- Ditch That Textbook
- Posts
- 👾 One teacher's year-long class gamification
👾 One teacher's year-long class gamification
Plus a creative exit ticket idea
Matt Miller
May 14, 2024
👾 The best games in the classroom
As school winds down, I know I’ll be playing some review games with my students.
I have my favorites …
My high school students have loved Blooket this year — with games that resemble the mobile app games they love to play on their phones.
I have always loved Quizlet Live because it’s the most collaborative. It uses Quizlet flashcards you already have.
I’m even going to play an old-school game of “trashketball” this week, too. Student teams answer questions and shoot a ball in the trash can from varying distances for extra points.
Those are quick one-time games.
Can you imagine a year-long game?
In today’s new guest post, middle school social studies teacher Matt Armstrong shares his year-long classroom gamification — and how he developed the games. Themes, levels, rewards, side missions … the works. (He suggests that you start small and build up over time.)
If you’re curious, now might be the ideal time to start thinking about a year-long classroom game for next school year!
Keep scrolling and you’ll also find the “design a t-shirt” exit ticket, too … fun!
Inside:
📧 Share this newsletter with others!
👀 DTT Digest: Google, Chromebooks, AI course
💡 The Big Idea: Turn your class into a year-long game
🗄 Template: “Design a t-shirt” exit ticket
😄 Smile of the day: What happens AFTER Teacher Appreciation
👋 How we can help
📧 Share this newsletter with others!
Know someone else who would appreciate getting the Ditch That Textbook email newsletter?
Do you support teachers in your role — and would love for them to get these ideas in their own inboxes?
Share the Ditch That Textbook email newsletter with them!
Just copy/paste the text below into an email or social media post …
I’m subscribed to the Ditch That Textbook email newsletter. They’re constantly sharing practical teaching and tech tips in my inbox. It’s stuff you can use in class right away, and it’s free. You can subscribe at DitchThatTextbook.com/join.
👀 DTT Digest
4 teaching resources worth checking out today
🗓️ICYMI Rock the end of the year with Google tools! — Yesterday we shared our newly updated post with tons of Googley ideas to help you make the most of these last few weeks.
📄 End of year lessons/activities collection — Michael Morrison just shared this Google Doc full of links to end of year collections on Twitter/X. He even notes whether or not tech is required for the activities.
🎤 Use your Chromebook Microphone as an exit ticket — This idea comes from John R. Sowash. Instead of asking students to complete a written reflection, ask them to verbally respond to your exit ticket prompt by recording their response using the microphone on their Chromebook. H/t to TCEA for sharing on Twitter/X
💻 Take a new Generative AI course from Google — With this Generative AI for Educators course, you’ll learn how to use generative AI tools to help you save time on everyday tasks, personalize instruction, enhance lessons and activities in creative ways, and more. H/t to Jake Miller for sharing on Twitter/X
💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡
👾 Turn your class into a year-long game
I’ve played lots of review games in my classroom before.
But a year-long learning game, with a theme and levels and rewards and side missions? That’s on a whole different level.
But Matt Armstrong, a middle school social studies teacher, has developed games like this — a year-long world history game called “Legacy” and a 3/4-year-long American history game called “Become the President.”
(Spoiler alert: These games didn’t start as year-long games. He added to them little by little over time.)
Interested? He says you can do it, too. He shares how he developed his games and lots of tips in today’s new post: Work hard, play hard: One teacher’s journey implementing gamification all YEAR long.
Now might be the ideal time to start thinking and planning for next year!
🗄 Template
👕 Design a T-shirt to show what you’ve learned
The “Design a T-Shirt Exit Ticket” template is one of our favorite exit tickets. It’s a fun and engaging way to encourage students to reflect on their lessons and express their understanding in a visual format. But it can be used in more ways, especially at the end of the school year.
Here are five ideas for using this template in class at the end of the school year:
Memory Shirt: Have students design a t-shirt that includes their favorite memories or topics covered throughout the school year.
Shirt Summary Collaboration: Assign each student a different subject or unit from the year and have them create a t-shirt that summarizes the key points. Display all of the shirts together.
Future Aspirations: Students can design a t-shirt that reflects their goals and aspirations for the next school year.
Class Yearbook/Memory Book: Turn the t-shirt designs into a digital yearbook page, with each student contributing their unique design.
Autograph Shirt: Have students “sign” the backs of their classmate’s t-shirts writing something positive or encouraging about them. Fun twist: Print large shirts and tape them to students backs. Give each student a marker and let them write their words of encouragement or praise as they walk around the classroom.
Get the template:
😄 Smile of the day
Live look at my school’s teacher’s lounge …
h/t me! Ditch That Textbook
👋 How we can help
There are even more ways I can support you in the important work you do in education:
Read one of my six books about meaningful teaching with tech.
Take one of our online courses about practical and popular topics in education.
Bring me to your school, district or event to speak. I love working with educators!
What did you think of today's newsletter?Choose the best fit for you ... |