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Reading Time

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As I mentioned last week, every day after lunch we have reading time.  Usually, this means I read aloud (on this day it was Ella Enchanted), then the children read for 20-25 minutes on their own, and following that, I read our lesson from science or history.  So, our afternoons are all filled up with reading.  And, of course, I love it.  And, my children do too, sometimes.


But, their hands get bored and they start to lose interest after a while when I am reading aloud.  So, I let them play with quiet toys while I read.  Keeps them in one place while I am reading, and I don't have to worry about fighting, or children running around or begging me to stop.  Some days it is the geometric shapes I got for math manipulatives, other days it is legos.  On this specific day, it was the RoseArt version of Wikki Stix.  My children love these!  And, they have just become even more creative with them than they were years ago when I first got some.  (Pictured here are Eliza's and Kate's creations.)  Originally, my idea was that they could get them out to form the letters for their spelling words, but we haven't had to do that yet ... it's good to know that everything can serve more than one purpose!


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Aubrey A said…
Wow! I love that! So inventive and creative! Perfect to do while your reading! I've never seen those before, I guess I'll have to check them out. :)
August 24, 2011
Lynette said…
I usually try to have my kids' hands busy when I read aloud, too! M is usually glued (just like she is to the TV), but L and R get a little wiggly. In the past, they've done clay, been eating lunch (they can't talk much while chewing, so that's a good time to read...Only problem is, I don't get to eat! hahaha), played with Legos, drew pictures, or even looked at other books. :) I have seen wikki stix often on homeschool blogs, but I really have no idea what makes them so different from clay or pipe cleaner or Tinker Toys...Are they re-usable?? Can they melt? Do the colors run into each other when you twist them together? They look AWESOME, so I'm assuming they are more exciting than what I've seen them used for. Your post is the best example I've seen as to what Wikki Stix can be used for -- just so you know! I hope you don't think I'm criticizing...I'm not!! I just don't really know what to use these for myself! :)

P.S. Your daughters did a great job with their creations!! I am very, very impressed!
August 24, 2011
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