The greatest challenge Armstrong has faced in the use of PAT occurs when she has fallen behind in the curriculum she needs to cover. At these times, she has been tempted to skip PAT altogether and just continue with the regular material. Educators who use PAT advise that a key to the effectiveness of this system is for the teacher to be consistent with its implementation. Like Forsman, Armstrong exerts a great deal of control over the choice of PAT activities. She introduces her students to a variety of options at the start of the school year.
Students continue playing until one person, the winner, is left.
Then divide the class into four groups and send each to a different corner of the room. Choose a letter, such as T, and each group must come up with a word beginning with that letter for each category. If another group used the answers, all groups cross that word off their lists and no points are awarded. Choose seven students to stand at the front of the classroom. The rest of the class members put their heads down on their desks with their eyes hidden and their hands out with one thumb held up.