Fun Games for All Ages!

I just want to write a quick post to let people know about some games I've been playing with students and family members recently, that have been a big hit. Some of the games are better for older students (3rd grade and up), but others are accessible for kids who are just learning to identify letter sounds, spell, and/or read. All are a fun way to spend time with family, friends, and/or students, and simultaneously enhance language skills!

Quiddler: a competitive, though untimed, game to practice spelling words and generating ideas for words given letters. Using just a deck of letter cards with point values, this is a great way to learn new words, recognize common spelling patterns, and test word knowledge (keep a dictionary handy!). Opportunities to practice addition and subtraction at the end of each round too!

Quick-tionary: a word-retrieval game using three decks of cards, where the first player to think of a word that fits given semantic categories (e.g. something you'd find in a kitchen), and spelling or phonological patterns (e.g. starts with an "S," doesn't use two vowels in a row) earns points. It's easy and sometimes necessary to adapt the rules of the game, depending on the age and language ability levels of the players.

Tapple: another word-generation game (this one requiring batteries), where you choose a card from the deck that contains a category, and players take turns sharing a word in that category that starts with a different letter each time... quick rounds and a buzzing timer keep this game engaging and exciting!

Magnetic poetry: not so much a game as just a fun activity for you to do on the fridge, the back of a cookie sheet, the inside of your locker, a whiteboard, or anywhere else really. Along with the "Original" pieces, there are sets for a variety of other categories: Zen poems, College-themed, Awful Words, Sloth Lovers, and so many more. There are sets in other languages like Spanish, French, and Hebrew too!