Utilizing a new out-of-the-box concept for helping students improve their math skills, Pine Middle School Teacher Suzanne Walsh has selected the card Game of Bridge along with the game of Cribbage as a means to get her students actively processing critical thinking and everyday numerical computations in a new class called “Exploratory Subjects. “
As one of the Pilot schools in the Washoe County School District to introduce this new kind of teaching, Pine offers its students the opportunity get a hands-on experience with a number of different subjects in which they participate in a practical use of the basic academic subjects like science, geometry and basic math.
In this class, it is math and Bridge is an excellent way to sharpen up on calculating numerical answers to problems and learn inferential analysis while playing the game. Twenty students have selected the course for Cribbage and Bridge this semester.
Following the first ten weeks of the fall semester during which the students were taught Cribbage, the students were introduced to Contract Bridge on October 17. Bridge is the subject in place for the remaining weeks of the fall semester. The class is being taught Bridge in accord with the lesson plan and material provided by Reno Youth Bridge, Inc.
At the completion of the fall semester, Bridge students will be invited to join an After School Activity Class in which they will continue to gain experience playing Bridge and learning the skills to master the world’s most popular card game.
Pine Middle School’s bridge team will compete in three interscholastic duplicate tournaments during the second semester and the teams will be selected from this Bridge class.
The WCSD RYB Major Team Game Championship Tournament is schedule to be held at the John Ascuaga’s Golden Nugget Hotel in Sparks on April 21, 2012.
According to Ms. Walsh, with the students able to have more than 44 hours of instruction between now and the end of the fall semester, The Pine Middle School Bridge Teams should make a good showing at the Winter ACBL Regional and the RYB Major Team Game Championship Duplicate Tournament next spring.
Reno Youth Bridge, a 501(c)(3) non profit Nevada Corporation, is funded by the generous contributions from individuals, families and charitable foundations here in the Reno Community. None of the RYB Directors or Officers receive compensation for their services. WCSD Certified teachers at each of the participating schools do receive a stipend for their volunteer efforts to teach the game of Bridge to WCSD Middle School Students. If you would like to help us fund our program we have provided the convenience of Pay Pal Credit card services. Just click on the Donate Button on any page or call Bud Brewer at 775-849-4113. Thank You!
