This Month’s Jam Session: Boosting Student Engagement With Games

Laura D.Editor

October 31, 2025

Update: This Jam Session (November 2-8, 2025) is now closed—but the learning isn’t. Tried an idea? Check in below and let us know how it went. Stay tuned for the next jam in early December.

Here’s how to join the chat: Watch the video and drop your questions about how to bring gamification to your classroom in the thread below!

This is a printer on an orange background next to the words "Let's Jam!".

Hannah Bogenreuther for Edutopia

Welcome! 👋

Our guest for this month’s jam session is Kathy-Ann St. Hill-St. Lawrence (a.k.a. Ms. Saint), who's featured in the video above. She is a second-grade teacher in Baltimore, Maryland, who regularly uses games to teach students valuable social-emotional skills, provide regular movement breaks, and boost engagement in learning. She’s here to answer questions about the examples featured in the video, as well as support you in thinking about how you can gamify your own instruction. You can use the video as a jumping-off point, but don’t hesitate to ask questions that go beyond reading and phonics.

Here are more details on how to join this session:

1. Watch Ms. Saint’s video → Jot down one idea about how you might gamify your instruction.

2. Drop your questions for Ms. Saint in the comments section below→ What’s unclear? What would help you bring these ideas to your classroom?

3. Respond to your peers in the chat → Reply with (a) a follow-up question, (b) a “yes-and” idea, or (c) a helpful resource link.

Pop into the thread below anytime now through Saturday, November 8, 2025, and come back as often as you like. Ms. Saint and the Edutopia team will be responding to your questions and ideas throughout the week.

💡Tip: Save this post to come back to the conversation later!