Test Prep: Scoot

A couple months ago I attended a PD on a variety of test prep games that could be used as we prepared our students for AIMS, our state mandated test.  One of my favorites that I walked away with and used that very week is a game called Scoot.  I created a game to review Order of Operations, Factoring, Prime & Composite, and Multiplication/Division problems.  I have 25 students, so I had 25 problems written on index cards.  Each index card then had a number, 1-25 written on the opposite side.  I placed one card on each desk.  I started the music (KidzBop are  great albums because they have the popular songs of today sung by kids so they're classroom appropriate) and they had roughly 2-3 minutes to solve the problem on their card.  Once they finished, their answer should've been written in the corresponding box.  So, for example, if a student had card number 16, than their answer would be written in box 16.  When the music shut off, they moved to the next seat and completed a new problem.  Once they had worked their way through all 25 problems, we graded their papers as a class.  The student who earned the highest score had one night of no homework the following week.  It's a fantastic motivator for the class to work super diligently in completing the problems correctly because what kid doesn't want a night of no homework?  This is definitely a test prep activity that I'm going to keep in mind next year!

Common Core Math: Jack & Jill Problems

I recently subscribed to this teacher's YouTube channel after stumbling across some of her previous videos.  I was pleasantly surprised to view this video and find that it was something that could easily be implemented into my classroom with very little difficultly.  The gist of Jack & Jill Problems is this:

1. Write two problems and answers, with one problem being correct and the other problem having a common student error.
2. Students go up to the board to make their initial guess as to who is correct ... Jack or Jill.  The video does suggest changing the names to more popular celebrities at that given time, but I kinda like Jack & Jill.  
3. Next, they have to prove to themselves that the problem/answer they chose is correct.  If they find that they guessed wrong, they can move their name to the opposite side.
4. Then, you pair up students from Jack with a student from Jill and they prove to one another why their problem/answer is correct.  If they find from their sharing that they guessed wrong, they can still move their name to the opposite side.

Although, I really like idea of adding this component to my math lessons, I do think I would make some changes.  

• I would not have students make an initial guess.  I would rather have them solve both problems and have to figure where the  mistake is so they can be prepared to defend the answer they chose and/or explain to their partner why it is/isn't a particular answer. 
• I also would prefer to keep names hidden when they choose either Jack or Jill to prevent certain students from just agreeing with their classmates they perceive as always being right.  I can already name a few of my current students that would do this very thing.