Info for Parents, Home School Teachers, Class Room Teachers, and Missionary Educators. Imagine taking the concept of “Flash cards” and modifying them into a playable game form. This is a Pre-Pre-Pre Algebra game with young players in mind. This is a “Western style Game, with Cowboys, Indians, and Bank robbing bandits! Just like playing Cops and Robbers. It is pure imagination fun, “that teaches Math”.
Why and how? Because, I am just not happy with what I have seen, in the public school “Spend-No-Money” modern school classroom. So far, I have witnessed that in most classes, only “a single Math book” is present in the Math classroom, and this is to be shared, in the entire class of students? Ok, …(that is like 1 book, divided up/between 23 students, for what? a 50 minute class period, each day) Do the Math! (thats only 2.2 min. per student each day)! That can’t be good at all! Granted, there might just be an online Math book available to the students. Maybe? But, I have also found, that going online to find a copy of this Math book is either difficult, or just an after the fact response, due to a students bad grades. (Meaning: they, (students) only begin to search for the Math Book, …when the horrible panic of failing the class starts to set in. Or, has already set in!) I have been there, a panicking student! Who luckily figured out, why we need a Math book, and how useful it can be! It is quite unlikely, that any students will explore the amazing aspects of self teaching without having a Math Book! And yes, you can teach yourself math. How is this possibly? It is when students have access to a Book! That is when it becomes possible! All students need a book, plain and simple. The Math Book is where the example/sample problems with solutions are found, and the numerous differing/varying problems can also be found there. These example/problems should all go home with the student! To be worked and re-worked at a students unique comfortable speed. Why?To get into the flow, of how they are to be solved. And also, “the theorems” can be found in The Math Book, (Whats a theorem? This tells us the why …we came up this type of Math in the first place.) And also, many of the correct answers can be found in the back of the book. (Remember the back of the Book, the odd numbered problems? I most certainly do!) See, you will Not find any of this very important stuff, on a “Spend-No-Money“, problems only, hand out piece of paper! And, with all the damage done from the months and months of staying home, …thousands of students; because of the Covid pandemic, have “lost vital Math classroom time”. My hope is, that this simple game replaces, in some way, … what I believe has been lost … these important parts, of the Math Book, the lost classroom time, and more!
This describes some of what this little Math Game called “Number Posse Roundup” teaches: in approx. 22 bullet points.
1st The basics, along with practice exercises, on how addition and subtraction work. 2nd Some basic Multiplication memorization through the, “Tin-Can Alley”, side game. 3rd The fun of discovering collective team work and learning problem solving strategies. 4th Critical thinking on the fly. 5th Making an Educated Guess. As well as, considering the concept, that Math is quite fluid, and not just static. 6th They will learn some Indian signs with (the Great Warrior card). And memorize the Positive/Negative sign changes. 7th They will learn from (the Doc Holiday card). And memorize the Standard Order of Operations. 8th They will learn a basic Division method (presented in game, a variation that all students should be familiar with). 9th Students will see the basic layout of the Algebraic Equation. 10th Students will get a glimpse of what (Expanding and Factorizing) looks like. 11th The general use of the concepts of like (Simplification, Distribution, and Substitution) are also present. 12th A beginners Fraction introduction, through the Intro., expansion pack. 13th A beginners Decimal introduction, through the Intro., expansion pack. 14th Some Simple Fact Knowledge: is presented – like Fractions and Decimals are interchangeable. 15th Some Simple Fact Knowledge: that Division and Multiplying around Fractions are often interchangeable. 16th Introduction to the Absolute Value sign, its two bars Symbol, and its use. 17th A deliberate inclusion, of a few Improper Fractions for concept introduction. 18th A deliberate inclusion, of a just a few Mixed numerals for concept introduction. 19th They will discover that many #’s actually have multiple identities. 20th And, You as the teacher … Will begin to just watch and be amazed! … That children, and teens do not gravitate always to the simple/easy stuff, they gravitate towards the challenging/harder stuff. And this will be made visible: When they start gravitating towards the harder stuff on their own; however, they all manage to move far away from anything that looks un-exciting or monotonous. Hmmmm… or, … is it, that they move away from the unexciting manner in which these Science/Math subjects often end up being taught or presented? Could it be boring? Whatever It is? Missionary Educator Games believes that learning, should be fun. And that there should be a healthy, competitive venue that contains fun challenges for all ages present. We believe this is paramount, to any student’s core learning experience, and also for maintaining their engagement! So, why do you think that children and teens actually gravitate, with so much deliberate effort, towards competitive, challenging, critical thinking, video games? … Hmmm? It’s not for the Boo Boo, Beep Beep sounds, and flashing lights; I believe it is actually for the competitive atmosphere, the challenging atmosphere…. the critical thinking atmosphere! I believe, this is really what they want to work towards. While they also have challenging fun in the process. Let’s give them what they want! Only let’s give it to them in the form of a Math Game. 21st There are several ways to play this game! One on one, Teacher vs group, or Group vs group. This game can teach, at any Math level, as early as 1st or 2nd grade (The Greenhorn levels), all the way up to 6th or 7th grade (Sharp Shooter Levels). By gradually increasing difficulty, it primarily focuses just on Important Math skills, that build toward a complete understanding of Math, as the game introduces numerous new Concepts. 22nd Both you and your student, can easily tailor this game in a personal way, by increasing or decreasing the difficulty of the problems at any time. … Jumping Jack Rabbits! … why you can even create your very own Math problems when you arrive at (Doc Holiday). The upper most level.