This is a fun game to practice spelling, verbal speed and verbal flexibility. Players race against each other to build crossword grids using of all of their lettered tiles. The winner is the first player to finish. Bananagrams is like Scrabble without a board but is more exciting because everyone plays simultaneously and there is no need to focus on points. This game is good choice for a child to practice spelling because there is absolutely no writing involved though they will need to align tiles. The game can help all children’s vocabulary and spelling when played with an adult or older child that can correct spelling mistakes and discuss unfamiliar words. However, the game could be difficult for students who struggle with spelling, flexible thinking or initiation as well as anxious students who would feel pressure with everyone working simultaneously if not played with a supportive group. With the right people and a dictionary to settle any disputes, this can be an excellent game to work on a variety of important skills.

• Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
• Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
• Presents educational concepts accurately
• Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
• Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
• Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
• Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

• Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
• Visually appealing to children in the target age range
• Adults would enjoy playing with a child
• For electronic games, gives positive or encouraging feedback
• Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
• Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

• Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
• Student should be able to use independently after first use
• Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
• Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
• Does not require excessive set-up time after first time use
• Can be fun as a single player game
• Multi-player game which fosters collaboration or cooperation
• Well-made for the cost
• For electronic games, can play without sound
• For electronic games, allows user to save work
• For electronic games, voice/sounds are appealing and pronounces words properly
• Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
• Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
• Overall - Easy to use

• Anxiety
• Multi-player activity with a clear 'winner' and 'loser'
• A player's success depends on speed
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Fine Motor Skills
• Requires challenging finger movements, motor precision or physical manipulation
• Processing Speed
• Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
• A player's success depends on speed
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Self-regulation
• Multi-player activity that requires cooperation or has potential for disagreements
• Multi-player activity with a clear 'winner' and 'loser'
• A player's success depends on speed
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Social Awareness
• Multi-player activity that requires cooperation or has potential for disagreements
• Multi-player activity with a clear 'winner' and 'loser'
• Visual Motor Speed
• Requires challenging finger movements, motor precision or physical manipulation
• A player's success depends on speed
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Working Memory
• Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
• Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps

Bananagrams