What a game at a staff meeting turned into...

Principals spend so much time planning and organizing a staff meeting.  I tried to include Professional Development in every meeting.  I also model new tools or remind us of different teaching methods during the staff meeting.

At the September staff meeting, I had the staff take a built in "break" by playing a game.  I made a "get to know your colleague" game on Kahoot.it.  I wish I had recorded the teachers.  They were clapping, cheering, laughing and being competitive.  It was a great brain break for them (and me!) during the meeting.  It also helped the staff develop more as a community, which is a goal for me this year.  After the game, I had a few staff members ask about the game and how I made it.  We did a quick whipped around and answered questions, then we moved on to the next topic. 

The best part happened the next week.  One of my 1st grade teachers told me she had never played Kahoot before the staff meeting and loved it.  The next day, she made a comprehension Kahoot for her 1st graders to play, and they were so excited.  The 1st grade teacher enthusiastically told me about the students jumping and clapping when they got an answer correct.  Moreover, they really loved seeing their name on the TV.  This teacher said that they have done a Kahoot everyday since the staff meeting.

I was thrilled!!!  You hope that staff takes your lead and tries new things.  But, that doesn't always happen.  I asked when she was using a Kahoot again.  She said "Today, at 8:55 with comprehension questions."  So, I went in.  

The teacher read the story from the text twice with the students.  Once the teacher eadr the story aloud and the other time the students read the story to each other.  Then, it was Kahoot time.  The students were so excited.  They watched anxiously as their names appeared on the TV.  Then, the questions began.  They loved seeing if they were right.  They also wanted to see answered first.  The game also has a feature where it tells students if they are on "fire" or not.  The students loved it when the game told them they were "on fire."  At the end, it posts the students' points earned.  The student with the most points did a little dance, but then said, "Look, Emily, it says you were on fire, great job!"

Some of the quotes they students were saying during the game:

"I want to do it again."

"That was so fun.""I want to see my name on tv.""I love it, best game ever."

The teacher reports that "Students want to play Kahoot all day."  They greet the teacher in the morning with "Do we get to play Kahoot today?".  The teacher also has been using it as an incentive for students to complete work that they may not be interested in.  Additionally, the teacher has been using Kahoot to practice Math facts with the students.  The teacher reports seening faster recall of these facts since starting to use Kahoot for practice.