CUTE Mini Game for Oral Language!
Many of y'all know I'm a huge fan of dollar stores and finding little tools to invite into our instruction. Students love the novelty, and honestly- we need it, too! I love being able to walk through the dollar store and finding one random item- a pool noodle for example - and trying to figure out a fun way to bring it into the classroom to create an engaging learning experience!
On a recent trip to Party City, I found this pack of "mini 3-in-a-row games" as party favors. I threw that in my basket SO FAST. It comes in a pack of 12 for only $4- which I thought was a great price! Kids of all ages love "mini" things - have you seen those "Mini Brand" toys at Target, Walmart, and Amazon? They're all over the place! It reminds me of my Polly Pocket days, and I know I would have LOVED those mini brand toys as a kid!
My brain started swirling with ways to bring this into classrooms, so here are a few that I thought of immediately!
Conversation Catchers: Use this tool as a way to demonstrate turn-taking in informal conversations with peers. As I talk with teachers, many of us are wondering how we can build more social conversational skills with students, as this skillset may have suffered during the pandemic for some of our kids. Teach studnets to not be "conversation killers" by ending with a statement and not offering an opportunity for a partner to respond back. Provide stems and frames like "How about you?" "What are your thoughts on this?" "Do you agree or disagree?" to keep conversations going! As students each take turns conversing, have them "capture" their dialogue by inserting their color chip into the green stand.
Listening Tool for Debates: Distribute these to listeners/observers and have students fishbowl a debate. This may be two coteachers modeling a debate at the beginning of a unit - or it may be two students/groups participating in a debate while the rest of the class watches and listens. Assign each side a color - either red or blue- and have them "capture" each time a strong point is made. Of course, students will need lots of examples of what a strong point looks like, sounds like, and feels like!
As a Game: Use this in its truest form- just as a tic-tac-toe style game! While this game is nonlinguistic, games like these can provide many fun opportunities for students to let loose and engage in some fun. It's small enough that it doesn't take forever to set up or clean up! PLAY is important for languaging, and also for life!
Friendly Competition: Have groups or tables go against each other as they complete tasks. "Put one circle in once your whole table has their books put away. Put a circle in once your whole table wiped down their desktops. Put a circle in once your whole table plugged in their device. Put a circle in once your whole table grabbed their Writers Notebook (and so on!)." This may bring some fun energy to transitions.
How would YOU use this mini tool???
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