Natalie

Success
It is really tough to get freshmen interested in vocabulary. This year I have created a game that has helped a lot! This game is partly modified from a game that Heidi played in her Spanish 1 class two years ago. The game is called Vocabulary Musical Chairs. How it works is very close to regular musical chairs. The students circle a group of chairs, while a song of their choice (school appropriate of course) plays. When the songs stops they have to sit down. The person left standing (this is where it differs from the game we used to play at birthday parties) chooses someone to battle. I ask them if they would like "word" or "definition". If they choose "word" I ask them what one of the words mean. Example, "What does the word "debris" mean?" If they choose definition, I ask them to connect the definition to the corresponding vocabulary word. Example, "Which one of your words means wreckage?" The vocabulary words are written on the word wall. The two battling students face the word wall. The student who answers first wins and gets to go back in the game! The other student gets to pick the next song and continue working on studying for the test. The kids get SO into this game and it is always fun. The winner receives a little prize. I have noticed that when playing this game the class before the vocabulary test, the students seem to do much better. I have also had many students come up to me and tell me how much the game helped. That is for sure a success!