Students get on board to boost reading, math skills

2010 Canfield Fair

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By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Fourth-graders Teona Mixon, Destinee McCauley, Cadaja Blair, Zaire Glenn and Anais Marrero boost their vocabulary while paying homage to a Mahoning County tradition.

The Taft Elementary School students improve reading, bolster math skills and learn how to keep score while playing the County Fair board game.

It was created by New Middletown native Joanne Zwingler Farinacci, who based it on the Canfield Fair.

“She donated 30 of the games to our school,” said Laura Sullivan, Taft’s literacy facilitator.

She and Farinacci were roommates while students at the University of Akron.

The game, for children age 8 to adult, features a game board laid out like the Canfield Fair with the grandstand, educational building, 4-H area and other popular attractions.

“At the Youngstown City Schools, we want to do all we can to promote life-long learning,” Sullivan said. “Playing games is something you can do all your life.”

Players move around the fairgrounds, spending money on concessions, games and shows, trying to earn as many badges and ribbons as they can along the way. If they land on a post-time spot, they head to the grandstand for a harness race.

First and foremost, the game helps with reading, Sullivan said. The children must read the directions to learn how to play the game. It also involves math as each player is given an allotment of play money at the start of the game to spend throughout. Socialization and sportsmanship are additional benefits.

“They also learn new vocabulary,” Sullivan said.

When a child lands on a space and reads a word they don’t recognize, they sound it out.

Teona, Destinee, Cadaja, Zaire and Anais are teaching children in other classes how to play the game too.

Teona, 9, counted out the play money to each of the players and sorted the prize cards for the start of the game.

“It’s $85 to each player,” Destinee, 9, explained.

Cadaja, 9, rolled the die and landed on a space that said she won the Dress a Cow contest. She got a blue ribbon and five points. She says she enjoys collecting the prizes.

“I like the way we move the colors around and get prizes from the cards,” Teona said.

“I like post-time when you go around the track and everything,” Destinee said.

Zaire, 9, likes it best when someone gets to be the king or queen of the fair, getting points along with a crown card.

“I like everything about the game,” said Anais, 10.