How a 4th Grade Teacher Transformed Her Classroom with Gamified Learning
.png)
"Having a Standards-Based Math Game That Students BEG to Play Is the Best Tool I’ve Found So Far!"
Balancing Diverse Learning Needs with Creativity
Today’s classrooms are more dynamic than ever. Students bring a wide range of academic needs, whether through Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), learning English as a new language, or needing extra support to keep up with fast-paced lessons. This pushes teachers to find creative ways to balance these demands while keeping students engaged. Ally Watkins, a 4th-grade teacher from Chattanooga, Tennessee, faces these challenges daily. To support her students’ learning and manage strict pacing guides, Ally turned to gamified tools like Boddle as one of many strategies to provide personalized, meaningful practice and help her students grow.
Tackling RTI Challenges with the Right Tools
The Problem:
One of Ally’s biggest challenges is finding a solid instructional tool for Response to Intervention (RTI) time. While working with small groups, she needs an activity that helps other students independently practice concepts they’re struggling with. Expert teachers skillfully juggle small group instruction while keeping independent learners on track, and their experience helps them choose the right tools to make this balance work smoothly.
The Solution:
Boddle has provided Ally with a way to keep her students engaged and learning, even when she isn’t working with them directly. She can assign specific standards that students struggle with, giving them extra practice tailored to their needs.
With Boddle’s detailed reporting options, Ally can review what her students worked on and identify skills that need further attention. She can see each question they answered and how they performed, enabling her to pinpoint misunderstandings and address them effectively.
The results have been impressive. Ally has seen her students’ confidence and test scores improve significantly. One student, who previously failed every math test, turned her performance around with Boddle. After receiving a parent letter from Ally, the student started playing Boddle every day at home. This newfound practice helped her pass her most recent math test, an achievement that boosted her confidence and motivation.
Personalized Learning Made Simple
Targeted Practice:
Boddle allows Ally to assign standards-aligned content, ensuring that each student receives practice tailored to their learning needs. Teachers can also create custom assignments, providing focused and meaningful practice to support individual growth.
Real Results in the Classroom
- Engaged Learners: Boddle’s interactive 3D gameplay keeps students excited about learning, giving Ally more freedom to focus on small group instruction.
- Building Confidence: Struggling students can practice at their own pace in a fun, supportive environment. Boddle’s adaptive learning paths help them celebrate small wins and build lasting confidence.
- Focused Skill Review: Boddle automatically assigns standards-based content through diagnostic assessments. Teachers can also customize assignments for more targeted support.
- Extending Learning at Home: Learning doesn’t have to stop at the classroom door. The Boddle parent letter informs families about what their child is working on, offering additional opportunities for growth and practice.
Ally’s Advice for Getting Started with Boddle
"Be prepared to set time boundaries and show your admin before you implement it. I let the students play for a quarter in my classroom before I sent home the papers, and they couldn’t wait to show their parents and play."
.jpg)
