More Games that Benefit the Brain: A Review

If you have been reading my blogs, you know I'm a big fan of bringing the fun factor into learning.  In fact, did you know there are many games that can improve cognitive functioning?  Kids love to play card and board games, and there are quite a few that exercise and strengthen the brain. Back in September I reviewed 15 games that can benefit cognition and I wanted to add a few more to the list:

Game:	Cognitive Benefits	Where to Purchase
Rat-A-Tat-Cat:	· Visual Processing · Visual Memory · Planning · Attention · Working Memory	Amazon: See link below
Q-Bits – Extreme:	· Visual Processing · Spatial Relations · Speed of Processing · Attention to Detail · Mental Flexibility · Executive Functioning · Perceptual Reasoning	Amazon: See link below
Duple:	· Visual Processing · Word Finding · Processing Speed · Hemisphere Integration · Attention to Details	Amazon: See link below
Stare:	· Visual Memory · Speed of Processing · Metacognitive Skills · Attention to Details	Amazon: See link below
Color Code:	· Visual Processing · Nonverbal Reasoning · Spatial Relations · Planning · Perceptual Reasoning	Amazon: See link below
No Speed Limit:	· Processing Speed · Visual Processing · Visual Memory · Executive Functioning · Perceptual Reasoning	Amazon: See link below
Qwitch:	· Mental Flexibility · Sequential Processing · Speed of Processing · Working Memory · Hemisphere Integration	Amazon: See link below
Anomia:	· Word Finding · Processing Speed · Hemisphere Integration · Attention to Details	Amazon: See link below
Speedabee:	· Word Finding · Speed of Processing · Mental Flexibility · Listening Skills · Auditory Processing · Verbal Reasoning	Amazon: See link below

I hope you found this useful.  If you know of other card or board games, that you would like me to review, please share them in the comment box below.  

 

Cheers, Erica

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials.  She is also the director of Learning to Learn, in Ossining, NY.  To learn more about her products and services, you can go to www.goodsensorylearning.com, www.dyslexiamaterials.com & www.learningtolearn.biz  

Free Vowel Combination Game

Using games to teach students the vowel combinations or vowel teams can be a wonderful way to entice your students and brings the fun factor into your lesson.  
Here is a free game, Voweleos, that I created that is similar to the game Dominoes.  

            For two to five players (for 3-5 players make two or more sets mixed together).

The vowel combinations can be:

1. Copied onto 3” by 5” index cards that are cut in half horizontally 
2. Written onto rectangular tiles 
3. Printed on card stock and cut  

            Directions: Play on a surface with a lot of cleared space or play on the floor.  Shuffle the deck or tiles.  Decide which player begins and play proceeds in a clockwise rotation.  Each player or team should be dealt ten cards or tiles.  You can play open or closed handed.  Beginners should always play with their vowel combinations visible to everyone, so that the teacher or parent can assist them.  Place the rest of the deck/tiles face down and turn one card/tile over and display it in the middle of the playing field (the beginning card).  The first player must select one of their cards/tiles that makes the same sound as one side of the beginning card/tile and then place it aside the beginning card/tile.  Like dominoes, you can only play off the ends.  If a player cannot make a move, they must select from the card deck or remaining tiles until they can.  The winner is the first one to use all of his or her cards. 

Please note that you can color-code the cards/tiles to remind students the number of sounds that each vowel combination can make: red = 1 sound, blue = 2 sounds, green = 3 sounds.  For example, ai is red because it only makes one possible sound, whereas ea is green because it can make three possible sounds.  If you would like to play this game before you have introduced all of the vowel combinations, you can make two decks of the red cards/tiles and play with the vowel combinations that make a single sound. 

Here is a list of all the playing cards/tiles.

To learn about other reading games, consider purchasing one of my Reading Games publications. These digital downloads offer a large selection of reading card games and board games that are wonderful for any phonics or Orton Gillingham reading program.  Finally, look on the page for a blue button for a free sample of one of my board games too. If you like this game, please share it with your friends and leave a comment below. 

Cheers, Erica

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials.  She is also the director of Learning to Learn, in Ossining, NY.  To learn more about her products and services, you can go to www.goodsensorylearning.com, www.dyslexiamaterials.com & www.learningtolearn.biz  

Games that Benefit the Brain

Most kids love to play card and board games, but did you know that many offer benefits far beyond the obvious social gains.  Many of these activities are actually good for cognition and can exercise the brain.

There are three types of benefits:

1.  Brain Breaks: Some games offer quick “brain breaks” that can be used during homework completion.  A quick reward, when stamina is low, can energize the brain and regain focus. 

2.  Brain Integration: Other games can help integrate the brain.  Some students can lack integration between the two hemispheres of the brain and these activities activate the whole brain. 

3.  Cognitive Remediation: Finally, there are games that help to strengthen specific areas of cognition and they can serve as a form of cognitive therapy.  By exercising these parts of the brain, new neural pathways can develop and areas of weakness can be strengthened and even remediated.

Here is a table that reviews some of my favorite games, lists of the cognitive gains and offers links to the products.

GAME: Time to Play	COGNITIVE BENEFITS	WHERE TO PURCHASE
Spot it:  about 2-4 minutes	Visual Processing Processing Speed Attention to Detail Attention Hemisphere Integration	Amazon:  See link below
Blink:   about 2-4 minutes	Visual Processing Processing Speed Attention to Detail Attention Mental Flexibility Nonverbal Reasoning	Amazon:  See link below
Set:  about 5-10 minutes	Visual Processing Speed of Processing Attention to Detail Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning Nonverbal Reasoning	Amazon:  See link below
Q Bits:  depends on the number of rounds played - 2-30 minutes	Visual Processing Spatial Relations Speed of Processing Attention to Detail Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning Nonverbal Reasoning	Amazon:  See link below
Master Mind:  depends on the number of rounds played - 10-30 minutes	Visual Processing Visual Reasoning Nonverbal Reasoning Attention to Detail Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	Amazon:  See link below
Doodle Dice: about 15 minutes	Visual Processing Nonverbal Reasoning Attention to Detail Spatial Relations Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	Amazon:  See link below
Blokus: about 30-45 minutes	Visual Processing Nonverbal Reasoning Attention to Detail Spatial Relations Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	Amazon:  See link below
Logic Links: depends on the number of rounds played - 3-30 minutes	Visual Processing Nonverbal Reasoning Attention to Detail Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	Amazon:  See link below
Word Around Game:  depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes	Visual Processing Verbal Reasoning Sequential Processing Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	Amazon:  See link below
Scattergories the Card Game: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes	Simultaneous Processing Word Finding Speed of Processing Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	Amazon:  See link below
Scattergories the Board Game: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes	Simultaneous Processing Word Finding Speed of Processing Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	Amazon:  See link below
Pictionary: depends on the number of rounds played- 5-60 minutes	Nonverbal Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Fine Motor Dexterity Speed of Processing	Amazon:  See link below
Apples to Apples: depends on the number of rounds played- 10-30 minutes	Verbal Reasoning Attention Mental Flexibility	Amazon:  See link below
Cranium: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes	Auditory Processing Visual Processing Processing Speed Attention to Detail Attention Hemisphere Integration Fine Motor Verbal Reasoning Sequential Processing	Amazon:  See link below
Jenga - depends on the number of rounds played- 5-30 minutes	Fine Motor Dexterity Motor Planning Nonverbal Reasoning	Amazon:  See link below

I hope you found this helpful.  If you know of other card or board games that you find beneficial, please share them in the comment box below.  I will then update this blog to reflect your ideas.

Cheers, Erica

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials.  She is also the director of Learning to Learn, in Ossining, NY.  To learn more about her products and services, you can go to www.goodsensorylearning.com, www.dyslexiamaterials.com & www.learningtolearn.biz