APRIL 2025 Level Up Tutoring!- Luis Barba Sebastian Cabrera, Hannah Kleinkramer, and Anapaula Ochoa

This article will introduce different, fun, and educational tools that will help students engage in tutoring sessions while also having fun. We hope our  readers will gain an overview of several online and physical tools that encourage tutoring participation. Each "game" is customizable across all academic subjects and will offer a wide variety of tools to LEVEL UP your tutoring sessions. All tools being discussed are no cost or low-cost. We are dedicated to being inclusive with our choices- just as much as being informative and helpful!

●       Crossword Puzzles- Free (Cost of Paper)

●       Kahoot- Free (premium available)

●       Blooket- Free

●       Wordwall - Free (premium available)

●       Quizlet- Free (premium available)

●       Shiritori- Free

Crossword Puzzles emerged in 1913 when an editor, Arthur Wynne, wanted to add something fun and challenging for his readers. Wynne was a part of the weekly activities for the New York World newspapers in 1911 and then took charge two years later. The first crossword puzzle created was in the Christmas Edition newspaper under “FUN’S Word-Cross Puzzle.” The crossword was in the shape of a diamond with numbers along the borders and the word “fun” sitting on the tip of the diamond. At the bottom of the page, there are hints that describe what the word could be. Wynne mentioned that he got the inspiration from a children’s magazine that involved a grid and questions the participants created. Although his creation of the crossword puzzle was very new, it rose in popularity months later to help escape the issues surrounding WWI.

There are many ways to make learning fun and challenging. A crossword puzzle is an excellent way to help with memorization, teach key words in various subjects, and allow a break from homework. I found a website called Crosswordlabs.com that can help create crossword puzzles with different topics. The perk of this website is that you can send someone an online version of the crossword if printing is not an option. An example of using crossword puzzles for memorization is Mathematics. Math is a complex subject, and many students struggle with it due to memorizing formulas. Crossword puzzles can help develop a structure within math equations and be used in classrooms or tutoring sessions. Although this game can be helpful, creating a math crossword can be challenging since my website doesn’t register some symbols like fractions. Another example of a subject that can be used in learning is Sociology. Many social science majors have theories that must be memorized throughout school. I can create a crossword puzzle using key terms like “Social Conflict Theory”, “Social Construct”, “Functionalist Theory”, “Culture”, etc. The game can strengthen knowledge by using it to question students or tutees. Like “What is an example of Social Construct?” or “How is social conflict theory used in this example?”

Another of the more well-known and utilized learning applications is Kahoot. I am sure at some point in your life, you have played this. Kahoot allows educators to quickly quiz students and ensure they comprehend what needs to be learned. This approach to quick thinking sets up a competitive environment that motivates students to think on their feet. As a tutor, you can set up a quiz for your students that emphasizes a particular set of topics or questions. Kahoot allows for a fun learning environment where students can compete for the top spot.

The best thing about Kahoot is that it is adaptable to whatever subject you are teaching. It is pretty straightforward. You set up a set of questions or concepts and have the students quickly choose from four different options. I have an example here that asks the question, “What is the name of the main character?” for William Shakespeare's Macbeth story. The students would then have a few seconds to answer the correct name. Overall, it is a pretty simple application that can make teaching a little bit more fun.

Blooket is similar to Kahoot in the sense that you create a quiz with questions or concepts, but this has up to 300 seconds, so there’s more room to prioritize passive thinking rather than quick thinking. You can have students answer multiple-choice questions, solve math equations, or do a written response. The coolest thing about this application, though, is the immersive gameplay. Blooket allows you to create a quiz and then select which game you want to play. For example, you can select the Cafe Game, and Blooket allows you to create a quiz and then select which game you want to play. Another application that helps make learning vocabulary fun is Wordwall. This one also has different options for practicing specific words and concepts, which helps with retention skills. The different learning options are engaging and interactive which makes it fun and just a little less boring than simply just reading flashcards. Wordwall allows you to create and pick how you want to learn new vocabulary. For example, you can do a match-up round where you can match certain words to different definitions. You can also maybe spin the wheel and see which word it lands on and try defining it. It’s really up to you which mode you think would be the most fun and effective way to help you study these words.

There are an abundance of creative tools to create a fun learning environment while engaging in the writing process, including Quizlet and Shiritori.

Quizlet can be used to help English students through the wide variety of tools available. Among these flashcards are sets that help with sentence structure, vocabulary, and definitions of important aspects of essays, such as thesis statements and body paragraphs. These resources can be very helpful through memorization and repetitive techniques for students to retain important information concerning English. Additionally, there are also test, matching, and writing activities available for students to utilize. Quizlet has diverse learning methods, catering to individuals with different learning preferences.

Shiritori is a helpful writing game that can be utilized by students who encounter obstacles in their writing process. This game consists of selecting a random word, where the first letter of a word is the last letter of the previous one, and so on. Once words by random association have been compiled, they can be used as a writing prompt to get “unstuck” when writing. Once the students have compiled a three-word pattern, they will conduct a free writing session by timing themselves for fifteen minutes, writing a story using the word pattern. Shiritori is a useful exercise for students who feel ‘stuck’ when writing and can aid students in igniting their creative writing ability. In the span of fifteen minutes, students can think about how to incorporate the word patterns they have created.

Quizlet is a very versatile tool and can also be utilized in different disciplines, such as science, history, or math. As mentioned, a wide variety of tools and resources are available on Quizlet, such as public flashcards, testing modes, mix and match, and more. Shiritori, on the other hand, is specific to helping with writing, as it is an exercise that is useful for getting "unstuck" during the writing process. Shiritori is a great tool to invoke creativity and storytelling using words of association, helping to alleviate writer's block. Both of these tools are helpful in making the writing process more engaging and enjoyable, especially when facing obstacles. These tools can offer solutions to several writing issues, such as spelling and structure, and as well as strategies to get the creative juices flowing when writing.