Classroom review games are a great way to combine fun and learning, but if you haven’t used them a lot, review games can take more time away than you’d like from other content. Learn easy hacks for using tried and true classroom review games, and save your valuable time! This is post #1 in a series where I’ll share easy review games and essential hacks!
The most versatile classroom review game
Bingo is a versatile game that doesn’t have to take a lot of class time. Here are my favorite tips for playing Bingo as a review game.
1. Use the filling of the game sheet as an early finisher activity. How? Write all the words you want on the Bingo sheet and display them in the classroom. When students complete work early, ask them to write the words into the blank squares on the sheet in whatever arrangement they’d like, just leave 1 square for the Free space. Looking for fun root word activities that include Bingo games? Find them here.
Providing differentiation ahead of time creates efficiency
2. Have differentiated versions of the game board ready to hand to students who may struggle with filling it out on their own or for students that were absent when the game board was prepped. This simple time-saver really does reduce your workload.
Bingo card markers that don’t create distraction
3. Know what you’ll use as markers. My favorites include math game chips and beans. Here’s the deal though: beans are tempting to throw and they fall off desks a lot. However, I used beans for 20 years and they really weren’t an issue. If one fell on the ground, we all heard it and we just let the student pick it up. I kept the markers in small drink cups (Dixie Cups) in a container on a shelf in the classroom, so they were always ready. No time lost preparing, just pass out the cups.
You might also like this post on Grammar Games and Activities That Really Work.
Clearly state rules for classroom review games
4. Make sure students know the rules. Most important: When 1 or more students call Bingo at about the same time, I let them know that I take the first voice I heard. If this Bingo isn’t good, the next voice I heard gets a turn, and so on.
5. When a student calls Bingo, they read off the squares that make up the Bingo. I let them know that if they have a wrong answer, I’ll wait until they are done reading their squares to inform them that something isn’t correct, but I won’t tell them what it is. This way, the class won’t know what is incorrect and can’t easily switch up their beans to call Bingo. Remind students that they don’t clear their cards until the teacher says it’s time. Quite often, students who call out Bingo early don’t actually have a valid Bingo, so the class keeps playing.
If you like other classroom games & activities, you’ll love these crossword puzzles for practicing ELA academic testing vocabulary (for older kids).
Teacher hacks to keep it moving
6. Have your own copy of the Bingo sheet in front of you. As you call a clue, have a symbol you add to the square that lets you know you’ve called this word or term. Simple symbols I use include squares, circles, different colors, rectangles, triangles, hearts, etc. Each time a new game begins, use a different symbol but keep the same sheet.
Decide ahead of time what you’ll use as clues. There may be no need to write clues down, but you can have definitions or reference sheet to help you with accuracy.
I love playing Bingo when we have a test coming soon, and it can be played with math, social studies, science, root words, reading vocabulary, and so much more. You can allow students study time before the game.
Of all the classroom review games, Bingo is one of the easiest ways for all students to participate, and it takes almost no time to teach how to play. Use the hacks I’ve discovered (the hard way) to help your classroom run more efficiently and reduce teacher stress when playing classroom review games.
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