Catholic Teacher Daydreams: New Games and Literature for the Whole Family

April and May Rainy Day

Games & Literature

The games our family recommends are rarely stored away in our "game trunk," because they are played often. We play games at least once a week during home school hours, and I chose these for my classroom when I taught school. If we happen to have a game that sits at the bottom of the pile, never pulled out to be played, you won't hear about it. Then, it's not a favorite. How's that for a satisfaction and fun guarantee from children who love to play
games?

Want to improve your spatial skills? Remember the video Tetris? If you answered yes to one of these questions you will love Blokus as much as we do. My husband and I play this game with company, but the kids as young as five pick up on the shapes too. We often play this game as a math extra. My children can't wait to set their worksheets aside. Objective? Fill the board with as many of your varying shapes as possible, but the corners of your pieces have to touch. You can also block your opponent(s) so they can't lay anymoree of their pieces.

Older children in my family pridefully suggest this game for their little sister who is four; as she can play Guess Who? with help. But Guess Who also plays this guessing game? The older children. Mom doesn't mind a quick game of this "yes and no question game" either. Children choose a character. Opponents ask one another yes and no questions to decide who their classmate, sibling or friend chose. 'Simple, but thought provoking for the young.

It's hard for moms and teachers to walk away from Lakeshore Learning games. Their directions are easy, but objects of the games are to learn special skills while having fun. The Allowance Game encourages children to save a certain amount of money, but along the way, they have to spend and figure out how to earn a buck or two. Counting and saving are two special skills 8 - 12 year olds find enjoyable during this game.

Do you remember this classic from when you were young. It is still reasonably priced, easy to play, efficient at teaching counting and taking turns, and liked by little ones. That is why Hi-Ho Cherry-O is considered a classic. Period.

If you've been counting, we recommend three counting games. Here is our last treasure for wee ones. I confess, it is my favorite little ones' game. Everyone loves Lilly and the pieces are adorable; the box durable. Match the the numbers with pictures of objects in Henkes's books and everyone wins at Lilly's Counting Game.

My children love it when I tell them to put their grammar books away so we can play Apples to Apples Jr.. Apples to Apples players choose the best nouns or phrases to go with adjectives. A "judge" draws a card that reads "Lazy." You have "bike riding," "doorbell," "eating pizza" and "Minnie Mouse" in your hand. Which one will you choose to be described as lazy?" Next, explain why your choice compares nicely with the describing word, so the judge chooses your word. Go ahead, try to explain a reason that you think Minnie Mouse is lazy. This mom likes the junior version because there are a few phrases I am not crazy about in the adult version. My teenagers aren't complaining.

Speaking of Apples to Apples, our family recommends the Bible Edition. My third grader covets this First Communion gift from last year, and his siblings are glad to play it with him. Anyone under eight will need guidance. In this adjective and noun game, Bible stories, characters and phrases are compared with one another and with terms. "David" may be compared with a Bible verse or as "strong." Quite a reinforcement for Bible study.

When my children have had enough of Geography at the map, we pull this game out for trivia facts about people and places. This is tricky and not recommended for children under twelve, unless your children have always loved Social Studies and map studies. Sometimes we'll play Jeopardy style and say the answers for opponents to ask the correct questions.

Our final recommendation is our new Major League Baseball Game that Mom and the boys created. We bought a jumbo USA floor puzzle and labeled it state baseball teams. With the aid of CHC Geography Bee books and Baseball Trivia books we are having a blast as we practice our state facts and locations. Check out this link for more information: http://www.catholicteacherdaydreams.com/2013/04/spring-baseball-geography.html#links

Children's Literature:

Time for Teens

Maintream's ideas for appropriate young adult literature versus Christian parents' ideas are vastly different. It took time, but my daughter and I discovered a few excellent books on her shelf, that she recommends to readers, ages 13 - 16. We also researched a few she'd like to read. Here they are ~

Let's talk Father Brown. This delightful little detective is a "Columbo-type" mystery solver, who appears modest, but is an expert crime solver. G.K. Chesterton's bright novels are adapted by Nancy Carpenter Brown. Father Brown Reader II is ideal for ages beyond twelve since these are murder mysteries. This collection can be found at www.chcweb.com.

Mary Chilton is an immigrant on the Mayflower who meets real life characters traveling with her. Almost Home is one of several Daughter's of Faith books, by Wendy Lawton, that contain excitement and adventure for teen girls, with an immense amount of history.

Anne of Green Gables is a classic that my daughter read when she was thirteen, but as Anne matures so does the complexity and content of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables Novels. We recommend beginning with Anne of Green Gables when Anne moves to Avonlea as a scrappy orphan. Her stoic, but loving guardians are not the only ones who are won over by Anne's spunk and warm heart. Continue the series as Anne becomes a school teacher, a young woman and grows in character.

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls is recommended for ages ten and up. My husband read it three years in a row after he turned twelve. Now, my twelve year old has read it twice. He recommends this book for teenagers of both genders. This heartwarming tale of Billy, who buys two hunting dogs for fifty dollars a piece, is about dogs and their devotion to their owner. More importantly the resposibilty and love developed by owning a dog is brought to the minds of every reader. Your teens will love this charming story with a surprise ending.

No Place Like Holmes series, by Jason Lethcoe, are books for the mystery lover in your home. These are smart books for young adult readers.

Let's face it, most adolescent girls yearn for a little innocent romance on their reading lists. While I try not to rush my daughter to adulthood, I understand her desire to learn more about courting and marriage. So, this school year we enjoyed the flawless Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This novel is perfection. Austen's poetic writing, deeply developed characters, lovable family and beautiful story create a masterpiece I could read again and again. My fourteen year old loved Austen's timeless book too, but preferred reading Pride and Prejudice aloud with me. The vocabulary, literary elements and genius of the novel made reading it aloud even better.

We will be posting a brief Pride and Prejudice book report, later this spring. Until then, Pride and Prejudice's plot may be summarized as a story about a young woman name Elizabeth Bennet who resides with her lively, joyful family in nineteenth century England. Her comical, yet endearing mother has the responsibility of marrying off Lizzy and her sisters. What ensues through this adventure, along with the temperamental relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy becomes the stunningly written story by Jane Austen.

Picture Books

Olivia books by Ian Falcnor

Our favorite little girl pig, who loves to accessorize and embelish is Olivia. She's full of spunk, has a flare for drama and kids love her. Meet Olivia in her self-titled picture book. Hear about Olivia's fabulous summer in Olivia Saves the Circus and find out what happens when somebody loses Olivia's favorite toy in Olivia and the Missing Toy.

Enjoy these Olivia books and everything in between . . .

Lilly and her Friends for Boys and Girls
Kevin Henkes Picture Books define and appreciate differences in little ones. Lilly is all spunk and Julius is the Baby of the World. Chester and Wilson are two peas in a pod that thrive on routine. Chrysantemum is sweet. Here are a few of Kevin Henkes's friends in his delightful picture books.

The following recommendations will motivate 6 - 8 year old boys to sit still long enough to read the entire book.

Series books for boys who are beginning to read on their own,

but will gladly share a book with Mom and Dad. Ballpark Series by David A. Kelly and Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat are two series that our family reads.

David A. Kelly

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

These picture book classics by Viriginia Lee Burton are sure to be hits with your boys.

Dad will remember them too.

Skyscrapers and Bridges: The Little Red Lighthouse was featured on Reading Rainbow and is a restored classic. How did they build that Skyscraper sits on our cabin's bookshelf.

As soon as we arrive the boys race to read it with Dad.