Recently I was asked the question: “What can you do with kids for four hours in an after school class.” Ah, how I understand the frustration. I was coordinator for my school’s after school program for 2 years and I know how antsy they can become. Try this game as one suggestion for any academic situation where the kids are uppity, it always works for me:
1) Spend some time giving the kids a pre-test of all the multiplication facts. I usually like to stay away from the 1×1 problems etc.
2) Have them grade a partner’s. Explain that we all need help and that getting a lot wrong is not a bad thing at this point. Make sure the grader writes in the correct product.
3) Give the kids in small groups the assignment of using a black marker to write the problem on one 3×5 card and the solution on the other side. Do all.
4) After practicing, have student line up in two lines. The teacher is at the front flashing a card for the front two to “battle” over. The first to say it goes in the line again. The loser sits down.
There can be much variation on this simple activity. Does it sound like something you may do, or that you already do?
