Tell Tale- A Story Game

Game: Tell Tale, by blue orange
Teaches: Creativity, Thinking Skills, Imagination, speaking and listening skills

Tell Tale comes in a small round tin. The game contains instructions and 60 double sided cards. That is a total of 120 images to use for building stories. The instructions give you some examples of different ways to use the card in building stories. SmartyPants and I usually use these two card in two different ways.

1. I deal 3 cards out to each player (usually just the two of us, but sometimes Daddy plays, too.) Then we take turns picking one of our cards to create a big story together.

2. I deal a 7 or 8 cards to each of us and we each have to tell a story using at least five of the cards.

At first, SmartyPants had a hard time with this. His stories would go something like this: Once upon a time there was a cowboy, and then he saw a boat, and then he saw a key, and then he got a letter. He had a dog named Spot. The End! He's gotten a lot better, but he still has a way to go.

This photo shows all of the cards. These are half the pictures you have to work with.

These are my least favorite cards: A one way sign, a street in the dessert, a lottery ticket, and... I'm not really sure what that last one is supposed to be. Some type of hospital thing? I hate the lottery ticket especially because I don't want my children to learn about gambling.  When we come across these cards, we usually just use the pictures on the other side.

  

 These two cards usually ensure that we end up with some sort of potty humor in our stories. I don't mind it too much, but some people might. SmartyPants loves telling stories about Poo-ville. The town where everything is covered in poo and everyone smells bad. My husband giggles right along with him. I'm just happy that he thinks learning is fun.

My one year old loves these cards. We use them for vocab practice. Dog! Baby! Potty! She participates by choosing her favorite cards and making me work them into our stories. Tell Tale is definitely one of her favorite games.  


Overall I would definitely recommend this game to anyone with children ages 4-10. Younger children may enjoy it as well, it depends on the child. 

 

Pros: Fun, Educational, Develops Thinking Skills, Develops imagination, Small and Portable.

Cons: Pictures could possibly get repetitive (we haven't had this problem yet).





Visit these sites to learn more about the benefits of storytelling with young children.
http://www.prokerala.com/kids/activities/storytelling-to-children.php
http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/storytelling-in-the-early-years-1137

Home School Preschool

I've gone back and forth about sending my son to preschool. I want him to learn proper classroom behavior. At the same time, I don't want him to pick up any swear words or attitude problems other kids his age may have.

Right after CutiePie was born, I signed up for a gym membership at YMCA. I loved getting away from the children for an hour everyday and getting into shape. I was losing weight and feeling good about myself. At least until Jayden came home saying bad words. They weren't swear words, but they still weren't very nice. He also started talking back to me, in a tone I'd never heard him use before. I noticed that some of the other children he played with while I worked out talked like that. So, I cancelled the membership. I know I can't keep him away from bad influences forever, but I don't want him to have to deal with it until he is ready.

So, I started teaching him at home. My parents bought SmartyPants a few preschool workbooks when he turned three. SmartyPants already knew his shapes, colors, number, and letters. But, the workbooks helped him learn to use a pencil. I worked with him for a whole year. We did "school" everyday when CutiePie was taking naps. I thought I might send him to preschool when he turned four. Now that he's four, he's much too far ahead for me to even consider sending him to preschool. So, we spend the money we would have used on preschool to buy educational materials. We have whole bookcases full of educational games, workbooks, flashcards, puzzles, and other activities.

I am starting this blog to review some of these items. I'll tell you what we love, what worked, and what was just a waste of money. That way, you don't have to waste your own money.

Introduction

I am a Wife and Mother of two wonderful children. A four year old boy who I will refer to as SmartyPants, and an almost 2 year old girl, CutiePie. I met my husband in middle school he was in our church group, and I hated him. My brother was good friends with him, though. In high school we became good friends, and we were married in college. I graduated in Music Education, but couldn't find a local job, so I ended up working in the elementary schools near us (my hubby was still getting his master's). I taught after school orchestra. During the day I tutored math and reading, and helped out in the kindergarten class rooms. I learned a lot about teaching young children.

SmartyPants is 4 years old. He is a little genius. He learned all his letters and sounds before the age of 2. At four and a half he is already reading at a first or second grade level. He is working on addition and subtraction. He knows all the planets, dwarf planets, and their major moons. He knows the 50 states, and all the countries in Europe. He can tell time as long as the minute hand is pointing to the 12, 3, 6, or 9. He can count money as long as you don't add quarters into the mix. SmartyPants loves learning and doesn't care much about the things other boys like: dinosaurs, cars, superheros, air planes... He is a very loving boy who loves to give hugs and kisses. He's sweet with his little sister, except when he's fighting with her.

SmartyPants is a know-it-all who always thinks he's right and I'm wrong. (Especially if he can look it up in a book.) If he ever falls or feels any pain at all he collapses to the floor crying. He tends to whine. He has a bad habit of picking his nose, and hates to wear pants. He prefers to run around in his underwear. (I let him do this only while we are home, and no one is coming over to visit.) SmartyPants hates getting water in his eyes while bathing (he cries and throws a fit about it!), but doesn't mind a little water in his eyes when he's swimming. He is my sweet boy and I love him.

CutiePie is our daughter. She is a month away from turning two, and is just pure sunshine. She brings so much happiness into our lives! CutiePie loves to talk. I don't even remember my son saying more than a few words at her age! She loves mickey mouse, dolls, and jewelry. She hates it when I try to teach her letters, but absolutely adores art projects. She hits when she doesn't get what she wants, and gives kisses when you make her happy. She has more pairs of shoes than I do. I don't remember buying all those shoes! CutiePie suffers from allergies (pistachios, cats, dogs, milk, eggs, the outdoors...) She also has eczema and is recently being treated for warts. Poor girl!