A classroom teacher should never underestimate the impact that games and competition can have on student engagement and learning. A simple game like Bingo can make learning vocabulary or grammatical forms fun and exciting for students, while also allowing you an informal assessment opportunity.
      To play vocabulary Bingo, have students create a 5x5 square grid on a sheet of paper. Write 35-40 words on the board, then allow the students to populate their Bingo cards with 25 words of their own choice. The caller, then, calls out clues for each vocabulary word and marks a list of words called. Prizes can be candy treats or some other prize. You can even have a “blackout” round for

a few points of extra credit or immunity from a vocabulary quiz.
 This format is extremely versatile. You can use it for vocabulary, grammar, cultural literacy, or literary figures (if you are reading texts as part of your class). Students love pitting their skills against each other -- and they especially appreciate having a measure of control over their Bingo cards.
      A variation you can use to amplify their word mastery is to use antonyms of vocabulary words, instead of the words themselves.
Have fun using this tool. 
      The energy is infectious and makes such a difference in creating a positive learning environment. Games and competition, when used strategically, can create an overachieving class in a way that punitive measures cannot.