Challenging Students during Free Time

     When our first graders are finished with their morning work and other appropriate times, they are allowed to color in coloring books that are brought from home. I have found that one of the students does not enjoy coloring but could really use a challenge. One day for a review in math, I made a math matching game. She was pulled out for testing while we worked on it, so later she asked if she could keep one to play the next morning. After she played it, she wanted to take it home to play some more.

       I realized she needed a challenge and some games that would engage  her, so I made and found some for her to do instead of coloring in a coloring book. One I named Spill and Spell. There are dice, and she has to shake them onto the carpet. Then, using the letters she can see, the student will spell some words.

     My teacher also suggested that she could play on the computer since she finished so early. My class used starfall.com. Other students wanted to do it too, and now it has become an extended part of our literacy block. I did a few other games such as using pattern blocks to make different pictures, which I found online. I also did a math puzzle using addition and subtraction.

What do you do to challenge your high students?