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There’s a game for every teaching situation
“It is highly satisfying to see students find a game they excel at and to watch their self-esteem grow as they play.”
I LOVE BOARD GAMES and have been using them in my teaching for a number of years. Many of the students I work with have struggles in the classroom, so I like to incorporate many games as part of my teaching strategies. It is highly satisfying to see students find a game they excel at and to watch their self-esteem grow as they play. Students are very engaged when it comes to games, and if teachers can successfully gamify learning, it can be a useful tool in motivating even the most challenging students.
From social skills to managing frustration
As an inclusive learning teacher, I work with many students with diverse learning needs. One of the classes I teach is social skills, where we bring together students who struggle in this area. In this class, after we have worked on a daily skill, we sit down in groups and play a board game together.
Playing together serves a number of purposes. It serves as a behavioural motivator, as the students want to have time at the end of class to play a game. During game play, we are able to work on different skills, such as turn-taking, sportsmanship, small talk and handling frustration.
When I play with students, I talk out my turn, modelling my thought processes and why I may be taking a certain action. As time goes on, I will often hear my students doing the same thing as they develop their strategic thinking. Some students struggle with handling frustration, and at times, I will deliberately take actions that create an opportunity to work on self-calming skills and if this is a “big deal” or “little deal.” It’s nice to see other students at this point, some of whom also struggle with frustration, supporting that student and telling them “It’s OK. It’s just a game. It is a little deal.”
With a little imagination, you can adapt games for most abilities and situations.
Recommended classroom accessible games
For more information
The website www.boardgamegeek.com is a fantastic resource for virtually every game on the market. Two of its forums are very helpful to teachers: “Gaming with Children” and “Games in the Classroom.”
The Games In Schools and Libraries Podcast is another great resource as well.
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Build Your Own Chain Reaction Machines: How to Make Crazy Contraptions Using Everyday Stuff
Paul Long
Great ideas to get students building machines that solve everyday problems out of inexpensive/free materials.
Available through the ATA library.
Did you know ...
The Educational Technology Council (ETC) of the Alberta Teachers’ Association supports teachers in using technology to enhance teaching and learning.
The ETC provides its membership with
- service and support through professional development opportunities;
- effective communication through an informative newsletter, listserv and dynamic website; and
- an authoritative voice on behalf of the teaching profession through the advocacy of sound educational policies relating to information and communication technology infusion and emerging technologies.
For more information, visit www.teachers.ab.ca.
