This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
As a fifth grade teacher at P.S.1 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn one of my biggest challenges is to keep my students motivated. And when it comes to some of my students' biggest challenges, specifically in math, I often find myself fighting a losing battle.
While the curriculum I am using aligns to the New York State standards, the opportunity for them to really practice these skills in a meaningful context is limited and far from entertaining. Moreover, my students are strong willed and if they are not invested in what they are doing their attention span and retention rate decreases. Realizing this, I have decided to make math fun by incorporating a unit on the development of authentic math games. This is where I need your help.
With your support I will be able to empower my students with the tools they need to create their own math games. Creating these games will enable all of my students to be invested in not only practicing essential math skills, but in applying these skills in a meaningful context.
While creating these original games, students will be working in small groups based on the skills they need to develop. More importantly, they will be working towards a common goal, which like in the real world, demands team work, excellent communication, and problem solving skills. Their games will require a set of written directions, thus students will also be developing their writing skills. Finally, a project such as this, needs to be presented to the "public" so these original student games will be played and reviewed by their fifth grade peers from other classes and their parents during Friday's game sessions. Once complete, these games will, undoubtedly, become one of the many tools I use to teach and reinforce math content for years to come.
Math can be fun and games for my fifth graders with your support.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Cartagena and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
