Prodigy Math Game is a free online game covering math standards from kindergarten through eighth grade. The game-based learning platform has been a staple in my classroom for several years. I love the game so much, I became a Prodigy Global Ambassador to help onboard other educators to the system. Depending on the amount of technology and instructional minutes of your classroom, you can use Prodigy as:
1. Bellwork – Before and/or After
If your classroom is one-to-one, try using Prodigy as a warm-up to your lesson or on the tail end as an exit ticket. First, log in to your teacher dashboard and make a learning plan. With a few clicks, you’ll then schedule topics and specific skills to cover through in-game questions. The whole thing takes maybe a minute to set up.
I really like using the game as a pre- and post-assessment. Prior to teaching a concept, I assign Prodigy. As students play, Prodigy collects data. The reports tell me where individual students are struggling. This helps me craft my instructional approach to address misconceptions. Towards the end of the unit, I’ll reassign the standard and evaluate student understanding.
2. Learning Center Station Rotations
In classrooms with limited technology, using Prodigy as center work allows all students a chance to play. When my class only had access to four iPads, this is the route I went. I’d set up the iPads for my technology center and have students rotate throughout the week until each group got a turn. On the iPad, you can download the app for easier login. On computers, you would simply use the website: play.prodigy.com
3. Independent Practice – Homework
Don’t have the technology or a single instructional minute to spare? That’s okay; send Prodigy home! By using the assignment feature, students will receive custom work for independent practice. Helloooo, differentiation! You can choose the questions based on skill/difficulty. Then, decide if you’ll assign the work to specific students or the entire class. Prodigy is awesome like that!
4. Individualized Education Plans
Lastly, use Prodigy for specialized education, be it for intervention or advancement. As the game determines a studentโs struggles, Prodigy automatically adapts to deliver content that builds prerequisite skills. In areas where Prodigy sees student excellence, the system introduces elevated concepts.
As a teacher, you also have the ability to override this feature and deliver your own questions that focus on the desired material. Being a teacher of students with learning disabilities, I assign coursework aligned to my student’s IEP goals.
ACTIONABLE STEPS: Pick one of the ways mentioned above and try Prodigy with your own students! If you need help getting started, please let me know. I’m here to help! What other uses have you had for Prodigy Math Game in the classroom? Share below.
