Young Scrabble Tournament Participants Say Game Teaches Much More Than Just Strategy
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Youngsters who take part in Philadelphia's After School Activities Partnership put their Scrabble smarts to the test during a competition inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
"If you like put the letter on them - that doubles your letter or doubles your word and then you got to make the most words and get the most points and you win," a student said.
A simple explanation from one of the participants in Wednesday's Scrabble tournament.
Another calls it a thinking person's game that teaches much more than just strategy.
"It combines vocabulary and spelling," a student said.
(Reporter:) "Are you good at vocabulary and spelling?"
"No," said a student.
(Reporter:) "So you learn along the way?"
"Yes."
Paul Carroll has a long association with the After School Activities Partnership.
"They do learn words and just keeping score, they learn strategy. And, it's been proven through outcomes surveys that after-school programs kids that participate in them their grades improve, their attendance improve," Carroll said.
And, they have a little fun, too.
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