Thursday, September 24, 2009

Week 2 response

I try to incorporate games to review as often as possible. The main way I do this is to utilize a class set of white boards ($15 shower board purchased and cut to 1x2 individual sections at Home Depot). I pair up the students (draw names or decide groups for themselves) and let them develop team names. Then we play Jeopardy type question/answer sessions. I usually give points to every team that gets the correct answer, but they only get one chance to answer for points. I have had mixed results for this tactic - where most of the students really enjoy the interaction and relaxed atmosphere of the review, but other students end up getting discouraged and tend to stop participating at the same level as everyone else. I would love to get some other ideas for games that are engaging and helpful for reviews!!

3 comments:

  1. I also use the shower board as white boards in the classroom. I review for upcoming tests using the white boards. I normally put the test on transparencies and we review by going over each question and having the students write the answer on their white board. I also review by putting the classroom in teams and we play basketball review. The students are asked a question and must determine the answer as a team. They write their answer on the white board and if it is correct they get to shoot for points.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the idea of a basketball review and getting to shoot for points! Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your comment regarding some students becoming discouraged and giving up while playing games hit home. I have also found that there may be a couple of students who do not get as much from this type of review and simply are not engaged. If I know ahead of time the students who are struggling, I usually make them the "speaker" to they can feel like they are contributing. Also, this means the answers have to come to them before being spoken which allows exposure to the student.
    My kids love using their white boards to do quick review which means they are engaged.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.