Education Foundation teaches skills through games

By WENDY SLEDD

Special to Leader-Press

It is often said that life is not a game, but a new Saturday program funded by the Copperas Cove Education Foundation teaches students lifelong skills through gaming. Some gifted students develop social skills ahead of or behind peers their age. Gamification brings together kids who think alike and allow each other unique characteristics without criticism. It offers gifted and talented students a time to practice social and emotional skills outside of the regular school day. It also provides parents time with their children in a fun, low-pressure environment the fourth Saturday of every month, said Teacher Katie Drake. “The idea for Gamification came from my own enjoyment of playing the games and chatting about them with my students last year,” Drake said. “I knew my students would benefit from the rigor of the games as well as time spent with other gifted students.” Junior high students are invited to act as mentors, both in social exchanges and as “gamers.” A junior high volunteer sits at each table and plays with the elementary students and parents. They use leadership skills while teaching the game, making friends and earning volunteer hours. “By playing challenging games like Settlers or Catan, Robo Rally and Forbidden Island, students not only learn to use strategies and adapt to game scenarios, they also learn to adapt their social skills when in groups of peers and adults,” she said. “The objectives of our game days are to help the kids and parents understand the emotional needs of gifted students, to let the kids meet new friends, and parents to meet other parents of gifted students. By bringing together students from Hettie Halstead and Williams Ledger, we form an extended support group within our community.” Fourth grader Bailey N ess attended her first game day in February. “It was fun playing Forbidden Island and Settlers of Catan. It was fun meeting new people and learning about these new games. They were awesome games and cool to play,” she said. Kindergartner Axel Peterson was happy during the first round of the game because his team won. “I collected the third treasure for my team,” he said. “Once I played the game, my family got the game at home. We’ve played almost every day.” Lorelei Starling, 4th grade, described Gamification as “super fun and said she would like to go every Saturday. “While I was at game day, I was excited and competitive even though I lost,” she said. “Being around other people that aren’t my brothers was fun because usually I don’t get to do that on the weekends.” Gamification meets standards set by the N ational Association for Gifted Children and the Texas Education Agency. So far, the students have trained on Settlers of Catan, a ‘create your settlement’ game and Forbidden Island, a find the treasure and get off the island before it sinks’ team game. Students and parents will learn Robo Rally which had elements of coding and spacial understanding at the next Gamification Day on March 28.