Incorporating games with reading lessons can provide a fun and effective way for students to master skills. My students love to play games and I love all the benefits games provide. Here are my top 5 reasons why you should be using games with reading instruction.
# 1 Increase Engagement
Games are motivating and exciting to students. Providing students with alternate activities, like games, helps kids focus and engage more in their learning.
# 2 Enhance Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, and Working Memory
Games can help increase working memory. Students must remember details and think and act quickly. Students also have to plan, work through, and be strategic problem solvers.
#3 Increase Collaboration and Independence
Incorporating games into reading lessons can also provide opportunities for students to collaborate and work together as well as build independence. Games help develop expressive and receptive language skills as students work and play with others. Games can also be included in centers and be played without teacher support. Playing games in this manner increases students’ independents and ability to work with others at the same time.
# 4 Differentiate Instruction
Using games with reading instruction can make it easier to provide differentiated instruction. Games can be adapted to meet the needs of students with varying ability levels. Students can participate and learn at their own pace. Games can be specific and targeted to the skills that the students are working on.
# 5 Provide Fun Repetition of Skills to Build Mastery
Games provide fun repetition of skills to build mastery. Students practice and improve reading skills in a way that doesn’t make it seem like they are. Review of skills is woven into the games to help consolidate new knowledge, create neuropathways in the brain, and ultimately build mastery of the skills!
Incorporating games with reading instruction has so many benefits and kids love games! My students beg to play games and I incorporate games into all my reading lessons. It is a win-win!
I have been creating games for phonics skills, spelling generalizations, and learning about syllables for my students and yours too! I have created three types of games. My students like the variety and I like that I only have to teach them how to play three different types of games for the whole year and they are off on their literacy journey.
Three Game Types
Don’t Slip on the Banana Games
Who will get the banana and have to put their cards back? How lucky are you? Students test their luck while reviewing reading and phonics concepts.
- 2-5 players
- Super easy to learn and play
- Card decks vary based on the phonics concepts
- Watch this game in action!
Match It Games
Who is the fastest to find their matching word and call it out? Each card has exactly one matching word with all cards in the deck. This fast-paced game keeps students engaged and practicing targeted reading skills at the same time!
- 2-5 players
- 30 cards in each deck
- Each card has one matching word with the other cards in the deck. There is always exactly one MATCH!
- Multiple ways to play
- Fast to teach and learn Watch this game in action
- Watch this game in action!
Spelling Games
Students take turns drawing cards. If the card has a word, the player must determine the correct spelling, based on the rule. They will place the spelling chip onto the card. Cards with bonus points are also in the deck, keeping the excitement to the very end.
- 2-8 players
- Spelling pattern chips to use with the game
- Watch this game in action!
Teachers and students have loved my games! Check out my Ultimate Reading Games Bundle with games being continually added.
Would you like to make your own reading games?
Reading Comprehension Games and Activities (That Students Will Want to Play Over and Over)
Recommended Book
Make it stick: The Science of Successful Learning
*Disclaimer: This recommendation contains an affiliate link. That means I am awarded a small commission for purchases made from the link, at no added cost to you.
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