Up Your Game

We used to play a game when my boys were younger. We called it, “Beat you to It.” It’s something I implemented in our classroom too.

There’s one objective to winning - share something you learned that day BEFORE someone else asks you about your day.

It all began with my own frustration. I was done asking, “How was your day?” and getting, “Fine,” as a response. Of course I would prod for more, following up with, “Did you learn anything?” To which they would shrug their shoulders.

It took me well into the twins’ elementary age to realize I was asking the wrong questions. I switched to, “What did you learn today?” That got better results, but I always had to be the one asking first. Nothing was shared voluntarily about their day (unless recess related).

So I turned it into a game. Not because everything should be fun, but because I realized something about myself. I’d choose to spend time focusing and solving Crosswords and Wordles every day…because I saw them as a game, not a task that HAD to be done. Why not add novelty to something and see if it heightens engagement? It didn’t take rewards, extra work, or more time…why NOT?

Now, I know that marketing is a HUGE part of things with kids, so I knew I had to frame this in a way that truly sounded exciting.

First, I told them that there was a game that I truly believed they could beat me - and that I was going to have to work hard to win myself. Next, I told them it would take them some detective work. They would have to look really closely for the clues they would need. Finally, I told them it would be SO much fun because there would be an element of surprise.

Then I revealed the name. Their eyes got wide. Finally, I told them how it worked.

You have to share a LEARNING, not “I did a worksheet or I took a test. You have to think about something you understand differently because you changed or added on to your thinking.”

“So if Matt tells you what he learned before you ask, he wins?” Ben asked. “Yes, and if you share something with Sam before HE asks, you win!”

A few things to notice: I focused the game on thinking. I sprinkled in unpredictability in time and how it might play out. Every bit of that is what BRAINS LOVE. 

So how did it go?

I found myself “losing” for the first few weeks. Instead of prodding them, I found myself saying things like, “Tell me more!” “Oh, I didn’t know that!” and “Wow! That took focus and effort to understand!” We had CONVERSATIONS about what they were learning instead of a question/answer session.

At about 3 weeks, their excitement started to wane a bit, but that was ok. By then, they were in the habit of noticing things they learned and sharing them with me, and I had begun sharing things I learned in my day too. 

Give it a go!