Earlier this week, I began a blog series Successful 50 Minute Classes. This year I am working with some brand new first year teachers, so this has been constantly on my mind. Plus, it is easy to get caught by the bell when you are rocking and rolling!
Today, I am going to focus on the small things that eat away at those 50 minutes, without us even realizing.
Supplies
Scissors, glue, netbooks, iPads. Supplies can easily eat a few minutes out of each lesson. When planning your lesson, think about how you can easily distribute supplies. Depending on what is necessary you could:
- Have them pick it up as they enter the room
- Utilize a group bucket
- Have a supply manager
- Pass them out as students are working on a different piece of the lesson
Avoid:
- Students all coming to one location to pick up supplies
- Getting out supplies at multiple times during the lesson
- Not having enough supplies
Transitions
Transitions can turn into talking, loud movement, and the teacher having to get everyone focused again. Each transition can easily eat 2 minutes or more. Consider using a timer or making it a competition. No matter what you do, be sure to state the expectation on how to move or what to be getting out, putting away, etc. Also, it helps to call out time.
For example, if you gave students 2 minutes to put away supplies, get back to their seat, and have a new item out...you might set the timer for 2 minutes, then give a 1 minute warning, 30 second warning, begin praising students who are ready to go, 15 seconds, count how many are still working, then count down from 10. It gives students a bit of pressure to be ready to go.
to be continued...
