Ideas for Dads & Schools: Guitar Hero Night
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 5:59PM by John Badalament This is a new section of my blog called Ideas for Dads & Schools. The purpose is to pass on interesting, creative ways that dads/dad-figures around the country are getting involved in their sons' and daughters' school community. These ideas may be directly applicable to your setting or situation, or they need to be adapted; at the very least, my hope is to get you thinking creatively about ways dads and schools can work together to increase involvement in children's educational lives. I found the article below interesting because it:
- Offers an interesting alternative to the typical "Math Night at School" using the video game Guitar Hero. Question: how directly do they tie the video game to actual learning in math?
- Appears to be an effective way of getting middle school boys in the door, with their dads/dad-figures. Question: would this approach - using a video game - be as effective with girls?
- Illustrates creative, outside the box thinking about engaging dads in schools. Question: how could your community use the power of media to engage dads and children in an education-focused event?
Dad, You Are My Rock: Kids, Fathers & 'Guitar Hero'
By Steven Alford Special to the Caller-Times
Thursday, December 17, 2009
CORPUS CHRISTI — The draw: Hot dogs, prizes and “Guitar Hero.”
The reason: To bring dads and sons together.
The message: Dads, your sons and schools need your help.
And one other added bonus — youths had the chance to play some math and science-themed games as they waited for their shot at “Guitar Hero” on Thursday night at Martin Middle School.
More than 30 pairs of fathers and sons turned out for the event that served as an opportunity for parents and kids to spend quality time together after hours at school, said Martin Middle School Principal Ralph Silva.
“If we had called it ‘Math Night’ none of the kids would have wanted to come, but with ‘Guitar Hero’ it’s another story,” Silva said.
For eighth-grader Christian Vela and about 30 of his classmates, the opportunity to play “Guitar Hero” was one that couldn’t be passed up.
“Star power! You’re going to get a high score!” yelled one student as Christian strummed along with a virtual band. “Cool! You rocked!” he said, while congratulating another student.
“I wish they had this when I was in school,” said David Vela, Christian’s dad. “This is a really great idea and the kids love this game.”
Christian, 14, is a first-chair violinist at school and an avid “Guitar Hero” player at home, his family said.
“We’ve got him the whole setup at home,” his father said, “and he got excited to come up here and play with his friends.”
The school treated fathers and sons to a hot dog dinner and a raffle for door prizes, including a “Guitar Hero” setup.
As Christian and his friends played along to such classic tunes as “School’s Out For Summer” by Alice Cooper, his father and others looked on with pride, bobbing their heads to songs from the past.
Silva and John Cadena, interim assistant principal, also brought real guitars to show the curious kids some simple chords and maintenance techniques.
“The whole reason we’re here tonight is to increase parental involvement in our students’ lives,” Silva said. “Often their mothers will come to a lot of the meetings at school, but we want dads to know they are needed just as much.”
That’s the message Corpus Christi Independent School District Superintendent Scott Elliff shared before letting the guitars wail.
“When our kids get older we think that they don’t need us as much in their school lives, but nothing could be further from the truth,” Elliff said. “This is the most important time in their lives to be involved. They want you to ask questions and to show your support.”
The school also offered math and science-themed games for the fathers and sons to play together to reinforce at-home learning.
“Dads, we need your help, the school cannot do it alone,” Elliff said “Together we can make a difference in these young men’s lives.”
© 2009 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online