2022 Education magazine

2022 Education Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS February / March 2022 Page 13 game called NIM requires skip counting and students fill in squares to reach the tray of cookies. In another game, as they count and fill in squares, the goal is to not be the person who gets to the end first and must “walk the plank.” Lessen said strategy is involved when players do not know what number their partner will write on a square. Students keep going back and forth until all squares are filled in. One game demonstrated was “Garbage” in which each player has 10 numbered cards. If using multiples of five, the five card would go in the first spot, the 10 card in the second spot and so on. The goal is to put all their cards in a sequence. This game can build up multiplication skills. Younger children can play the game and count by ones or twos. Since game rules require students to talk, listen, collaborate and take turns, they are practicing their math skills. Jacobs tells parents to play board games with their children, which can help them develop math skills when they do something like rolling dice. As they presented, Lessen and Jacobs gave teachers games they could go back and immediately use in their classrooms. Lessen said they also gave teachers planning guides and tools with a bank of routines. At other sessions, Lessen and Jacobs learned about other good math games. Continued p