What are SWAP and FIX?

SWAP and FIX are boxed card games suitable for 2 to 4 players. Each game is a pack of 42 word cards, 8 SWAP/FIX cards and a word list. There are 3, 4, 5 or 6 suits (word families or prefix/suffix types) in each pack (details are given on the next page). The cards are colourful but uncluttered - each suit, or letter string, is a different colour.

SWAP and FIX are essentially reading games which can be played with any helping adult or by a group in the classroom. When played with the teacher, the games are excellent for introducing and reinforcing a spelling family/rule.

The games are designed to be flexible and the words are carefully selected so that either whole families or individual words can be withdrawn without spoiling the game. The games can thus be tailored to the needs of the students. They have been used successfully from age 6 to adult.

There are currently 35 different SWAP games and 7 different FIX games.

How do you play SWAP and FIX?

The rules are printed on the back of every game box but in brief: A player tries to place a card of a matching suit on top of the card placed by the previous player - the objective simply being to play all of his cards. To ensure that learning is effective, the player must say the word as it is played or name the letter string when changing suit. The SWAP/FIX cards allow players to change the suit.

The games can be played with the cards in the hand or the players can lay the cards, face up and arranged in suits, on the table. The latter is the easiest way to introduce a new player while the experienced players enjoy the increased tactical opportunities.

Do they work?

The power of the games lies in the vital multi-sensory elements - seeing, saying and hearing the words and letter strings.

The students' desire to win will spur them on to success and they will be barely aware that they are involved in a learning process - to steer themselves to victory they must be able to read the words and recognise to which word family/prefix/suffix they belong. The games allow endless repetition in an acceptable form.

The simple rule structure puts the game in line with the best tactical games. The less able will follow its basic structure and rely purely upon chance while more able players will invent tactical game plans. In all cases the overriding element of chance provides a levelling factor. You can be assured that the students will find their own approach!

Above all .... they are FUN!

SWAP: Laminated fronts with gold coloured coated backs

FIX: Laminated fronts with silver coloured coated backs

Below is a table showing the Swap and Fix games and what each game covers (Fix Gamz)

Sample Cards

FUN
Originally developed with dyslexics for dyslexics, our products have gained a much broader appeal. They are used widely to develop reading, spelling and other skills.

LEARN
Don't let the superficial simplicity of SWAP and FIX and other games fool you. They are 'lots of fun' on the surface but they are also powerful, subliminal learning aids.

PRODUCTS
These products are designed to appeal to all ages (5 to adult) and we are confident that they will reach places other products do not reach

GAMZ was set up in 1993 by Bobbie Hill, while working with dyslexic learners. The games were developed with her pupils over a period of 10 years. She realised the need for simple, professionally produced learning aids. They had to be fast to set up, and quick and meaningful to play. They had to appeal to children and adults alike. She knows that teachers and parents need such resources and often do not have the time or the availability of economic printing facilities to produce them.

Quality of manufacture was important. A 'home-made' feel often engenders a negative response - particularly from children.

Simplicity was also essential. You may yourselves have had to rewrite the rules of a game in order to make it playable within the given time! The ease and interest of play of SWAP and FIX, with a strong competitive element levelled by chance, fitted her needs. She thinks they will also fit yours ...

The GAMZ Player software was a natural development following the success of the card games.

The aim of GAMZ is to supply you with these professionally produced resources that we know you need. With SWAP and FIX you can be sure of a tried and tested formula from a supplier who has the success of her products' application as her prime concern. We are particularly proud of those occasions on which our products have inspired students where other methods failed.

As an aside, the name of the business, GAMZ (pronounced games), was chosen by dyslexic children with a sense of humour!

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