Meaningful Math for Severn Families

How Does This Program Work?

Ms. Shaener chooses a game for each grade level that challenges our students to transfer their skills, develop a sense of strategy, and think critically about math. She practices each game with the kids at school and then sends home a packet with instructions and materials at the beginning of the month. She chooses games that are not typically used in the classroom so it feels fresh and fun. For example in Target 5000, each player rolls a die six times, adding the sums mentally as they go. Whoever gets closest to 5000 is the winner. These games might appear simple, but involve complex math concepts and reasoning skills.

Thinking and Writing About Math

After playing the game at home, both families and students write about their experience. “What advice would you give to a friend about playing the game? What version of the game did you play?” Stacy uses their responses to assess each child’s progress. She asks families to describe the strategies their child used and talk about the game from their perspective. As one parent commented “I beat her in round one, but we tied in round two!” A simple statement that shows her child's learning and growth.

Learn More About Math at Severn Lower School

This program reinforces both student learning and the value of family connection to our school. If you’d like to learn more about math in the Lower School, please join us on November 10th for our Lower School Parent Math Session: Focus on Multiplication Fact Fluency. Ms. Shaener will share Severn’s philosophy on fact fluency and will share both strategies and games to help support students at home.