What is the Teacher-Student Learning Game?

The Teacher-Student Learning game, also know as teacher versus student, is a game teachers can play with their students to help them follow expectations set by the teacher. This game is fairly simple to play. A T-chart is created, usually on the whiteboard, and one side says teachers and the other side says students. If the students make a good they receive 5 points. If the students are making a poor choice the teacher receives 5 points. This game can be played for just one class period, for a whole day, or even longer. The game can work in large groups, small groups, and for individual students. Intervention Central mentions that the teacher-student learning game is effective with students who have emotional behavioral disorders (EBD), as well as the "typical" student. Intervention Central also mentions, "the Game offers incentives for appropriate behaviors, is not coercive, and prompts students to apply positive peer pressure within their groups to earn Game points and resulting incentives. The procedure is designed to be feasible for any teacher to use".
Preparation:

1. Teach students expectations, and these expectations can also be written down and displayed in the classroom
   
2. Choose reward. Intervention Central recommends using teacher praise, however students might need some an extra incentive such as a small prize
   
3. Create T-Chart and display in classroom
   
4. Introduce the game
   

Procedure:

1. Announce to the student that the game has begun
   
2. Assign points
   
3. Provide rewards or feedback
   

Visual Representation

Here is another t-chart for the student-teacher learning game. In this chart, the rules (or expectations) are clearly visible to the students. This is a good idea because students are constantly reminded of their rules or expectations.

This image is what a teacher might use to play the teacher-student learning game. It can be as simple as a t-chart written on the whiteboard, or the teacher can use tape to create the t-chart. Creating the actual space for the learning game can really be adaptable to the teacher's and student's personality. The only two requirements are that it is easy to see teacher vs. student, and that the t-chart can be used again everyday. We recommend using a whiteboard or a SMARTboard.

This image is another representation of the teacher-student learning game. This teacher decided to use this intervention in her special education classroom for three students. Each time as student made a good choice, the student got a point. Each time the student made a poor choice, they lost a point. This teacher also wrote a reward on the bottom for the winner of the game.

Student Profile
In my field experience classroom several of my students have a difficult time following directions and listening to certain expectations, such as no talking during individual work time. I also know that I have several students that love competition, and would probably enjoy a friendly competition between the teacher. Once students start to not follow directions and I have to remind them, I might add 5 points to my side of the chart. If students are doing a fabulous job listening to directions, they might add 5 points to their side. My students might really enjoy adding the points for themselves, because they feel that they have the power. The goal is that students will work together and remind each other of what their expectations are so they can beat the teacher!

Content Area Examples
This intervention can be successfully used in all content areas, and can be adapted to meet a specific teacher's needs.