Wiki Sticks

Alright-for those of  you who haven't heard of these "Wiki Sticks" are TOTALLY missing out!  You can usually find them at any craft store, like Michaels, or at a teacher's store.  They are wax-covered sticks that are flexible and bendable-you can creat ANYTHING out of them!  My family and I actually went out to eat at the Grand Lux Cafe, and they were handing them out to the kids instead of the old crayon and placemat.  Now, if you are like me, you bring a couple of things to keep your child busy while waiting for food anyway, but if you have these, chances are your child won't want to put them down!  The reason I chose to talk about these today is because there are so many educational ideas associated with Wiki Sticks.  A few that come to mind are to have your child create letters-practicing letter formation.  This is also an excellent art activity and gives you a great chance to see just how "outside the box" your child can think.  Kids can also make numbers using the Wiki Sticks.  I have also used them for students that are struggling in reading, and need a reading activity that doesn't "look" like it is reading (this is one of my favorite things to do-teach kids when they don't think they are being "taught").  You can take a large piece of paper, have your child tell you a sentence with a person, place, or thing (that can be made out of the Wiki Sticks) and write that sentence with a big space left open for the person, place, or thing.  For example, "I like to ride in my __________."  Then, with the Wiki Sticks you and your child could make a "car" to put in the blank space.  Then have your child read the sentence.  You could make an entire book out of Wiki Sticks pictures!!!  Children build an extensive amount of confidence when they read something they wrote themselves!  Even ask for their autograph when they are done reading it-they are now an author!!Please check out this product, it is not only fun, but educational at the same time!