The Dice Book: Speaking and Writing Activities for English Language Learners (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780866474900)

The Dice Book turns simple classroom dice into powerful communication tools, offering 112 photocopiable activities built around "dice frames"--sets of six prompts that students respond to after each roll. Easy to learn and endlessly reusable, these frames create fast-paced, small-group games that keep students talking, listening, and reacting in English. With three main types of frames--open-ended speaking, grammar-focused, and vocabulary-focused--teachers can use them to warm up a lesson, reinforce a grammar point, recycle new words, or energize a tired class in just a few minutes.

Each dice frame provides just enough structure to support learners while leaving plenty of room for personal expression. Students might share opinions, tell short stories, describe past experiences, practice target forms, or improvise creative responses. Because the activity design is student-centered and low-prep, teachers can step back to observe, assess, and enjoy what their students are able to say. The Dice Book is ideal for busy instructors who want highly flexible, plug-and-play speaking activities that can be used with different levels, topics, and class sizes.

• 112 photocopiable dice-frame activities for instant use in the classroom
• Three main frame types: open-ended speaking, grammar practice, and vocabulary practice
• Small-group format that maximizes student speaking time and meaningful interaction
• Built-in scaffolding: each frame supplies prompts, examples, or sentence patterns to guide responses
• Promotes personalization as students share experiences, opinions, and creative ideas
• Short, five- to fifteen-minute tasks that fit easily into any lesson plan as warm-ups or quick review
• Virtually no preparation required--just select a frame, give dice to students, and play
• Encourages a student-centered classroom where teachers can monitor, assess, and support communicative growth
• Suitable for a wide range of ages and proficiency levels in ESL/EFL settings

• Conversation Strategies - David Kehe and Peggy Dustin Kehe - Provides essential speaking strategies that pair well with dice-frame activities to build smoother, more confident conversation.
• Zero Prep Activities for All Levels - Laurel Pollard and Natalie Hess - Offers additional low-prep, high-engagement classroom activities that match the quick, flexible spirit of The Dice Book.
• TalkAbouts - Deborah Gordon - Provides picture-based prompts and questions that support pair and group speaking practice similar to dice frames.
• Conversation Inspirations - Nancy Ellen Zelman - Contains creative prompts and scenarios that, like The Dice Book, spark spontaneous, student-centered speaking.