Study Guides? Zzzzzz......

Greetings and Happy Holidays to all!
I hope this post finds you all enjoying your break, relishing your new gifts, enjoying time with friends and family and perhaps playing in some snow!

I was going through some of my pictures the other day to clean up my camera, and came across one I had forgotten about that would make a great post.  Some years ago, I abandoned the traditional fill in the blank study guides - we all know the kind - students go back and look up information in their notes or books to help them remember information.  Hated them as a kid, decided to change it up as a teacher and it has been one of the BEST things I have done.

For every unit of study - big tests, not quizzes - I create a game board with questions for the students.  I use this site to make the board:
Game Board Templates

To create the questions, I use Microsoft Word and insert a table with the correct number I need. Questions at the top of the box, answers at the bottom.  I take my review questions right from the test rule being - you study the game, you pass the test.

One or two days before the test, we play in class so I can walk around and see how everyone is doing.  Students cut the game cards up and all get their own game boards. (I have strict copy limits in my school, but this is one of the items that is a must have for all students.)

Rules are simple.  Your partner asks you a question. You answer right?  You roll and move.  Wrong?  Your partner tells you the answer and you lose that turn. The best part about this non-traditional study guide?  All students take it home to study with someone at home.  They have to play with at least one other person at their house.  Worst case scenario - they study their flash cards.

Over the past few years, I cannot tell you how many parents have come to me raving about this method of interactive study with their child.  Extra bonus - when the students come in the next day after playing at home and say, "Man, my mom doesn't know ANYTHING about the Civil War! I beat the pants off her!!!" Jackpot.