Integrating Thinkblocks in Daily Routine with a 100-Day Project
Dr. Dasaratha Rama and Dr. Bhairavi Sudarshan
Explorations started in July 2020 set the stage for 100 days of build and talk with Pragnya (8 year old). The 100 day project led to implementation of build and talk with Pradyun (2.5 year old) resulting in daily use of Thinkblocks. In one year, DSRP, cognitive jigs, and Thinkblocks have become embedded in family interactions.
I. Explore Build and Talk
Thinkblocks are based on the DSRP (Distinction, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives) method developed by Cabrera Research Labs. Dr. Rama and Dr. Bhairavi explored DSRP with Pragnya. We explored various applications, the LIFESMART tool kit and thinkblocks prior to starting off on our 100days projects.
II. 100 Days of Build and Talk
The 100-Day project is a mechanism for developing skills through targeted practice. Under the LIFESMART approach, the 100-Day project is a mechanism for developing routines and for cultivating habits. 100-Day projects are used to transform sporadic exploration to repeatable and consistent practices. DSRP and tools like Thinkblocks can be used in a variety of ways. Exploration of possibilities paves the way for personalized and targeted practice through 100-Day projects.
Through 100-Days of Build and Talk project, reading has become a consistent habit for me (Dr. Bhairavi) with Pragnya because we have to do some reading for build and talk for Pragnya.
It has also become a habit for me and Pradyun separately. In Pradyun s case we are both reading story books and some small flow chart like material to convert to Thinkblocks.
The Thinkblock activities that I have done with Pradyun are
· Family
· Actions
· Parts of the house
· What one is and is not (vehicles , fruits and vegetables)
· Senses
· Tried a bit of lifecycle of hen with him — because we have been seeing some chicks and how they grew into big one and had a toy with eggs
· We are now working on solar system and space (because he loves it )
Every topic takes close to at least 10 days
for him to express something..
III. Daily Routine — August 1, 2021
· Reading
· Build and Talk with Thinkblocks
· Sensory play with both children but sometimes just Pradyun if Pragnya has classes
· Daily life: We try to associate what we learn with experience — For example, we learn about refrigerator as a part of kitchen things — then we relate to what we do with it — take water or juice to drink or it stores ice etc.
Resources
Additional information on 100-Day LIFESMART projects is available here.
Thinkblocks is a product developed by Cabrera Research Labs. Thinkblocks are available here.
Thinkblocks are based on the DSRP (Distinction, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives) method developed by Cabrera Research Labs.
Read the article on Exploring Family Relationships with Thinkblocks here.
