in their minds easily. Once they begin to use acrostics as a memory tool they'll have no trouble with harder concepts as they grow, develop and learn.
Fill in the missing letters to make these words complete:
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