'This is a book full of thoughtful and well-chosen games and puzzles, but it is also a book that offers a lens into how we might include this kind of play in our own classrooms in ways that are deeply meaningful and engaging for our students. It is a book truly rooted in the realities and possibilities of the classroom, which is what makes it such a valuable resource for teachers.' Kassia Omohundro Wedekind, from the foreword
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Students love math games and puzzles, but how much are they really learning from the experience? Too often, math games are thought of as just a fun activity or enrichment opportunity. Well Played shows you how to make games and puzzles an integral learning component that provides teachers with unique access to student thinking.
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The twenty-five games and puzzles in Well Played, which have all been field-tested in diverse classrooms, contain:
        explanations of the mathematical importance of each game or puzzle and how it supports student learning;
        variations for each game or puzzle to address a range of learning levels and styles;
        clear step-by-step directions; and
        classroom vignettes that model how best to introduce the featured game or puzzle.Â
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The book also includes a separate chapter with suggestions for how to effectively manage games and puzzles in diverse classrooms; reproducibles that provide directions, game boards, game cards, and puzzles; assessment ideas; and suggestions for online games, puzzles, and apps.
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Well Played will help you tap the power of games and puzzles to engage students in sustained and productive mathematical thinking.