Lesson 24: Hey Students! Are You Ready to Play the WAY?
Updated: 3 days ago
A SMART WAY to Learn, Earn, and Play
Have you ever wished you had more opportunities to participate in class?
To work with friends, create something interesting, ask your own questions, and show what you've learned?
That's what the WAY Game is all about.
Instead of simply listening, taking notes, and preparing for tests, you'll have opportunities to become more involved in your learning.
You'll think, create, collaborate, compete, and sometimes surprise yourself.
And here's something important:
You don't have to be the smartest student in the class to make a valuable contribution.
Everyone has something to offer.
1. Play the WAY Game
The WAY Game is a classroom activity that brings students together through questions, challenges, creativity, and teamwork.
There are seven ways to play:
Answer It — Answer questions about what you've learned.
Act It — Use actions and drama to communicate ideas.
Draw It — Show what you know through pictures.
Spell It — Practise spelling and vocabulary.
Question It — Create thoughtful questions for others.
Speak It — Explain, describe, or present your ideas.
Move It — Learn through movement and physical challenges.
Sometimes you'll play with friends. Other times you'll work with classmates you don't know as well.
That's part of the experience.
The goal isn't simply to win.
It's to learn how to participate, cooperate, think creatively, and treat others fairly.
2. Capture Your Learning with CAP Notes
Your CAP Notebook is a place to record and reflect on what you've learned.
CAP stands for Curriculum Content, Associations, Processes & Pictographs.
You'll use words, diagrams, drawings, questions, and connections to help organize your thinking.
At the end of a lesson, you may have time to review what was taught and create a summary.
Ask yourself:
What did I learn?
What does it remind me of?
How could I explain it to someone else?
What questions could I ask my classmates?
Your notes don't have to look exactly like anyone else's.
They should help you understand and remember your learning.
3. Create Game Cards
Here's where your ideas become part of the game.
Using your CAP Notes, you can create questions and activities for classmates.
You might invent a challenging question, design a drawing activity, write a short speaking challenge, or create something completely unexpected.
Your classmates may use your Game Cards during the WAY Game.
Imagine seeing something you created become part of an activity everyone enjoys.
You're not just answering questions. You're learning to create them.
4. Discover Your Strengths with Pathfinder
Everyone learns differently, has different interests, and brings different experiences to school.
Pathfinder gives you a chance to tell your teacher more about yourself.
What are your interests?
What are you proud of?
What would you like to improve?
What goals would you like to achieve?
Your teacher can use this information to get to know you better and help you participate.
Pathfinder can also contribute to classroom activities such as Mystery Kid, using information you're comfortable sharing. Gives you a chance.
5. Use Technology to Help You Learn
Your teacher may use SMART Notebook, digital lessons, videos, and other resources to make learning more interactive.
You may also have opportunities to use artificial intelligence.
AI can help you explore a question, explain a difficult idea, or suggest possibilities.
But remember:
AI is a tool. You are the thinker.
Don't simply copy an answer.
Ask questions, check the information, and decide what makes sense.
6. Create Something That Matters
Learning isn't only about tests and assignments.
You might help organize a class event, put on a performance, create a product, or participate in a small business project.
These activities are examples of Entrepreneurial Project-Based Learning.
You'll have opportunities to practise planning, teamwork, creativity, communication, and problem-solving.
Sometimes things won't work out as expected.
That's part of learning, too.
Four Values to Remember
As you participate, keep four values in mind:
Awareness — Pay attention to yourself, others, and the world around you.
Gratitude — Appreciate the people and opportunities in your life.
Respect — Treat others fairly, even when you disagree.
Service — Look for opportunities to help.
These values matter whether you're playing a game, working on a project, or simply spending time with classmates.
Your Challenge
You don't need to learn every SWAY tool at once. Start small. Learn how to use your WAY Card. Try taking CAP Notes. Create your first Game Card. Participate in a team activity.
And remember that everyone, including your teacher, is still learning.
Your ideas matter. Your questions matter. You matter.
Welcome to the WAY Game.
Learn to Play — Play to Learn.
Yours in Education,
Brian McCarthy
Retired Teacher and Founder, SWAY Canada
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