TL;DR:
- This post shares learning opportunities for elementary gamers, including Sumdog, Teach Your Monster to Read, Prodigy, and Boddle.
- These learning opportunities for elementary gamers bring fun and play to learning.
Learning Opportunities for Elementary Gamers
Now that we are about a month into the school year, I have had the opportunity to introduce some favorite educational websites and explore a few new ones! Some of my favorite game-based learning websites are free, and occasionally there will be a paid option. I try to find sites that allow me to play along with my students. I’m also intentional about what I choose for my students.
I search for websites that meet certain criteria. As a second-grade teacher, I try to have something that is free or low-cost per student. I like to have a list of standards that are covered by the content. And I like games that are adaptive or move through content as students master skills. I also want a program that gives me data as a teacher on a dashboard. Students should enjoy and have buy-in to the game and look forward to playing it.
I also want a program that gives me data as a teacher on a dashboard. Students should enjoy and have buy-in to the game and look forward to playing it. Click To TweetSumdog
One of the games I have had students playing the longest is Sumdog. Over time there are fewer free options, but the fun is still there. My favorite game is Cake Walk. A really fun feature is that you can play along with your students. This game has adaptive skills and tests student knowledge before moving on to games. Gameplay is short and can be set to play with classmates. I feel that it really keeps their attention and continues a love for math. They also have contests where you can compete between schools or even across districts.
Teach Your Monster to Read
Monsters can be really fun when learning is involved. This game is developed by the Usborne Foundation and helps students complete phonics-related tasks to help their monster build a spaceship. The colors are joyful and bright and the animation is spot on. They continue expanding on the game development so more grade levels can participate. The newest release gives players an opportunity to gather books and read them to different monsters. The game builds but isn’t necessarily adaptive. Teachers can assign students to different levels.
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Prodigy Game
This game became a fast favorite for students and teachers. Students love the battles and sometimes do not even realize that they are practicing math facts. Prodigy will give teachers feedback and you can also connect parents so they can see their child’s progress. Students can also play with their friends and play outside of school hours. Parents can also purchase memberships for their children but that is optional. This game is a good option for a center rotation if you use math stations.
Boddle
Boddle is the newest website we are trying out this year. Students like the graphics and even stated that it has a Roblox feel. Students like making their own avatars and personalizing them. Activities and games must be completed before moving on to more customization. As a teacher, you can create assignments and watch your students’ progress. Boddle’s AI will adapt to students’ strengths and help provide support and practices for areas where students are struggling. The target audience for Boddle is kindergarten through sixth grade.
I have used each one of these programs in my own classroom. I am not sponsored by any of these programs, I just like using them to bring fun and play to learning. Do you use any of these programs? Let us know! #playyay #teachbetter #tbblogger
About BreAnn Fennell
Mrs. BreAnn Fennell is a first-grade and second-grade looping teacher in Ashland, Ohio. She has worked in both public and private settings and is passionate about providing exciting learning environments for students. Mrs. Fennell is a published author of children’s books including Play? Yay! and Choose Your Cheer. She is a mom to two energetic boys and a defender of play! 