Take Control of Your Classroom with Games; Community Building; Teacher Vlog

[@avocadolord8825]

Hi Laura I am going into my junior year of high school. Recently I have been thinking about becoming a high school english/history teacher. I have had a lot of passions come and go over my seventeen years of life however, my love for literature and history have remained. I love the prospect of sharing the wonderful world of history and literature with others. I just wanted to tell you that I love your videos and, thank you for providing me with great ideas that I may one day use in a classroom of my own. PS I 100% wish I had you as a teacher. Most of my teachers seem to hate kids and do not have interest in the subjects they teach.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

I love that you're already thinking about your future, IceBreaker87. I mean, a kid who's watching teacher KZbin videos? You're one of a kind. ;) As for the uninspired teachers you've met, you can learn from them, too. Last week, I briefly talked about one of my h.s. history teachers who is still a model for me - of what to avoid. Be part of the positive change you want to see in the world! Work hard. Be awesome! :)

[@gubietno]

Thank you for sharing! I'm still in my early years of my career which means I'm always looking for new things to do. I can't wait to try this out. Happy Summer!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

alula Awesome, Alula! I’m in Year 20 and the prowl for new, great ideas hasn’t ended yet. ;)

[@mrs.elhewitt8910]

Love this idea! I teach drama as well and I love putting kids in random groups- I dont think I ever let them pick. Its amazing to see how they get down to business and learn they can work with anyone. I did TRIBES training a while back and I find with all the "games" and "community circles" the Tribes process really works at building our "family." (I tell students that's what we are- we are stuck with each other!)

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Mrs. EL Hewitt TRIBES sounds really interesting; I’ll have to dig into that program. Also, I think a lot of our kids are relieved when we are the ones to assign groups. It removes a lot of the complicated teen social pressure and lets everyone just get to work. So glad you found my channel!

[@mrs.elhewitt8910]

Laura Randazzo I'm loving your videos! I'm starting at a new school in the fall- year 12! I've been the Music/Drama teacher for the last little while- this new gig has me as the only female English teacher! TRIBES is cool- its like 4 days- but the impact it's had on my teaching and classroom management was amazing! tribes.com

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks for the tip, Mrs. EL Hewitt. And congrats on your new gig! :)

[@missborz3648]

I tried creating learning groups(factions Divergent inspired) with my G9 students. This really worked wonders especially when there were activities to be done with their fellow members from other sections. Students' interaction and cooperation through the Grade 9 Factions improved their interpersonal skills, communication and collaboration. Also, a lil competition can boost students to always be at their very best. I do agree with you Laura! Thanks!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

That Curly English Teacher And I really like your idea to hook the team names to something in pop culture. Great minds think alike, for sure! Thanks for watching and commenting. ;)

[@missborz3648]

Fangirling because you replied!🤣 More videos please!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

That Curly English Teacher Okay, that’s funny. I’m pretty certain that teachers don’t get to have fans, just friends. ;)

[@heatherbaskin9620]

Thanks for sharing the idea of Quarter Trios! I am beginning my 14th year at a new school and this will be a great way for everyone to see my fun side too!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

For sure, Heather. You'll definitely make a strong impression with some game play. Have fun! And congrats on your new gig. :)

[@xyhanx]

I have no problems with my G10 students but man this specific G9 class is really testing my sanity (same feedback from other teachers). I will try this and hope that the students will care more. Thank you, Laura!!! :)

[@laurarandazzo1158]

xyhanx I’m thinking that G9 class will respond well. It’s often my squirrelly kids who love Friday quarter trio games the most. Hope this helps you win the class!

[@xyhanx]

Laura Randazzo Hope so! Games that were a hit from my last year's G9 was just meh to them. Btw, I purchased MUG shots and G10 loves it! :D

[@laurarandazzo1158]

xyhanx Then I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! And, of course, a big thanks for your purchase. I really appreciate your support of my work. :)

[@tyoungatheart]

Thanks! I will definitely use this idea w/a twist for my middle schoolers.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

tyoungatheart Terrific! Hope you and your kids have fun. :)

[@rebeccajones8710]

Greetings Fellow Middle School Teacher, I am also thinking of using this in my 8th Grade ELA classes. What kind of twist were you thinking of using?

[@tyoungatheart]

Rebecca Jones I am a technology teacher and the discipline has been an issue. I am using teams regarding accountability with behavior and computer procedures.

[@kimfrank2978]

Laura, you rock! Thanks so much for sharing...always!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Kim Frank Aw, thanks, Kim. I’m trying... ;)

[@blciffa]

Thank you so much for this! Love your smart is not fast comment. ♥️

[@laurarandazzo1158]

B Peltier For sure, B Peltier. Let’s give kids a chance to think.

[@IlanaMarrero]

YOU ARE AMAZING!

[@bb27232]

love this! thank you for sharing ~ you're a tremendous source of ideas and inspiration ~

[@laurarandazzo1158]

So glad you're finding these videos useful, b carey! Thanks for watching and commenting. :)

[@korezine3854]

Thank you, Laura! I'm studying to become a teacher, and I'm really inspired by your ideas! I would definitely give this a try when I become one. Also, as I was watching this, I can't help but wish that I had this kind of setup back when I was in high school. ❤️

[@maddieiscrafty]

This is such an inspiring idea! Can’t wait to try it!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Meredith Byam Woo-hoo, Meredith! Glad you’re “game.” (Oh, see what I did there?) :D

[@maddieiscrafty]

Laura Randazzo I love it! 😂

[@brianknoxmcgugan5970]

Very inspiring thank you🙏

[@blciffa]

Curious what other challenges you've done? I'm going to try the stacking thing this quarter. Love your ideas and the kids have been having fun with the brain teasers on quarter trio days. Thanks for always sharing and getting back to us. ♥️

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Great, B Peltier! Glad to hear the trios are working. For the most part, I use things from this list: laurarandazzo.com/2015/08/10/new-year-game-plan/ If you think of more ideas, let the tribe know! :)

[@zeda54]

OK, so I got the "worst class" of my school and I've just got to do this. It's amazing, really. Dying to know if it will work.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

From "worst" to first, I'm hoping! :)

[@Suzanneldik]

Lovely!! Thank you!

[@kwindstorm]

Hi Laura! This sounds like great fun! Did you assign the trios or were the students able to form their own groups? Also, you mention that you publish the points on the class website... what platform do you use for your website? I've thought about creating one for my classes, but I'm not sure what would be the best/easiest way to go ahead with it.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Kylie Lindstrom Hi Kylie! Great questions. I am always the one who assigns the Trio teams because I like to have a hand in setting the group dynamics and I’ve found better participation when friend groups aren’t clumped together. As for my website, I built that from scratch using Adobe Dreamweaver and then I host those pages on the school district server. If I were starting from scratch, though, I’d probably just use something easier like Google Sites. Hope this is helpful! :)

[@lisajones2561]

This is great! I can see how it could be used across all curriculum. I sponsor the Future Business Leaders and the National Honor Society. Thanks for your post!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

YES, Lisa! All kids want to have fun and we can easily tailor the challenges to a match a wide variety of disciplines. So glad you might be able to find a way to fold this into your world. That's awesome! :)

[@AlexandriaAubrey]

Hi Laura, do you make the trios at random or do you let the students choose their groups? Have you ever had issues with friendship dramas/ students unhappy about their trios?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hi Alexandria, Great question! I'm actually the one who selects all of the Trio teams, careful to balance strengths and personalities. For the first quarter, I just clump by alphabetical order because none of us know each other in the first week or so of school. For the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters, I take on the chore of making sure the teams are going to work out. By then, I know which combinations have a fighting chance to work and which will likely implode. I haven't ever let the students choose their own Trio teams and, happily, I haven't had any drama or requests to leave a Trio team. Some teams definitely end up being quieter or weaker than other teams, but we switch every nine weeks and the competition is very light-hearted. I'm all about avoiding drama and this has worked well in my room. Hope you give it a try!

[@Cherylife]

Great video Laura

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Cherylife Thanks

[@msb4838]

Wondering how you feel about this now, after having read point-less. In the book report video you mention having used points for behaviors. And this seems like it's it. I'm liking the idea. But I'm also wanting to move away from points points points. So wanting to know/wondering about how you would reconcile the two today. .

[@laurarandazzo1158]

GREAT question, Ms. B. I'm so guilty of dangling those bonus points as the prize as a cheap/easy way to entice student participation. Weak, I know. Zerwin's book definitely poked at my tender spot. Today, I'd turn the focus of the Quarter Trio competition into more power for the winning team over how the classroom runs rather than extra points added into the grade book. Example: Maybe this week's winning team gets to leave two minutes early to be first in the lunch line or they get to decide which two brain-teasers the other teams have to solve next week or they get to decide which other teacher's windows we covertly cover with sticky notes. I'd try to bring more fun and less grade-focus to Quarter Trios, which were designed to amp up the fun factor and build community in the first place. What treats/prizes that don't cost us any $$$ would you add?

[@sarahrobertstaff2569]

How do you pick the groups? Could you leave the group as 1 for the whole semester? We have 20 week blocks every day at my school in Canada. Do you think this would work? I use rebus brainteasers every day in class and it has always been my secret weapon! The routine and excitement is awesome! I'm definitely going to try this!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hey, Sarah! Thanks for checking in with me. :) As I assign the trio groups, I'm careful to spread out the overachievers and separate the chuckleheads. The first group is announced on the second Friday of the school year and I use alphabetical order to make that first batch because I don’t know them well yet. For the other three groupings, though, I’m strategic in my team building. I don't think I'd leave the same groups for your full 20-week sessions. That's a l-o-n-g time to stick with one group; instead, I'd mix everyone at the 10-week mark just to keep things fresh. You know your kids and classroom community best, though. Definitely follow your gut instinct and make the strategy easy for you to manage. Hope you give it a go!

[@Arrwmkr]

Is this for primary (elementary) level class? I've tried a similar thing with seniors but it doesn't always work as well.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Nope, I've used it for grades 9-12.

[@AlexCuty]

Laura, thank you so much for your videos and your TPT resources. I have purchased about 6 items already...including the bellringers Semester 1 pack and the essay coding sheets (bless you)! I stopped giving vocab quizzes about 5 years ago, but last year I took an exit survey of my 10th graders, and many of them said they would prefer more vocab because they know what they want to say “but don’t have the perfect words to use.” Here we come Words on Wednesday! Also, do you think it would be appropriate, in a 4x4 schedule, to give a quiz every three weeks... so 15 words, 3-5 lit terms, and grammar? Or would you recommend a short weekly quiz with that week’s warm up materials? Thank you, again!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

So glad you found me and are enjoying those materials, Alexandra! I prefer to give smaller quizzes more frequently, so I might focus on twice-a-month three-question vocab. quizzes, like the ones discussed here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJfMeWd6eLZ_rMk Easy to prep and easy to grade. Happy planning! :)

[@hazardstorms226]

Do the kids on the non winning teams get discouraged for the next quarter since they know they won't get anything if they don't win? Or do some stop trying during the game if they know they're far behind? What do you think about giving a smaller reward to the other teams? Or...giving individual points separately from the game, say for showing great thinking in class discussions etc that they could use towards a quiz or something? Thanks for your great videos and ideas!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Good questions, Hazard Storms. We switch Trio teams every nine weeks, so the kids are placed with new teammates for the next round which helps keep things fresh and maintains motivation. Due to the unpredictable nature of the games and the final end-of-quarter challenge being worth a very large number of points (really, almost any team could win when we get down to that last challenge), almost all kids stay invested. There will always be a handful of kids who are just along for the ride, and that's fine, too. The majority, though, really give it their all because the Trio Challenges are more about the spirit of fun than the actual prize. If your kids are very prize-focused, you certainly should adapt this idea to fit your room and style. Smaller, more-frequent prizes might work better for you. Try it out and see how it goes! :)

[@hazardstorms226]

@@laurarandazzo1158 Thank you. Since I have younger kids -7th gr, I may just switch like once a month since it will seem like a long time to them. Thanks again. Loving your products as well!

[@8eautyInTheDark]

Hey! Great video Laura! When you're doing brain teasers, how do you handle students changing answers based on what other students have on their white board? Seeing what 12 groups or 30+ students on their boards when they first show them can a challenge. What is your procedure for them presenting their answers?Thank you!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hey, Beauty, good question. No cheating allowed, of course. ;) To ensure this, I have the teams (there's usually 11 or 12 in a class) hide their answers as they work. The three kids will hunker down to shield their board, cover the answer with their hands or a tissue, or turn the board face-down while they wait for me to call time. Then I'll say, "Okay, time's up! Board's up in 3...2...1," and then everyone reveals their answers at the exact same time. If anyone tries to cheat or is slow to reveal, I see it and, if I miss something, the other kids are quick to identify any attempted cheaters. The bashful smiles and reddened cheeks tell me what I need to know. Hope this helps and that you find a way to bring this to your kids. It's a lot of fun!

I have loved this idea since I saw you post it but have been hesitant to take it on because keeping track seems like a nightmare to me. I often have classes of 34 😵 do you seat all the trios together? Also, how do you keep track of points untill you add them to your website? Thanks!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Oh, don't make this complicated, Tara. :) A sticky note in the palm of my hand is all I need during game play where I make tick-marks to keep track of earned points. Teams have names that they decide at the beginning of the quarter, but I also give every team a number, 1-12. Then, I write down the team #s on my sticky note (instead of the names) and make the tick-marks as questions are successfully answered. When it's time to settle into SSR, I update the standings on our class website and I'm done. It takes no time at all. As for seating, you could hook this to a new seating chart at the beginning of each quarter. Also, sometimes my trio teams aren't seated together and it's still no big deal for them to quickly get up and slide three desks together for game play. When we're done, they quickly slide the desks back into their regular spots and we move on. Please, PLEASE, give this a try! The routine breathed fresh life into my classroom.

Thanks so much for your reply!!!! I think I might try using ClassDojo to help my organization and keeping track of points :)

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Great idea, Tara! I haven't used Class Dojo, but that sounds like a fun addition that'll definitely make everything feel more gameshow-like. :)

[@vm6011]

I have done similar point competitions in 8th grade (some years more successfully than others). I have usually divided the class into 2 - 3 teams based on how desks are arranged in my room. I have used it as part of my positive behavior management system and find it works great: "I really like the way team A was working at the bell. Points for team A" But I do find keeping track of points cumbersome even if just as tick mark as it is just one more thing... My tips: Give a small dry erase board to a student to keep track of the points during the class. At the end of the class have that student record totals that are posted in the room (use permanent ink - not dry erase). The team with the most points at the end of the class get to leave classroom first - that's my prize. I have also had weekly winners but thats a hassle also so I will try just a grand prize at the end of the grading period. I think I am going to try smaller teams (trios) as describe here this year. The problem I foresee however is when I have to move students around for behavior reasons - that kind of destroys the teams points at the end of the grading period. I do like your team challenges - that will really increase the fun factor and buy in.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

For sure, VM, this has to be easy to manage on our end of things in order to be successful. I like the idea of putting the tally job on the students' shoulders. I'd even consider naming one student volunteer as the Official Recorder for each round of competition. He/She wouldn't belong to a trio, but would serve instead as my assistant. Guaranteed bonus points for that worker and less tedium for the teacher to manage. Winning! :)

[@skersting22]

I am a middle school science teacher starting my 2nd year soon. I like listening to all your advice. My room is setup in groups of 4 and we go for 12 weeks between grading periods. Do you think I can adapt this to work?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Absolutely, Sophia, I'm confident you can find a way to make this work for your science students. My gut says to use two 6-week cycles per marking period to keep things fresh. Twelve weeks can sometimes feel like an eternity. Also, I'm more of a fan of teams of three than four, but four might work great for you. Give it a go! :)

[@cindysaenz3560]

Love this idea! My only question is, how do you go about choosing the groups?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Good question, Cindy. For the first nine-week group, I use alphabetical order to clump kids into teams of three because I don't know them very well at that early part of the year. For the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarter teams, I assign them based on a somewhat random order, but I do spread out the higher- and lower-level kids to even out the teams as much as possible. By then, I also know which kids shouldn't be in a team together (too social, too much drama, etc.) and we go from there. In all, it takes me about 10 minutes on a Sunday afternoon to set the teams for the next quarter. Easy! :)

[@cindysaenz3560]

Laura Randazzo I greatly appreciate your response. I’m always hesitant about grouping students in the beginning of the year, but will definitely do alphabetical to start off with. Thank you again! You’re awesome and truly inspiring! ❤️

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks, Cindy! Glad you're here. :)

[@dagamimon]

How did maintaining a competitive environment work by taking out the timed aspect? Do you mean that you gave points to every group that got the answer correct?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Yes, you've it, dagamimon. The questions are asked and then every team's given the same amount of time to write down the answer. All of the answer boards are revealed at the same time ("3-2-1...boards up!") and then I give every team that wrote the correct answer a point. To keep kids invested in the contest, I build the challenges so that every team has the possibility of earning every point offered. When they're wrong, they don't get the point, but at least they had the opportunity.

[@dagamimon]

Laura Randazzo Thanks!

[@karengrace7478]

Love all you do Laura! What do you do with the one kid that refuses to participate with a group? They just want to do everything on their own.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Oh, Karen, that's not allowed for Quarter Trios since it's mainly designed to be a community builder and it doesn't really impact the grade book. I'd tell that kid in the clearest, nicest way that there’s real value in learning to work with people we aren’t initially drawn to. It’s the whole mirrors/windows thing, right? Our classrooms are a microcosm of society and we need to equip our kids to interact with all kinds of different folks with a wide range of communication styles and life philosophies. If friendships blossom from the teams, great. If not, there’s still a lot of learning that’s happening here about how to navigate the world.

[@karengrace7478]

Thanks for your response Laura! I always have that "one" kid! If I force them in the group, then they just sit there and do nothing. Thanks again!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Karen Amos Hmm...maybe if the numbers work out you can place that kid in a group of four. That way, he/she will become a neutral force. I’m still hopeful, though, that fun stuff like building a tower or brain teasers will be the fix to draw him/her out. Haven’t met a teen yet who doesn’t like to PLAY! :) I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[@karengrace7478]

Thanks! You rock!

[@vm6011]

I have tried similar point things before without the "fun stuff" and there is "that one" kid who doesn't buy in the academic side of it because it is obviously part of my behavior management. But I think the "fun stuff" incorporated frequently will definitely be the hook for "that one" kid to buy in at least some of the time. I'm thinking minute to win it challenges...

[@dmkmtj6]

How do you keep track of the point during class on a day to day basis?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hey, Marissa, great question. I just jot daily points down on a sticky note and then I add them once a week to our ongoing class tally that's posted on the first page of our classroom website. Before competition begins each Friday, I project the class standings so all the Trio teams know where they stand before that day's game/challenge begins. It's a fun time! :)

[@patricksuela4615]

I was actually searchin for a game and i found this

[@tracymoore4976]

Do you post only the totals weekly or do you also include the scores of each individual challenge?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hey, Tracy! I always announce points as they're awarded in class, but then I update the class website only once a week with the current totals. I'm a keep-it-simple kind of gal. When fresh game play begins on Friday, I'll project the class webpage at the beginning of the class period so everyone can be reminded of the standings as they walk in and get settled. :)

[@amywells5555]

How do you keep up with the points?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

I try to keep things simple, Amy. I jot the points down on a sticky note during game play and then add them during the Friday SSR session to our class webpage. Takes just a few minutes. Easy peasy!

[@kclark1242]

Why did you choose this method over a whole class point system?

[@kclark1242]

Also, do you ever take points away?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Good question, KClark! To me, the whole-class system feels more like an elementary school strategy when a teacher is with one group of kids for the entire day. Instead, I wanted to find a way to get kids working together in small groups, building friends/allies with classmates they might not normally work with. With Qtr. Trios, I have 11 or 12 small groups working to answer my questions/complete the challenges instead of just the same four outgoing kids leading the mostly quiet pack of 34. Smaller teams, to me, means more engagement. Also, a whole-class prize would be different, right? Like, they're all working for a pizza party or something like that. With five classes in a school day, that'd be a budget-buster. As for your follow-up question, no, I haven't ever taken points away from a team. Whenever something bad happens in class, it's an individual I need to deal with, not the whole trio. I wouldn't want to unfairly punish innocent folks. Thanks for watching! Glad you're here.

[@ds30812]

Do you assign trios?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

dm sk Always. I don’t let the kids choose their own trios. Once in a while, I’ll do that for group projects/academic work, but not for trios.