Teaching Kids Scrabble
During the early Twentieth Century, Alfred Butts invented a board game that would become a favorite of American families. The game starts by distributing a specific number of tiles, usually between seven and ten tiles, that have embossed English alphabet letters and numerals on them. The objective of the game involves the creation of words. Each of these tiles has a specific value, or number of points, assigned to them. In addition, each space on the board carries a definite value. Each player tallies the total number of the points associated with these tiles and board spaces. The player who earns the most points wins the game. Many kids love playing Scrabble© due to its simplicity and entertainment value. Parents and teachers should take advantage of this interest in the game to further their children and students' academic performance.
One of the major advantages of Scrabble is the way in which it is able to increase students' academic performance. For instance, teachers have seen a remarkable improvement in the word spelling of kids. Therefore, many schools recommend parents play Scrabble© with their children, especially those kids who have difficulty spelling. During the game, parents can teach their kids the basic rules of spelling words. As a result, they will start to grasp the spelling and meaning of the words they place down on the board. This game challenges kids to learn new words, and specific ways to implement them in the formation of sentences. Parents who challenge their children to build their vocabulary will start to notice a difference in their reading comprehension.
Scrabble© increases a child's creative ability to create new words from the letters provided to them. Children will find the game fun and engaging while they attempt to create different words than the ones already used on the board. The excitement children experience while playing the game increases when they start to score more points and win multiple games. This competitiveness encourages children to think faster than their competitors. Some kids increase their strategic prowess by placing their tiles on a specific area on the board to score more points.
Clearly, Scrabble© increases a child's analytical and mathematical faculties. Along with improving spelling and vocabulary skills, kids learn basic arithmetic by tallying points associated with each letter combination. Kids have to employ simple addition and multiplication methods to find out the total number of points associated with each word creation. As a result of this calculation, children improve their mathematical skills.
Scrabble© also improves a child's ability to retain the spelling of new words and their vocabulary. Children who play Scrabble© often display increased memory, concentration, and critical thinking skills. All of these skills contribute to the overall personal growth and development of any child. Therefore, Scrabble© has grown in its popularity throughout the world as an educational tool. This game also increased mental agility and alertness in the elderly, especially in those individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease and any other form of cognitive disorder.
Children play games to have fun. Therefore, teachers and parents should keep the game fun and entertaining for their children. As soon as children start to associate Scrabble© with excessive boredom, they shut themselves off from enjoying it. Make Scrabble© a game that brings a smile to the face of everybody in the house. Not only will this increase a child's academic performance, it will make life at home a lot more delightful.
Teachers and parents can find a variety of resources that will help children obtain the most from Scrabble©. Children with limited exposure to the game will need to learn the basics before moving on to intermediate and advanced strategies. Children can start with common word and vocabulary lists to start expanding their skill levels as they progress. Children can also use dictionaries and thesauruses to search for unfamiliar words. After building a stronger vocabulary, children will start to win games. This will instill a sense of confidence and achievement in their endeavors. In addition, it will encourage students to pursue a better understanding of the English language until they become eventual masters of it.
Teacher Resources