ABC Review

Purpose:  To increase comprehension by actively engaging students in a review of topics, concepts, and vocabulary introduced in a unit or lesson

Description: Grouped in partners or in teams, students will draw letter tiles and use the tile as the beginning letter of a topic, concept, word, or phrase from the unit or lesson being reviewed.

Procedure: 

1. In a bucket, hat, or paper bag, assemble a set of letter tiles.  Scrabble tiles are perfect, however, handmade tiles with handwritten letters are also appropriate.
2. Group students into partners or small groups of no more than 4.
3. Determine the ratio of tiles to groups. Have each group draw the appropriate number of letter tiles.
4. Using the tiles drawn, groups are to recall a topic, concept, word, or phrase from the unit or lesson that begins with that letter.
5. Depending on time, groups can either write down the topic, concept, word, or phrase, or, may use it in a sentence.
6. As a whole class, the teacher should guide students through the entire alphabet asking for one example of an A, B, C, and so on. As there may be duplicate tiles (as will happen when using Scrabble pieces), the teacher should only solicit one example for each letter unless time permits additional sharing.

from Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners
Guilford County Schools TF, 2002

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