Photo Courtesy of Rita Woker and Christine Navea
Naperville Education Foundation funded “Kindergarten Game Club,” an Express Grant by Highlands Elementary School Instructional Assistants Rita Woker and Christine Navea. The grant funded board games and playing cards for Kindergarten Game Club.
“Play-based learning is an effective way to weave curricular standards into a fun experience for kindergarteners,” Woker and Navea wrote in their grant application. “Kindergarten Game Club strives to support social-emotional learning among students from different classrooms by making social connections, improving logical reasoning and emphasizing critical-thinking skills.”
The club started with 48 spots for participants over two sessions.
“When every available slot filled, we knew there was a need for this club,” Woker and Navea wrote in the grant follow-up.
The impact of the club was clear through observing student behavior and interactions.
“Because of the fun and positive environment of the club, the kindergarteners were comfortable and confident,” Woker and Navea wrote. “Many of them learned important life skills like leadership, communication, collaboration and encouragement. They supported each other if someone wasn’t confident. They celebrated each other when winning or losing a game. The students learned to persevere when a game was too hard or when losing a game.”
One game in particular, Race to the Treasure, tested the students’ collaborative skills.
“They had to collaborate and figure out how to get to the treasure without being stopped by the ogre,” Woker and Navea wrote. “This was one of their favorite games."
Fourth and 5th grade students from Highlands’ Student Advisory Board were invited to volunteer at Kindergarten Game Club.
“Both my kindergartener and 5th grader enjoyed this after school activity,” one parent shared. “[My son] could not wait until game days and would be so excited to stay after school and learn some new games. [My 5th grade daughter] loved being able to help and visit with the younger students.”
Students also strengthened their relationships with their peers.
“We feel each student ended the club with a new friend along with a new game and skill learned,” Woker and Navea wrote.
