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Flashcard Star

Dr. Spencer Kagan, Miguel Kagan, Laurie Kagan

Flashcards are a tried and true method for memorizing need-to-know curriculum. Flashcards are used with success for mastering addition facts to SAT words—and everything in between. Every teacher knows and uses flashcards. But flashcards can get boring. Sitting alone, quizzing yourself can get old fast. Here’s a Kagan Structure that adds an interactive twist to spice up those ol’ faithful flashcards. Motivate your students to memorize that must-know content with Flashcard Star.

Flashcard Star

Students circulate in the room finding new partners, hoping to retire
cards from their practice deck.

Getting Ready
The teacher provides students with flashcards on items they don't know, or students create the cards on missed items following a pre-test. Each student needs a marker or something to write with.

1. Students Pair Up
Students collect five flashcards from their pile of flashcards and a marker, then stand up, put a hand up, and pair up.
2. Partners Trade Cards
Students trade flashcards with their partners.
3. Partner A Quizzes Partner B
Partner A quizzes Partner B. For example, Partner A shows the name of a state and asks, “What is the capital?”
4. Partner B Answers
Partner B attempts to answer.
5. Partner A Checks Answer
If Partner B responds correctly, Partner A congratulates Partner B and draws a star on the front of the card. If the answer is not correct, Partner A states the correct answer and provides coaching or a tip. For example, “Atlanta is the capital of Georgia. I think of a lot of ants in Georgia.”
6. A Quizzes B on Card 2
Partner A quizzes Partner B with another card. Partner B stars the card if correct or provides coaching or a tip. For variety, partners only quiz each other on two cards.
7. Switch Roles
Partners switch roles and Partner B quizzes Partner A on two cards.
8. New Partners
Partners thank each other, each put a hand up, and seek new partners. When a card receives two stars, it is retired from the deck. When all five cards are retired, the student returns to his/her desk to gather five more cards.

Tips:

• Coaching Tips. Instruct the class how to be a good coach and to offer helpful tips.
• Show the Card. During quizzing, it is helpful for partners to show the question or problem as well as read it. This provides visual and auditory cues. (Spelling word flashcards are an exception.) The same is true for the answer. Partners should say and show the correct answer when possible.
• Challenge Cards. Because some students will finish more quickly than others, the teacher provides bonus cards from which to draw.