BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
MIGUEL JUAREZ staff
NORTH BRUNSWICK — Two plus two is four. Four plus two is six. Six plus two is eight. Often math is taught in a boring, repetitious manner. But students at Parsons Elementary School participated in a variety of board games and computer games to enhance their math skills on June 2.
More than 110 families registered to participate in Math Games Extravaganza presented by Chicago’s Everyday Math, a company that published the program aligned with the curriculum.
“This gives parents free resources because kids tend to regress over the summer. It is a proactive strategy,” said Chad Marcus, the math and science coordinator at Parsons. “The company gives us resources to help us help parents and students.”
Coleen Liverpool brought her daughters Keisha, 17, and Karimah, 9, a fourth-grade student.
“We came because math is a very important skill. I want to encourage Karimah to learn math in different ways and see the fun part of math,” said Coleen Liverpool.
The family was playing Multiplication Wrestling, where players draw four cards to form two two-digit numbers. The object is to get the largest product of two two-digit numbers.
“This encourages the kids to actually want to sit down and learn math,” said Keisha Liverpool.
Jovita Saenz and her daughter, RaeAna Wagner, 6, a kindergarten student, played Spin a Number. Players used a spinner and moved their chip along the game board in the fashion of a race.
“I wanted to enhance her math skills. She is going into first grade, so it is very important,” said Saenz.
Chitrang Vyas and his daughter Shivani, 9, a third-grade student, played one of the most popular games of the night, Paper Money Exchange. Ten $1 bills are exchanged into $10 bills, and then 10 $10 bills are exchanged into one $100 bill. The first person to reach the $100 bill wins.
“I am winning and I like money and I like place values,” said Shivani Vyas, who had $75 compared to her father’s $18. “It is fun to do math. This game is my favorite.”
“This is good even for me because it is exposure to see new games available on the market,” said Chitrang Vyas.
In an age where computer technology is the basis of life, the company offers computer games on different educational Web sites for kids to enjoy. Some of the most popular Web sites of the night were FunBrain.com, LearningPlanet.com, KidZone.ws and SlylockFox.com.
Jamie Meyers, 6, a first-grade student, figured it would be fun to try the computer.
“You get to play lots of games,” she said.
She was playing Ann and Addem’s Dartboard Game from bbc.co.uk, where you shoot an arrow toward a bull’s-eye to acquire points.
“I like math. I think I’ll use the computer over the summer,” she said.
Sunali Shah brought her daughter, Pooja, 8, a third-grader; her son, Samir, 7, a first-grader; and her friend’s son, Ansh, 6, a kindergartner.
“Their curiosity brings them here. They are having a good time,” said Sunali Shah.
Samir Shah played Math Baseball on FunBrain.com.
“It gives you addition problems, subtraction problems, division problems and multiplication problems. They give them to you separate or all mixed up,” he said. “I like the addition and the multiplication the best.”
Although he was taught math in India, he has learned additional tricks from the Web sites.
“If I have three times four, I do three times three equals nine, and then I add three to that to equal 12. Also, I didn’t know how to add without my fingers,” he said.
Ashley Joga, 8, a second-grader, brought along her brother, Anthony, an eighth-grader at Linwood Middle School, and her mother Alexandra Paulino.
“I like Twistables [on FunBrain.com] because I finally get to play with candy,” Ashley Joga said.
“I like this because the kids feel free. They think they’re coming just for play but the real issue is to learn,” Paulino said. “Ashley needs help in math, but I want her to have fun playing.”
Anthony Joga can relate to his sister’s struggles.
“I was horrible [in school]. Now I get good grades and I am on the honor roll. I go to Homework.com at school, and there are hits and tips on doing homework,” he said.
“This is a tremendous turnout,” Principal Bruce Rothenberg said. “I say hi to the kids and they don’t even look up; they’re so involved.”
In addition to a packet with game directions and Web site addresses for use over the summer, families received several tips for learning enhancement from the publishing company. Suggestions included asking children “why” and “how” questions, setting aside a regular time to turn off the television, computer and videogames, reviewing report cards, taking weekly trips to the library, practicing reading, writing and math skills, and reflecting on experiences through discussion and journaling.
Parents can visit North Brunswick’s math and science Web site at www.teacherweb.com/nj/northbrunswick/mathscience for more information.