Friday 3 April 2015

C is for Card Games, Coping strategies and Craft plus Currently!!

This year my A to Z Challenge has a double theme.  The first focuses on the resources and teaching that may help children with special educational needs learn more effectively and the second is to do with my crafting likes and ideas.

Card Games I was introduced to a pack of cards when I was very young by my Grandad who knew lots of super card tricks that involved all sorts of stories using the picture cards (Jack, Queen, King) as well as the other suits and number cards.  My Dad also taught me lots of card games when I got a little older as well as my Grandad teaching me lots of different games of patience/solitaire when we would go to his house on holiday.  He also gave me this great book when I was ten which was written by a psychologist at a children's learning centre in a hospital.
 In it are loads of games for children to help learn a variety of skills such as visual alertness, speedy reactions, learning number names, questioning, use of plurals etc  For each game an appropriate age level is given and how many players it is for as well as the skills it develops.

I too have used packs of playing cards in the classroom to teach these games - either for children to use when early finishers or for maths centres when working with an adult.  Once again I have been really happy with the way even young children are respectful to others when playing and have learnt co-operation even when playing against each other!!

One crucial point however when having packs of cards in a classroom is to mark each card back of the same pack with a letter so that cards do not get mixed up into different packs - believe me when I say it is very frustrating when two Queen of hearts turn up in the same pack!!


What were your favourite card games when you were young and what skills do you think you learnt through playing cards with others or by yourself?

Coping strategies are an area of need for some children to handle stress, anxiety or anger issues that may arise in the classroom.  Sometimes, these coping strategies can be taught through PSHE lessons for all children to benefit from but at other times some children may need to have 1:1 support or small group talks to practise these skills and decide which are appropriate for them. A good website for some ideas is http://www.thehelpfulcounselor.com/18-coping-skills-strategies-for-children-and-teens/ 

Please feel free to leave comments about coping strategies that have been successful for you or your children or any other links to sites with other suggestions.

Craft since moving house late last year I have been very fortunate in joining a craft group that meet once a fortnight for a two hour morning session at a local library.  We all bring along our own craft projects and get to have a natter, share ideas, swap patterns and supplies at times and help each other if necessary.  It is a lovely group of very lively ladies of a wide age range and I feel very honoured to have been so readily accepted into their circle.  We have a lot of laughs and it is so very pleasant to be among others who love colour, texture and creativity in all its forms :)  So far, I have brought along my rug making and knitting but I hope to be taught some basic crocheting skills this year by others in the group who are amazing at this as well as bringing along some cross stitch, embroidery and tapestry work later on after I have finished some of my present knitting projects!!

Currently - still wanting to join in the fun with Farley and her Currently linky party




Almost forgot - my freebie for the letter C is:
A tasty treat for practising phonics!!


17 comments:

  1. I LOVE card games. My friends and I get together about once a week to play cards. It's a blast!

    Good luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
    A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
    http://pensuasion.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks for dropping by - card games are still a favourite past-time in our family when the children are around for holidays and now we have little nephews too we can teach them all over again - I an hear the call of Go-Fish even now!!!

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  2. I am right there with you - I am excited to spend Easter weekend with our family as well. We have some who are visiting from Albuquerque. It is a full house this weekend! Enjoy you holiday!

    Karen

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    1. Thanks, Karen and the same to you - have a lovely family holiday :)

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  3. That's a great tip for the packs of cards. It's little things like that which you don't think about until they happen. And that looks like a useful book for you.

    I'm very jealous that you have a local craft group. I would love to join or set one up here to help motivate me with some of my craft projects. I wonder if this means that next year for C you'll be able to do 'crochet'. ;-)

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    1. I certainly think it would be a lovely idea to set one up on the island - as you can imagine it is such a good support group not just for the crafting issues but other things in life too! And yes I am really hopeful that next year C will be for crochet :)

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  4. Well now, wasn't that a great story about family memories and cool card games! I have always believed that children learn in a variety of ways; not just paper and pencil. Game play is a very important strategy for most children, for all of the reasons you mentioned and many more. Love your post. It is so homey and positive and upbeat. Glad to have made your acquaintance. :)

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    1. Thank you, Tom. I think we bring a lot of our childhood to our teaching don't you? Certainly what I enjoyed as a child is still enjoyed by children today even though computers were only really coming into school when I began my secondary schooling!

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  5. I love the idea of a craft group! Of course, I'd probably be lost without my sewing machine at this stage. I go through phases. I could certainly stand to learn crochet though! Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie

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    1. We were actually discussing the possibility of all of us bringing our sewing machines with us one week so we could help each other out so I don't see why you couldn't start a machine sewing club!!

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  6. Funny you mention cards. I've started collecting set of cards with different themes when I find them for cheap. It makes it more fun to play and, as you say, they stay sorted easier. And what a sweet story of your blog name. I had wondered. Wish I could join your craft club... kinda a long commute though! Nice stopping by today. See you later. Kathleen
    Kidpeople Classroom

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    1. Lovely to hear from you again, Kathleen :) You would be very welcome at our craft club. I'll be popping over to your blog today to catch up with what's been going on in your classroom.

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  7. p.s. Me again. You should link up with my Liebster Award page. It explains a bit about Liebsters and provides a place to find Liebster bloggers. You don't even have to write a new post– just link up your Liebster post. Find it here:
    http://www.kidpeopleclassroom.com/2014/11/find-liebster-bloggers.html
    See ya. Kathleen
    Kidpeople Classroom

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    1. Thanks, Kristin for stopping by. I had a lovely Easter - hope you did too :)

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  9. I love the idea of a craft meeting. Never thought of that. With everyone bringing their own thing, you would be exposed to and learn so many things! You theme here is great. I love crafts myself and I had a special needs brother (he died when he was 23.) My sister worked with spec. ed, kids for years and now tutors kids with reading difficulties. She teaches with the Wilson program, maybe you've heard of it. Anyhoo....nice to find you! I'm a new follower. :-) Thanks for visiting my blog!

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    1. Really pleased to have gained you as a follower and look forward to keeping in contact. I do know the Wilson program by reputation rather than ever having used it properly. You obviously have a lot of knowledge gained from your experiences and I hope you share your insights with me and other readers in upcoming blog posts as that would be invaluable :)

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