Why I Swapped Traditional Discussion Questions for Roll-the-Dice Boards - And Never Looked Back

When I first started teaching, I did what most teachers do - I handed out discussion questions after we finished a text, crossed my fingers, and hoped for something more than awkward silence or the same three students putting up their hands.

It worked, kind of. But it didn’t excite anyone. It didn’t invite the quiet students to speak up. It didn’t lead to deeper insights or challenge my class to think in new ways.

I think discussion is at the heart of literature lessons. We all see and interpret texts differently, so it needed to change. So, I took the plunge and tried something different.

A Simple Idea with Big Results

I first saw the idea of a Roll-the-Dice Discussion Board years ago while teaching Romeo and Juliet. It was a simple grid filled with questions, and students rolled dice to land on a random square and answer the question.

I liked the idea but wanted something more tailored to my class. So, I created my own version with a broader range of questions - covering everything from themes and symbols to personal opinions and language choice.

And I never looked back.

Now, I create a Roll-the-Dice board for nearly every text I taught - from poems and short stories to plays and novels. I even have some free ones available:

◆ The Crucible
◆ The Tell-Tale Heart
◆ The Fall of the House of Usher
◆ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
◆ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
◆ The Purloined Letter

Why They Work So Well in the Classroom

What I love most about these boards is how deceptively simple they are, but the impact is massive. The idea is easy: students roll two dice and discuss the question they land on. But that element of chance turns it into something that feels less like a classroom task and more like a game.

Because they’re working in small groups or pairs, even my quietest students tend to find their voice. It lowers the pressure of a full-class discussion, but still pushes them to share, challenge, and build on each other's ideas. Discussions flow more naturally, and students stay engaged longer - especially because they never know which question they’ll roll next.

There are 36 discussion questions on every board, covering themes, characters, symbols, background context, and more. And that range keeps things interesting. Students can agree, disagree, expand, and explore so it’s incredibly versatile.

I’ve used these boards for everything: poetry, short stories, novels, Shakespeare. Any age, any genre. They work because they feel like their space to explore the text. That’s the magic of student-led activities - they learn by doing, thinking, and talking. And that’s when the best insights happen.

What Other Teachers Are Saying

These boards have quickly become a classroom favourite - and not just in my own! Here’s what other educators have said after using them:

“A fantastic resource that was thoroughly engaging and easy to use as a teacher!”

“This resource was very helpful in assessing my students’ comprehension of the story.”

“Such a great way to review the book! My students really enjoyed this activity!”

“This was so fun! My students loved it and were very engaged!”

“I need this for #allthethings! Students hate comprehension questions and hate to discuss reading, but give them dice and a game of chance and everyone was engaged. I didn’t even tell them to write down what they discussed, but many did anyway... and usually I can’t get them to write. I shared this resource with my team.”

Seeing that kind of engagement, especially from reluctant readers or writers, is exactly why I keep making these. Sometimes, it really is the simplest changes that create the biggest shift in student participation.

Ready to Roll?

If you're looking for a ready-to-use, engaging way to get your students talking (and actually thinking deeply about literature) my Roll the Dice Discussion Board Mega Bundle is for you.

It includes boards for 96 texts (and counting!), spanning short stories, poems, novels, and plays - and it’s still growing. Each one is designed to spark powerful student-led discussion, promote deeper analysis, and take the pressure off whole-class conversations.

You’ll also find several free discussion boards available in my TpT store, so you can try them out before committing.

Ready to roll?
Grab the full mega bundle here and transform your literature discussions!