Introduction 9If given a choice, most students would choose to play a game
rather than solve math problems on a page in a textbook. Yet the
game may actually teach them more about math than they even
realize. That’s the beauty of games! They are so entertaining
that the learning doesn’t seem like a chore. This is not to imply
that the math will always be easy. Challenges and increased
diffi culty are important parts of learning mathematics. Math
games can be challenging and enjoyable because games serve as
a productive way to hook students into successfully engaging in
mathematics. The games in this book provide opportunities for
students to learn new concepts, practice skills, and apply math
thinking to new situations.
How to Use Formative Assessment
Using formative assessment allows us to know what to
teach. Formative assessment provides information about what a
student currently knows. We can use the formative assessment
data to focus on the explicit academic needs of the students.
“Teachers’ regular use of formative assessment improves
their students’ learning, especially if teachers have additional
guidance on using the assessment to design and individualize
instruction” (National Mathematics Advisory Panel 2008
p. xxiii). Formative assessment comes in a variety of forms.
Sometimes it is a performance task. Other times it is a problem
or question. Using a formative assessment that is not too time-
consuming allows us to devote as much time as possible to
the instruction. Interestingly, using formative assessments can
actually save time because the information helps the teacher
target the instruction. Each of the concepts presented in this
book includes a formative assessment that will allow the teacher
to uncover and focus on the academic needs of the students.