How Tech Latin Games Benefit Latin Students

Why should Latin teachers implement Latin Games?

When people hear that I'm a Latin teacher a common response is: “They still teach that?”  I then have to explain to them that not only is Latin considered one of the most beneficial topics to be taught to adolescents but also that I'm not an ordinary Latin teacher.

I strongly believe that my high student engagement rates are a direct result of enjoying my job and the extent that I will go to to engage my students. 

Luckily, in my school, we are given an insane amount of autonomy within our classrooms. I have a technology integration specialist at my disposal, every one of my students has a laptop, and we have iPads that are just a request away. I know that my situation is lucky because not every Latin teacher has these resources available.

Easy Ways to Implement Latin Games

As a Latin teacher,  I feel like I need to work harder than other subjects to prove the relevance and worthwhile-ness of my class. One of the ways that I do this is through using as modern resources as possible to teach my subject.

Spoiler alert: The best way to achieve this is through digital escape rooms, which you can find here.

The SAMR model breaks down how teachers implement technology in increasingly beneficial ways, and here are my recommendations:

SUBSTITUTION: Replacing a traditional teaching method with an online teaching method for the purposes of increasing student engagement. Here are two examples of websites you can go to that do the work for you to help you create Latin games.

• Wizer (an online version of worksheets)

  • Here is the vault of the all Latin worksheets I’ve created (free!)

• Quizlet (Flashcards for vocabulary— Students like the “Learn” feature because it scaffolds learning their vocab as a game, and Quizlet.live is a successful Latin game for vocab retention!)

AUGMENTED: Latin content is augmented with technology to create Latin games.

• QR Code Scavenger Hunts — Put Latin game prompts into a QR code generator. Then, print out (SO fun when you decorate your classroom! My favorite this year was Candyland)

• Nearpod (or Peardeck) — These have pre-made games, and you just plug in your own content after uploading your Powerpoint or Google Slides.

• Charlala — Easy online version of Pictionary, and increases engagement time compared to traditional Pictionary. The timing of this game works so efficiently that students are constantly either guessing the Latin word or depicting the word with a picture; there is no down time.

• Gimkit — Addictive online vocabulary Latin game that uses Quizlet flashcards, and encourages students to go through them at an quick and effective pace.

• Baamboozle — Teachers input questions and students in teams answer them for random amounts of points. Hilarity ensues.

• Factile — Free & convenient way to make Jeopardy. Using technology allows the game to go much more quickly and seamlessly, thus focusing more on content.

• Vocabulary.com — Teachers build a list of vocab (for me, English derivatives for our Latin words that week) and students play games with SAT-style questions

• Quizizz — Online multiple-choice game that is easily adaptable to Latin. I like that the questions are in randomized order, and I can assign it for homework so easily.

MODIFICATION: Students interact with content through technology. Students gain ownership over their learning.

• Students creating iPad movie projects with their technology

• XP & Classroom Gamification (see my blog post describing this concept adapted for Latin games here.)

REDEFINITION: Technology allows students to engage with Latin without limitations of traditional instruction.

• Digital escape rooms — The ultimate Latin Game! Students manipulate iPad within a 360 degree image to find clues to Latin challenges. I love combining this with a physical escape room so that all 18 of my students are involved!

Conclusion

As a Latin teacher, I strongly believe that I am responsible for implementing as many tools as engage my students in the material. It’s hard to keep up-to-date with the cool tech that other teachers are experimenting with worldwide (via Instagram, Twitter, conferences), so I hope you found a useful tool here!

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Latin Game via Google Slides

Blog on Using Latin Games via Google Slides

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