Using games to meet the standards for middle school students. (mathematics) (One Point of View) (Column)

It is evident that our society as a whole needs to take a new look at the way mathematics is taught. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has published documents to establish a broad framework that will lead to the transformation of the teaching and learning of mathematics. The Curriculum and Evaluation Standards (1989) calls for a reform in school mathematics based on societal and economic needs. The Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (1991) makes suggestions for teachers about ways to change their mathematics teaching behaviors on the basis of the curriculum standards. It will take time to educate teachers and administrators about both documents.

Another important group that must be informed of the standards documents is families. The term family is used rather than the more traditional parents because it allows for the inclusion of biological parents or grandparents, stepparents and grandparents, foster parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even cross-aged children and teenagers. Families can help students connect mathematics from the school to the home, where it is essential.

Mathematically related games can help teachers, families, and students connect mathematical concepts to a positive, real-life environment. These learning activities will promote the home-school partnership (Henderson, Marberger, and Ooms 1986) and reduce the traditional separation of work done at school and finished at home.

Currently, many mathematics curricula …