M & M Review

The M & M review is a staple in my classroom. My students ask for it year after year. I have used other small treats that have worked just as well such as Skittles, Candy Corn and even Goldfish!

The day before a content test such as science or social studies, I always did a verbal review. I asked each student a question. Problem was they only paid attention to their question. By offering a small prize for a correct response and the chance of another prize, I had students very excited to answer. Here is the procedure.

I would ask one review question and then call on a student at random. I would not repeat the question so the students had to be listening. If the student answers the question correctly, then they earn the prize. If not, no prize is awarded and I go to the next question and student. To keep students interested, I allowed the student to call on a lifeline. They could ask one student to answer the question for them, even if they already had a turn. If the question was answered correct, both students received the prize. If incorrect, no prize was awarded. Rules were simple. You had to stay seated and if you knew the answer you would raise your hand and hope to be called on. I can not tell you how excited my students would become!

I could not believe how much my students enjoyed this. I was even able to move the prize over into other areas such as cleaning up after art projects. I would announce, anyone who brings me five pieces of trash (cut and paste always made a mess!) would get ONE M & M or prize. It was amazing what I could get my students to do for just one M & M or Skittle. Sometimes, just the suggestion that it would be awarded would get my students motivated.

Parents did not seem to mind that the students received these small prizes. They knew it was only one or two a day and never every day. I had parents sending in the small favors and my students and I reaped the benefits.