You don't use Kahoot? Here's why you should.

We know kids love games but we also know that kids have to study. It's difficult or at least was for me when I taught 4th grade to get them to do a paper based review of concepts to prep for a quiz or test... then I started using Kahoot! I started off using it for review purposes but ended up also using it for pre-assessments, review, and informal assessments. Here are some reasons you should try it out.

1. There are HUNDREDS of pre-made games.

Login to the teacher side, in the search box type what topic you want and peruse away!

2. You can preview the questions of pre-made games.

Before you add a game to your favorites to save for later use, you can preview the questions to make sure the game is up to snuff.

3. You can make your own games.
Can't find a game you like? Have really good questions but they're on a boring worksheet? No problem, just make your own game. It's super easy to do on the teacher side.

4. You can upload images for the questions.
Visuals help our ELL students but also our ALL students and you can add the perfect picture to help them understand the question.

5. No paper involved!
Think about all you'll save- prep time, passing out time, grading time, passing out again time. Just grab your clipboard and take down observation notes as the kids play.

6. Very user friendly, for the kids and for the teacher.
For the kids there's very little they have to type in. When they select the answer, it's a colored shape not a number or letter answer choice.

For the teacher, when you login you are taken to your dashboard. From here you can create a game or search for games. You can also view your favorite saved games on your dashboard. When you start a game Kahoot! generates a join code, kids join and you just click "next" when prompted.

7. No password needed for the students (for real)!
Oh the time this saves! Kids will go to the website or just click on the Kahoot! app and type in a join code that they will get from your screen when you begin the game.

8. You can play on the website or on the app.
There is an app, it's super easy. The website is too though, it looks almost just like the app the only difference is kids will use a mouse or touchpad instead of a touch screen.

9. It's on a timer.
The game plays on a timer and you don't have to set it and keep track of it- brilliant!

10. There's catchy game show music.
How fun!

11. The kids get to pick their name when they log in.
A little whimsy with their learning, eh?! This helps keep anonymity and a risk-free environment.

12. While they answer, you can easily spot that kid that's waiting to see what the people around them are choosing.
Grab that clipboard and document away!

13. It's fun. It's differentiation. It keeps kids engaged.
It's a game. They get competitive. But ultimately, it's just a fun way to do school and take a break from the paper. It'll also keep some of your kids on task that otherwise aren't. It'll allow some to open up and show you they really do get it, just not so much the paper way.

14. It's a risk-free environment.
It's less formal and less stress (except for the ones that don't like competition). If that's the case in your room then don't make it about a contest or individual vs. individual. You can have them play 1-1 or as team vs. team. Kids can make code names for themselves to keep some anonymity. Since it's a game and you're just observing, kids don't feel as pressured about right or wrong answers. At the end of questions, if a majority got the question wrong, you can go over the answer.

15. You can play on any device.
Smart phone, tablet, Chromebook, desktop- it doesn't matter. They all work and for the student view, all look about the same.

So, do you have any reason not to try out Kahoot? If you're nervous to jump into it with your whole class, try it out with your small group or as teams instead so you have less devices to manage. It's a game changer and your kiddos will thank you for it.

Till next time techies!