Make It Monday: Getting Back Into a Blogging Routine - Just realized it's a Tuesday...
On Mondays, we make things.
I am someone who tries to remain within her budget by making things that I see rather than buying things that I discover. There is no reason why I should spend $20.00 for something that I can make in four hours. At least, that is what the voice in my head tells me. Why spend money on music dot spots when I can fire up my trusty laminator and make the same things on my computer?? (This particular little voice is my mother's voice. It is amazing how messages passed on by parents can just stick, isn't it?)
Now, I know that there are many other people in the world who would rather spend the money than the time, and that is why I offer things for sale in my TPT store. Please check it out and get some free resources (and maybe purchase something??). If my time and energy will help you out, then take advantage of that fact!
Okay, on to the making part of this Make It Monday.
I like making things. It doesn't really matter what the things are, but for this series of posts, I will be focusing on the things that I make for music therapy sessions. These things have specific uses and purposes that are based in therapeutic planning and strategizing. Every thing that I keep in my clinic storage has to have several uses in order for me to keep it - that's my Six Things rule. So, when I share projects here, please know that I have used these things with clients and have many uses for all sorts of materials.
Let's talk about games.
I like making games, and I often make games in file folder form. One of my favorite ways to incorporate games into sessions is to make the game board generic but make personal goal focused game cards. One game board can be used with all sorts of clients, and that's the way I like it! Multiple uses for just about everything!
So, to make a game board, I start by gathering my materials. Typically, I grab a file folder, either stickers or a generic game board form (I have one available, if you are interested - let me know in the comment section), a marker, some small cards, and an envelope or a card box to store the pieces. I almost always need some extra card stock or index cards. In addition, I have my file folder tool kit - it has a bone folder (a tool for bending and scoring paper), some double sided tape, a corner rounder, a sharpie, Velcro dots, and other tools that I use when I am making file folder resources.
The next step is to assemble the game board itself. I like using stickers for most of my file folders - it saves time to use things that are already sticky rather than spending time glueing and waiting for the adhesive to dry. When I am designing generic game boards, I use generic stickers - colored dots or shaped labels. If I am making a game board for a specific client, I try to make the board based on their needs and preferences. If I have a client who loves the movie Cars, I can use Cars stickers for the game board, or I can use the Cars stickers to personalize the folder. I also think about how many spots the game should have as well as whether the game board should have a distinct start and finish or should be a perpetual game. Many of these decisions are based on who I want to use the game with during sessions. There are times when I make many different iterations of the same game to accommodate client development.
Once the game board is put together, I move on to the pieces to move around the board. I often make these out of cardstock and try to make them easy to transport. After the game pieces are finished, I move on to how people will move around the board. I either make dice, make a spinner, or make cards to pull. This decision is often determined by the clients that I have in mind. I know how to make all of those things out of card stock (again, if you want templates or want to learn how to do this, let me know in the comments), and I enjoy figuring it all out. Once I know how people will move around the board during the game, I can figure out how I am going to store all of the various parts of the game.
I am thinking of running some Make and Take Zoom meetings with music therapists where I send the digital files and make a list of materials needed to complete specific visuals and then offer ideas and discussion about making these materials. I wonder if anyone would like to participate with me. Not everyone uses materials like these, but there are enough of us out there that people might want to participate. Hmm. That's something to think about.
Anyway, here is a link to one of my TPT files - it offers three different games to work on direction concepts. Enjoy!
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