Use a tic-tac-toe format. Then ask your child questions. If your child answers a question correctly, he gets to place an “X” on the board. If he doesn’t, you get to place an “O” on the board. Play continues until one of you gets “tic-tac-toe”—three X’s or O’s in a row.

You can play tic-tac-toe to help your child:

• Study for tests. Use the questions at the end of the chapter, or make up questions based on the text or your child’s notes.

• Learn vocabulary. Ask your child to define certain vocabulary terms.

• Improve grammar. Have your child complete an item in a grammar exercise. For example, locate a verb in a sentence.

• Study spelling. Dictate a spelling word, then have your child write it correctly.

• Increase math skills. Ask your child to add, subtract, divide or multiply numbers.

• Learn geography. Call out a capital. See if your child can identify the state, or vice versa.

If you get tired of tic-tac-toe, try a connect-the-dots game. Instead of making X’s and O’s, make squares by joining dots with horizontal and vertical lines. Whoever completes a square puts his initials inside the box. The player with the most initials inside the box wins.

The key is to help your child see that learning can be fun.

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