My Students

Do you remember sitting around the table and playing games with your friends or family? Did you realize you were learning valuable life skills as you rolled the dice or moved your pieces around the board? My students want to start a game club and I want to teach them to think critically. Game on!

Our school is a public Montessori magnet school.

Our student population is diverse, approximately 50% white and 50% African-American. Parents who choose to apply to our program want a Montessori education for their children but cannot afford a private option. Our students also come from a diverse socioeconomic background, with about 40% qualifying for free or reduced lunch. With less than 400 students, our PTA is small but active. The organization supports the teachers and students as it can by providing monetary support for classroom materials and hosting cultural events but its funds are limited. Our parents give greatly through their time, however and many volunteer in the classroom, library, or other areas of the school.

My Project

My students are creative and love challenges. They also like to play. And they need to take the time to think critically and use problem solving skills. I want to sneak these skills into their learning with an after school game club focused on strategy based games. By the end of the day, after hours of reading and math, my students are tired and want to have fun. They love to play games. And games can be a great way to practice critical thinking. Games which require strategizing will be teaching them, and they won't even know it. The game club will be open to 2nd through 5th grade students. The students will learn traditional games like chess and Othello, as well as newer economics based strategy games like The Settlers of Catan. Some of the games will require reading skills, like Smash Up, while others will require math skills, like Yahtzee. All of the games will require the students to think through their next move and evaluate which strategy will best help them win.

Learning can and should be fun.

When you can provide opportunities for students to learn when they think they are just having fun, then all the better. The games for this game club will increase students' critical thinking skills, as well as reinforce reading and math skills. It will also build relationships and strengthen the community of learners at our school by bringing together students from different grade levels. Our students want to play. I want them to learn. Can you help?