Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Public Charter School

Back to the States

As COVID-19 finally eased its grip on the world and travel became practical again, my family and I looked at options to return to the United States. While that path is never easy, I found an excellent place to land in PVPA. It is a Performing Arts school in Western Massachusetts. I am currently acting as their 9th Grade Math teacher (moving up from 8th Grade in the 22-23 year.)

As part of my teaching at PVPA, I also get the opportunity to teach a Paideia class each year. A two-week intensive class where teachers offer one or two classes and students pick two subjects they want to learn more about. In January 2023, I taught a Game Design 100 and Game Design 101 class.

Game Design 100 was about allowing students to observe existing games and learn about their systems. Each day we would discuss a different type of game and what made it interesting, unique, or even bad. Students then had time to experiment with different games, taking notes and keeping a journal through the process of what they played and how they examined it.

Game Design 101 was more focused on building their own games. Each student was given the option of creating their own game or partnering with another student for the process. They were given prototyping kits, blank cards, dice, tokens, sand timers. They were encouraged to create their own boards if they needed them for their game. Once each game was created, they then had to play each other’s games while the creator takes notes (and sometimes provides clarity on the rules.)

Beyond those game focused ideas, I teach Math, which is not always a loved subject by students. That being said, my goal for the year was to reduce math anxiety and make the classroom a more fun and interesting place for them. I would like to believe I reached success. My students nominated me to speak at their 8th-grade step-up for high school. (and asked me to/convinced me to teach them again next year.)

Overall, the ‘22-’23 year at PVPA was a great experience, using math and games to make learning more interesting and less stressful.