Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1491904
slide will show the students that they have won the game. Students can play with a partner or in a team of four. The fun will make 20 minutes go by quickly. Planning a breakout book game These puzzles reinforce key skills such as comprehension strategies and text-based evidence. The games can also pro- mote learning skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity. Not only can breakout books be used to reinforce essential literacy skills, but teachers can tailor the difficulty level to meet the needs of all learners so that all students can be engaged and focused with books. The first step is to base the game on the book your K–5 students are reading. It's extremely important that students read the book prior to completing the breakout book. Chil- dren's books can be hard copies or links to online versions that can be attached to the breakout book game. As you go through the book, decide which literacy strategy or skill stu- dents will use in the breakout book game. Select tier 2 or tier 3 vocabulary words and text-based evidence details that can be used to answer riddles. You can adjust the difficulty level to ensure that students receive the right amount of challenge and stay engaged. For young students, text-dependent questions can be asked where students can easily find the answer in the book, such as what letter makes the /f/ sound in the word friend. For older students, ask inference questions where students would have to use context clues from the book to answer. The next step is thinking about the hints students can use. For every mission created, hints are embedded to support students who might find a mission too difficult. Hints are used to guide students with either information or a visual. Hints are easily spotted and are linked to animated elements. Pilot the game and ask for feedback When the planning process is over, test the game to make sure that all the links work and the missions open as you progress through the game. Make sure that the riddles make sense and are appropriate for your grade level. When your students complete the first game, ask for feedback that can help make the breakout book better. Some exam- ple questions for them could be: Were the hints obvious, or were they difficult to recognize? Did you need the read- aloud book to complete the missions? Did you find yourself rereading the story? Creating a breakout book game can promote reading and engagement with books. Students will enjoy working with books as they analyze parts of the story to figure out the riddles. Expect students to ask you for breakout book games for other stories. This story originally appeared in Edutopia. The author's breakout book, based on the book The Day You Begin. Part of the author's breakout book included a word-matching game. 44 cta.org Teaching & Learning T E C H T I P S