Hi. I wouldn't say homeschooling per se is still popular in Serbia but we do have private home teaching for some courses. Anyway, as a teacher I like using games with the students I teach. Recently, I've been playing a game called Zeus vs. Monsters - Cool Educational Math Games for Kids Grade K-5 on my iPhone and find it very good for math practice. What is your stand on learning through games? Any suggestions?
I think play and games is essential for young learners... that is how they learn! I like a lot of different games for learning. I think MOST games teach something... weather it's math-monopoly, english-scrabble, boggle, scattergories, science, physics-Jenga, pick up sticks, don't spill the beans. Candy land teaches colors and counting. Connect four, checkers, chess, and monopoly, scrabble and pretty much all the games teach strategy-honing thinking abilities, and social skills/reading the other person and their possible plays, etc. These are also active participation versus passive interaction. I would much rather families spend playing games in the evening together then watching TV/movies, the bonds will be on a deeper level and more concrete then the passive interaction of sitting on a couch looking at the boob tube. And they will learn and know each other much deeper as well. All essential life skills learned while having fun.
I just downloaded some iPad games for my middle school kids: 5 Dice: Order of Operations game Middle School Math Chicken Coop Fractions Chicktionary Frankenstein Match maker Sail Through Math
My son has awesome math skills. I don't know if it's just natural or because he played monopoly with his older brother at a really young age.
My kids (who are now at college) used to say that they were the only ones who had computer games assigned as homework. They played Civilization and Age of Empires to learn more history - and they really did remember a lot! And games like the Nancy Drew ones teach logic and problem solving - I also found a number like that set in historical time periods (eg Riddle of the Sphinx). Unfortunately many were designed for Windows XP or earlier and no one is making games like that any more. I do like the Scholastic History game apps - and you can play them online as well.
I haven't heard of this game you've mentioned. My kids and I have been going through Math Blaster as it is a game I played when I was growing up (it was in a CD format then). I think it is very important to substitute curriculum learning with field trips, activities and games. Since technology is such a huge part of our daily lives, it's just one more area where you can incorporate learning. Anyway, that's my thoughts. I have also heard arguments to the other side about how dependence on technology can impede social skills.
For high school students, I really like Diplomacy. Indeed, when my son started at GA Tech, the students in the International Studies class played the game across the semester. Imagine the game Risk but with no dice and no luck involved. The moves made by each team are the result of negotiations. You can form public or secret alliances. You can be true to your word or undermine your agreements. You can be honest in negotiations or lie through your teeth. Before worrying about that last statement, let me point out that, in my experience with the game, those who are dishonest just once sacrifice all trustworthiness from that point on. Other nations tend to either shun them or deceive them in return. The ability to negotiate, and to have the confidence needed to do so, are not things that are often taught, but they are an essential part of daily life.
