Learning new sight words, vocabulary words or math facts can be a tedious and sometimes boring task.  We have found a way to turn it into a fun and exciting exercise that keeps the kids motivated to learn.

This is what you need:

- The words or facts you're trying to learn written on cards (3x5 or 4x6 is good)
- A staircase, if you have one, or a long hall way or open area in a room
- Stop watch
- Whistle (if you don't have one you can just say "beep")

How to play:

- Put one or more word cards on each step, starting at the top and working down the stairs.  (If you are using a hallway or room make a path of word cards.)
- Starting at the bottom of the stairs have the child say the word or math fact on the first step.  If he gets it right blow the whistle or say "beep" then he can pick up the card and move up the stairs reading and picking up the cards on each step as he goes.  If he gets a word or fact wrong silence will tell him to try again.  (If he spends too much time on a word or fact he might want to skip it and come back to it later.)
- Time the child with a stop watch to see how long it takes him to get from the bottom of the stairs to the top.  (Or, one end of the room to the other.)  Write down his time and challenge him to beat his own time.