--- Kate Jones <kate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Let me see if I understand this, Magi: > > 1. Your students would rather play games than do > real schoolwork. Playing games can be "real schoolwork." Actually, if the games are appropriate, they can teach students much better than seatwork because they are highly motivating, multi-modal (equally involve the students who learn better by seeing, hearing, and doing), and tend to repeat important concepts frequently. > 2. Your students like Monopoly, Scrabble, Fluxx, > Uno, Dominoes (maybe > others) that you have in the classroom. > 3. You want to use the games they like rather than > introduce them to new > ones they might also like. You seem to be implying that Magi is trying to stifle her kids. She *wants* to teach them new games they would also like. That's why she sent her original request. She just doesn't have the funds to buy more and wants to use the parts she already has. Additionally, students with learning disabilities have difficulty getting used to new things, so using parts they are familiar with gives them a better chance of being able to learn the game. > 4. You want them to use the games they know and > like, but not actually let > them play them, only to use them to do math problems > and learn math skills. It is appropriate for Magi to try to use the games to teach as much as she can. Students are in school to learn. "Because it's fun" is an excellent reason for doing something educational, but a poor reason for doing something that is not teaching students skills they need to know. I am guessing that Magi would also like some faster alternatives. She gave the example of Monopoly. How long does it take you to play a game of Monopoly? I would say a minimum of 3 hours playing the regular rules. Of course she needs something a little less time consuming! > 5. You want the students to fall for this and > produce learning results. You intimate that she is tricking her students or somehow being untrustworthy. I doubt she is going to try to represent her games as anything other than what they are...ways of learning math and other subjects that are more fun than drill and rote memorization. She's not saying she's got the best game ever, just that it's a fun learning alternative. > 6. You're looking for ideas for how to accomplish > this. > 7. You'd like to do this, if possible, at no cost. Of course free materials are every teacher's dream. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to purchase needed supplies with the budget teacher's are provided? >-- Kate Jones >Kadon Enterprises, Inc. >www.gamepuzzles.com >(Also a Looney Labs Mad Lab Rabbit) I'm sorry if I sound a bit miffed...I guess I am. I'm sure you meant well, but your notes came off as if you were only on this mailing list to sell your company's games, and when Magi said that wasn't quite what she was looking for, you got sarcastic and snippy. If that wasn't how you meant it, then I apologize for taking it wrong. Laurie __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com