Teachers often fear that games will lead to chaos. Here is how to troubleshoot:

  • Problem: "The class gets too loud."
  • Problem: "The losers get demoralized."

    • Best for: The start of the school year or new semesters.

    The M&M Game (or Skittles)

  • Why it works: It is a low-pressure way for shy students to share, and everyone gets a treat at the end.

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    Two Truths and a Lie

    Skeptics might argue that time spent playing games is time taken away from instruction. However, research suggests the opposite is true.

    A classroom without community is a classroom governed by behavior management issues. Teachers spend exorbitant amounts of energy policing interruptions and navigating conflicts in a fractured room. In a community-rich classroom, those disruptions decrease. Why? Because students hold each other accountable. They have bought into the "we."

    When a student feels seen and valued by their peers through community games, their brain shifts out of "survival mode" (fight or flight) and into "learning mode." The prefrontal cortex opens up, and they become more receptive to academic instruction.