Better Than BingoActivity slides
Better Than Bingo · Classroom Edition
The Class Field Guide
Collect anonymous student wisdom about what helps a class work—then turn it into a useful guide.
25–40 min8–40 peopleIndividual
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Teacher prep · Do not project yet
Set the room up for success.
Materials
- Sticky notes or anonymous digital form
- Chart paper or shared document
- Markers
Before you begin
- Choose three prompts and create separate anonymous collection spaces
- Decide which classroom decisions students can influence and name any non-negotiables
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Teacher language · Do not project yet
What to say
“You have useful experience being a student. Share only what you are comfortable sharing, without your name. We will look for patterns—not guess who wrote what—and turn the useful patterns into a class field guide.”
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Teacher notes · Do not project yet
Keep it comfortable and useful.
Make room for everyone
- Offer speech-to-text, typing, handwriting, and a pass option.
- Do not ask students to defend or explain anonymous responses.
- Read themes aloud and make the final guide available in an accessible digital format.
Watch out for
- Do not promise changes you cannot make; respond transparently to suggestions.
- Remove identifying details before groups sort responses and follow school procedures if a note signals a safety concern.
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For students
Here’s what to do.
- 1
Give students quiet time to answer one to three prompts anonymously, one idea per note.
- 2
Shuffle the notes and distribute a set to each small group.
- 3
Groups sort notes into themes without evaluating or diagnosing the writer.
- 4
Each group names two practical recommendations and one tension or difference they noticed.
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For students
Keep going.
- 5
Build a shared field guide with sections such as getting unstuck, joining in, working with others, and resetting after a hard day.
- 6
Clarify which ideas the class can adopt now, which need more discussion, and which are outside the teacher’s control.
- 7
Revisit one section after two weeks and invite anonymous revisions.
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Prompt 01
A class is working well when…
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 02
A useful way to help someone get unstuck is…
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 03
Group work is less painful when…
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 04
A low-pressure way to participate is…
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 05
After an off day, it helps when the next day…
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 06
One thing teachers should not mistake for not caring is…
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Wrap it up
One last thought.
- Which recommendation could make the biggest difference right away?
- Where did the class have different needs?
- How can we make room for more than one useful way to participate?