I've been blogging about teaching multiplication lately, and have mentioned playing a game called Sparkle as part of our memorization process. Today I thought I would explain how we do this in my classroom.
Basically we are skip counting by ones, twos, etc. We call this "Secret Code Sparkle," because we're just cool like that. =)
This is a cooperative practice game that requires listening skills. If a student is talking, they will not know the answer. Uh-oh. They learn pretty quickly to pay close attention to what is going on. It also teaches students how to handle the frustration of being out of the game, whether they have made a mistake, or through no fault of their own. (I have students model good and bad ways to respond when they get "sparkled". I have found that third graders also need to learn how to be gracious winners, so we model that, too.)
Here are the basic rules:
1. Have your students stand in a large circle around the outside of the classroom.
2. The teacher stands in the middle.
3. NO moving once you have found your spot!
4. The teacher chooses a number from 1 - 10 and points to a random student, saying, for example, "Count by twos to twenty, GO!" (The teacher holds up two fingers while always facing the student who is speaking, in case they forget the factor being used.) Be careful at this point! If they get going really fast, you could get very dizzy!
5. The first student repeats the number, the next student (going clockwise) says the next skip counting number, and so on, until the original number has been multiplied by ten.
6. When the last number is stated, the next student says, "Sparkle!"
7. The student after the sparkle student sits down. They are out of the game.
8. If a student says the wrong number, or takes too long to answer, they must sit down. (Because of Whole Brain Teaching, the entire class says, "It's cool!" when someone makes a mistake - making it much easier for students to handle!)
9. The last student (or students - you decide when to stop) standing get a reward. This can be anything: first choice for centers, an extra minute of recess, first in line to lunch, a reading buddy (stuffed animal) on their desk during quiet reading, a lollipop, etc. Whatever is a reward in your classroom.
(I know that many of us have special needs students in our classroom. I have found that my students naturally give more wait time when it's needed, and extra positive feedback for a correct answer, etc. I do allow certain students to "sit out" the game, if they are having a bad day.)
There are many variations on this theme:
A. Use spelling words every Friday before the test.
B. Use vocabulary words, but instead of spelling them, the first student defines the word, and the second must use it in a sentence. (This works best with smaller groups during centers.)
C. Use parts of speech. Say, "Give me 5 verbs, GO!", "Give me seven nouns, GO!", etc.
We have a lot of fun practicing what we have learned with this game, while learning important listening skills, speaking skills, and social skills. Do you use this game in your classroom? I would love to hear other ways that it is used! Please let me know in the comments.
Happy Teaching With Sparkle,
This is great! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love this game! thanks so much. I will use it with my class
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Spain
I love this game! thanks so much. I will use it with my class
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Spain
I'm so glad you can use it. Have fun! (Greetings from Central California) =)
ReplyDeleteDenise
I have used this with spelling. When the last student said "Sparkle", they sat down, not the person after them. It is really neat to hear of other ways to use this for review, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love all the variations in this game! Thanks for sharing. =)
DeleteDenise
I have used this game in spelling for years. We switch it up and let the next student say "safe" and if they say it before the student says "sparkle," they are not out. We gave also used a " buzz" letter. Teacher picks a letter. Every time that letter is in the word thru have to say "buzz" instead of the letter. My students love this game! Thanks for the ideas on other uses.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of the "safe" idea, they would really have to be paying attention! And the "buzz" letter is a great idea. Thanks for expanding my Sparkle choices, Charlene!
DeleteDenise
Last year my son came home from school talking about this game. He tried to explain it to me I never got it. Your explanation made a lot more sense can't wait to try it in my classroom.thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks for the variation on Sparkle, I have played it for a number of years with my students. We do it for spelling and the only ones that sit down are those who get the letter wrong, it really does make the children listen. I will also try some of your other suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to post them.
ReplyDeleteWe've played this game with spelling words. The next two students after the last one say sparkle & whoever says it second sits down.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing how to play the Sparkle Game. I'm suggesting teachers check out your blog so they can learn to play a great game to practice spelling in my www.simplyscience.com blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the variation of the game! I've only used it with spelling but I love the idea of using it for math! Thank you for sharing!☺
ReplyDeleteThanks for the variation of the game! I've only used it with spelling but I love the idea of using it for math! Thank you for sharing!☺
ReplyDeleteI love the variations! I've only used it for spelling, but now I see I can use it for many more ideas!
ReplyDeleteI play Sparkle with spelling words differently. I form two teams. When a team is given a word, each child on that team says a letter of the word. If a person on the team hears an error, they can say "sparkle", and the next person begins to try to spell the word correctly. In this way, no one has to sit down. If the word is spelled incorrectly and it is not noticed by the next person, the word goes to the opposite team. A point is given for a correctly spelled word.
ReplyDeleteExample: "People" First child "p" , Second child "e", Third child "p", Fourth Child, "Sparkle", Fifth child starts again: "P" ,etc. As long as the very next child discovers the error and says "sparkle", the word remains with that team to try and spell correctly. In this game, no one sits down and everyone remains engaged.
I love this idea with team and the word sparkle as a "do over/begin again" this is motivating team building. I think it be also good to write the letters as they are said for visual learners maybe a small white board and marker so the team writes each letter as they say it and if they use sparkle cross out all the letters "begin again" Thanks to all who share their ideas. Better together!
DeleteI love this idea with team and the word sparkle as a "do over/begin again" this is motivating team building. I think it be also good to write the letters as they are said for visual learners maybe a small white board and marker so the team writes each letter as they say it and if they use sparkle cross out all the letters "begin again" Thanks to all who share their ideas. Better together!
DeleteThanks! I am going to use this in my music class tomorrow! We love having fun Fridays so I try to teach a new game (where they learn something and don't realize it). Tomorrow we will use Sparkle to practice our notes on the lines or spaces of the Bass and Treble Clef. I can't wait to watch them enjoy another Friday!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. I can't wait to read lots of your posts.
ReplyDeleteplay agario free on this website
Great post I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this interesting and knowledgeable article.
ReplyDeleteslitherio game play here
There's no doubt i would fully rate it after i read what is the idea about this article. You did a nice job..psd to responsive html
ReplyDeleteThe present techniques for instruction especially stand out from a genuine "instructive procedure," as these words were initially proposed. The existent model is to a greater degree a "placing into" than one of self-disclosure. quran ijazah online
ReplyDeleteIt is good article and well written. Moreover, I can say that if you're android gamer then must use this app it is favorite app of many users. Download Game Killer Android
ReplyDeleteHi there, I discovered your blog per Google bit searching for such kinda educational advise moreover your inform beholds very remarkable for me.먹튀,먹튀검증,먹튀인포
ReplyDeleteNice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that i've been waited for so long. I need this article to complete my assignment in the college, and it has same topic with your article. Thanks, great share.먹튀,먹튀검증,먹튀스페셜,토토
ReplyDeleteGreat info! I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have.먹튀검증,먹튀,토토먹튀
ReplyDeleteSuch an enlightening website. An obligation of appreciation is all together for sharing. Furniture is a thing that we in general need in our home or workplace. In case you thinking about obtaining new goods, by then I propose you buy victorian decorations. Since it's altogether pleasing and the arrangement is so impeccable.먹튀검증,먹튀사이트,먹튀토토
ReplyDeleteDazzling post. I Have Been examining about this issue. So a commitment of thankfulness is all together to post. Totally cool post. It 's incredibly exceptionally OK and Useful post.Thanks 먹튀,먹튀해방,먹튀사이트,안전보증
ReplyDeleteJazakom Allah khayra
ReplyDeleteJazakom Allah khayra
ReplyDeleteI went over this website and I believe you have a lot of wonderful information, saved to my bookmarks buy cheap instagram likes instantly
ReplyDeleteLovely teepees! I particularly love the one at the top with what resembles world guide print on the texture, how cool! yet taking a gander at all these makes me need to make another! Possibly I'll attempt to discover map print texture like that and make one for infant in transit room... much obliged for the motivation, beautiful post! Click Here
ReplyDeleteBest IAS Coaching in Delhi has given Best Information on Best IAS Coaching in Delhi. Plutus IAS Coaching is Best IAS Coaching. Follow Our Education for IAS Coaching Centers Information. Read Articles on to Know Best Coaching Institutes.
ReplyDeleteMore Info Click Here : Best IAS Coaching in Delhi
You are doing great a job.
ReplyDeleteYouTube to MP3
Don't wait until you need major work done on your automobile to find a good auto repair shop. You need to find a good auto repair shop before you need one. Otherwise, it's usually too late and you're at the mercy of whatever shop you've taken it to. You're at their mercy that they'll properly repair your vehicle and at their mercy that they won't charge you too much. DC Motor Guide
ReplyDeleteA free auto repair manual is not as hard to find as you might imagine. Whether you need to fix your car's brakes or struts, you can find it online. There is a particular way of going about searching for a ... AC Motor Types
ReplyDeleteAsking questions are truly pleasant thing if you are not understanding anything totally, however
ReplyDeletethis article gives pleasant understanding yet.
IDM
Easeus Data Recovery
Windows 7 activator
4k video downloader
Microsoft office 365
Windows 10 activator
xforce keygen
I have tagged it to read some other time. Thanks so much and keep it up.
ReplyDeleteOffice 365 Product Keys
Office 2016 Product Keys
Driver finder
Itools
The FDA believes that organized criminal networks control many on-line pharmacies that
ReplyDeletepromote illegal pharmaceutical products with out prescriptions.reloader activator
avg driver updater
driver booster
Revo Uninstaller
I am sure this post has touched all the internet viewers,
ReplyDeleteits really really fastidious piece of writing on building up new
website.mixed in key
push video wallpaper
3d lut creator
IDM
grids for Instagram
Good day! I should have sworn I’ve been to this blog earlier than however after surfing through many of the articles I found out it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m sure glad I observed it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking returned frequently! Check Here
ReplyDeleteSuch an illuminate website. An obligation of appreciation is all together for sharing.brokescholar coupon
ReplyDeleteIf you desire to grow your knowledge just keep visiting this web page and be updated with the latest posted here
ReplyDeleteLiFePo4 / LFP