Grapevine Elementary School

The same week that the Grapevine High School ladies soccer team won the state championship, Grapevine Elementary students had their own personal triumphs as part of the school’s monthly “Game Day,” most recently held April 14.

“Game Day is a time for our teachers to intentionally check on student’s academic progress and how they are doing in meeting their goals,” said Principal Nancy Hale. “We call it Game Day because our school theme this year was G.A.M.E.S, which is an acronym for Goals And Motivation Equals Success.”

Although teachers are consistently checking on how students are progressing academically, it’s not every day that they are using the same tool.

“When you monitor progress, you have to use the same tool for the same amount of time,” Hale added. “It has to be very consistent.”

Game Day also presents an opportunity to involve students with their academic progress.

Second grader Benjamin Wehmas said he is a fan of Game Day.

“It really gets you to push on your skills in math because you are timed,” he said, referring to the page of mathematical equations that students are given each month and have three minutes to complete.

Wehmas was also very perceptive that the goal is not about finishing, but rather about pushing oneself.

“You don’t have to finish. It’s just pushing yourself so you can do better.”

Their sheets go into their “Game Day Folders,” which the second grade team at GES is using.

“With this age group, it’s really good to have a visual so we have Game Day folders where they keep all of their documentation about their reading goals and their math goals,” said second grade teacher Madeleine Brown. “They are able to look at and visually see the growth and each Game Day we strive to get more addition and subtraction facts correct.”

For reading fluency, Brown works with students one-on-one.

“I have been trying to read more pages more fluently and that’s actually helped me quite a bit,” Wehmas added.

When students meet their individual reading goals, they also get a book from the school’s new book vending machine installed this year in the foyer thanks to fundraising by the school’s PTA.

“It’s really cool to see them get excited about Game Day,” Brown added. “It helps them get a better understanding of where they are at academically and how they can improve. That’s really great to see.”