GAMESCHOOLING: USING GAMES TO LEARN

What this episode covers

Learn how to make games, play, and fun part of your homeschool with special guest Jessica Waldock from The Waldock Way. Jessica has a special game plan (get it?) where she chooses one academic subject each day to learn through games. If a week goes by when they haven't used games, then they have a full day of games! Gameschooling can be board and card games, but it can also be play in general like having your children jump when they answer a math problem instead of using a worksheet. ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com. QUOTABLES Jessica: "But as homeschool moms, we tend to never feel like we're doing enough. And playing a game definitely doesn't feel like enough. But it really is more than enough. And 9 times out of 10, even better than whatever the lesson you were going to do." Jessica: "I'm still hoping, through middle school, to hold to my one game a day for subject or scrap a whole day and play. That's the thing I'm hoping to hold myself to forever." Jessica: "...there's this hurdle to jump over, to learn a new game... 'Oh man, I have to learn this new game,' which is so funny if you think about it. And it's kind of hypocritical because we buy the games so our kids can learn. But then we won't even take the time to learn how to play the games." Jessica: "And that's the goal, right? To cultivate the relationship and to have fun doing it. And games are definitely a great way to do both." TIMESTAMPS 06:54 Jessica shares how she homeschools her way: eclectic, easy, relaxed, unit study homeschoolers.  08:05 What is gameschooling?  08:32 How to justify playing games in your homeschool.  09:37 How Yahtzee turned around Jessica's daughter's frustration with math. 11:02 How games without so-called educational value still benefit your kids: growth mindset, sportsmanship, etc. 12:41 With gameschooling, you have to be willing to trust the process.  13:49 Playing is a far more efficient way of learning something.  14:44 Games don't judge.  19:28 For preK & K, reading and playing games is definitely more than enough. Look into the Educational Insights line of games. 21:26 Professor Noggin games for elementary school. Jessica covers one subject per day via games. 23:05 Join Cait Curley's Gameschooling group on Facebook for lots of game recommendations at every age and for every subject. 24:11 Pro tips for learning new games: Search YouTube for tutorials, then make notes in the margins of the game rules. 26:06 Tips for using games with a child who's a sore loser. 26:59 Super fast games for parents who think they don't have time for playing games. Or single-player games.  27:56 Baby steps for those new to gameschooling. Start with a deck of cards or a pack of dice!  29:13 Relationship is the main thing. And games help you step back from the frustration of academics and enjoy each other through play. 30:06 What do you want your kids to remember when they look back on their years of homeschooling?

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