Are You Game?

"Remember the fun (and challenge) of playing beloved board games as a child with your friends?

I teach an amazing group of students ranging in ages from 6 to 10, all in the 2nd grade. As an inclusion class, they range in academic abilities from accelerated to mild mental retardation - and everythi..." more»

"Remember the fun (and challenge) of playing beloved board games as a child with your friends?

I teach an amazing group of students ranging in ages from 6 to 10, all in the 2nd grade. As an inclusion class, they range in academic abilities from accelerated to mild mental retardation - and everything in-between. They have a variety of physical and emotional challenges. I also teach students to whom English is a Second Language. They come from low socio-economic families with the majority from single-parent homes. Games are a "luxury" my students' families cannot afford.

Language, critical thinking, problem solving, and social skills are particularly challenging for my class. Bridging the gulf between students of vastly differing skills and abilities requires very special motivational activities. Playing games is a great way to develop these skills as well as team building within our classroom community.

I need lots of different types of board games to motivate my students to learn while developing language, math, and social skills. Students will be able to develop and reinforce skills in reading, math, and problem-solving. Additionally, these games will be used to promote positive behavior such as taking turns, sharing, cooperating, paying attention, staying on task, and best of all praising and encouraging your classmates.

Your donation will make it possible for my students to develop language and math skills and experience the fun of learning while building life-long social skills. This project will motivate and teach my students in ways that only comes from the fun and excitement of "playing" together as a class. hide»