For the Tomahawk Leader
TOMAHAWK – The School District of Tomahawk and Math Specialist and GT Coordinator Laurie Tracey were recently awarded $2,000.00 by the Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA) Foundation for Tomahawk Elementary School (TES)’s “Games in Math” project, a release from WREA said.
“The Games in Math project provides TES students the opportunity to play board games that encourage strategic mathematical thinking as students find different strategies for solving problems and deepen their understanding of numbers,” a post on the district’s Facebook page explained.
“Games allow families to make mathematical connections,” WREA stated. “Playing games encourages strategic mathematical thinking as students find different strategies for solving problems and deepen their understanding of numbers.”
WREA said games also support a school-to-home connection, adding that parents can learn about their children’s mathematical thinking by playing games with them at home.
The grant funds will go towards purchasing more game titles for each grade level, allowing all the students in one classroom to play the same game simultaneously.
“Classrooms will play more games if the students are already familiar with the games, and students can actually teach the teachers how to play,” WREA stated. “The excitement is shared at home and then encourages families to continue their game playing.”
The grant award will impact 500-plus students and more than 30 teachers, the district said.
About WREA
The WREA and the WREA Foundation are independent, non-profit organizations representing about 9,000 retired educators across the state of Wisconsin. Their primary focus is to “support and protect the retirement interests and needs of its members, and to advocate for public schools.” Both organizations are located in Middleton, Wis.