Informational Essay Writing is an everyday activity for children in school but it seems to be something many students dont want

to do or have a difficult time doing. Introducing games to the classroom may be one way to address the issue. Games can introduce and strengthen learning objectives in a fun, non-traditional way (Sharp, 2012). Writing workshops are one way teachers implement the writing process (Tompkins, 2012). Games can be introduced during workshop time or during whole group lessons. Games can be played by individuals, small groups or the whole class. Games can be used to practice procedures or review content material such as vocabulary or spelling. Games can also be used to engage students. Human beings seem to like to solve puzzles and play cames. Games and puzzles spark our interest (Marzano, The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction, 2007) According to Marzano, academic games can be associated with a gain in student achievement of twenty percentile points. Games must have academic content, include inconsequential competition, and most importantly the teacher must debrief after the games conclusion (Marzano, 2010). Games can be used at any time in a childs life to assist learning. Games for writing can be used in a classroom as early as Kindergarten. Kindergarten games can be used to promote small muscle coordination, increase concepts of print, practice letter formation and connect the idea of words to print. Games can be used to decrease writing anxiety; work on spelling, grammar, and handwriting; and practice style in Kindergarten and higher grades (Kaye, 1995). Using what I learned from research I endeavored to create games for the classroom. I made sure that the games I created had academic content and aligned with the TEKS for a given

grade. Some games I adapted from items in text books. These games included turning collaborative writing, interactive writing to teach students how to create stories with the correct order and components. I used word ladders and making words to assist children with their spelling and word recognition (Tompkins, Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach, 2010). This gave me some games to start with but what about puzzles? There are many sites that can be used to make crossword puzzles and scramble puzzles. Scramble puzzles can be used to help students with their spelling and word recognition skills. Discovery Education has a free puzzle maker that allows teachers or students to create their own word searches, criss-cross, double puzzles, or other different puzzles. Crossword puzzles can be used to reinforce vocabulary or general concepts. After coming up with so many games my next question was how do I bring them into the classroom effectively and in a way that they actually enhance learning, not distract students from learning. I went back to what I have learned about classroom management. I would tell students what was expected, tell them the consequences of not following the rules, and enforce the rules. I believe adding games to my classroom can lead to greater student engagement and achievement. Kaye, P. (1995). Games for Writing: Playful ways to Help Your Child Learn to Write. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Marzano, R. J. (2007). The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction. Alexandria: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Marzano, R. J. (2010). Meeting Students Where They Are: Using games to Enhance Student Achievement. Educational Leadership, 71-72. Sharp, L. A. (2012, January). Stealth Learning: Unexpected Learning Opportunities Through Games. Retrieved from Journal of Instructional Research: http://www.gcu.edu/Academics/Journal-of-Instructional-Research/-UnexpectedLearning-Opportunities-Through-Games-.php Tompkins, G. E. (2010). Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach. Boston: Pearson. Tompkins, G. E. (2012). Teaching Writing: Balancing Process and Product. Boston: Pearson.