Submitted by Taking the time back (not verified) on March 26, 2008 - 20:29.
During the course of the year I have tried many different approaches to the start of class. When entering a high school atmosphere I knew the students were focused on their social life and not so much the math I would like for them to learn. There had to be a way to gain back those firt few minutes lost in each class and I think I have finally found a method that works for me.
As the sudents walk into class their warm up page is already on the board. This isn't the typical five math question warm up; instead, the students have five ice-breaker questions. I started out small with questions such as, "if I were an animal, I would be _______, because ________." As the weeks go on I try to get questions that make the kids think more about their lives and about their future.
This is the best procedure I have in my class. The students come in, put their bookbags to the back and get started on their warm-up. They know the clock will stop after about 3 minutes and all answers must be in complete sentences. We go around the room giving three people the chance to share their answers. After three people we move onto the next quesion. When the questions are complete, the students beg me to answer (which is why I'm careful of the questions asked), and then we move on with the lesson.
All students are accountable for their questions. Every Friday the warm-ups are collected and put in as a quiz grade for the week. I can't ask for anything better; my students are focused from the time they enter the room until they leave. This is the best thing I have ever done for my students and for myself. Questions/Situations from the "IF..." book work just as good. And don't think I spend hours thinking of questions, there are plenty of websites with ice-breaker questions.
Hope this helps some other people gain back their time and focus into the classroom.
And...I completly agree with the comment between 4th graders and 9th graders...they are very similar with their needs and wants. It is almost crazy to think that my ninth graders are at the level of fourth graders, but in many ways they are.
Different approaches to starting class
Submitted by Taking the time back (not verified) on March 26, 2008 - 20:29.
During the course of the year I have tried many different approaches to the start of class. When entering a high school atmosphere I knew the students were focused on their social life and not so much the math I would like for them to learn. There had to be a way to gain back those firt few minutes lost in each class and I think I have finally found a method that works for me.
As the sudents walk into class their warm up page is already on the board. This isn't the typical five math question warm up; instead, the students have five ice-breaker questions. I started out small with questions such as, "if I were an animal, I would be _______, because ________." As the weeks go on I try to get questions that make the kids think more about their lives and about their future.
This is the best procedure I have in my class. The students come in, put their bookbags to the back and get started on their warm-up. They know the clock will stop after about 3 minutes and all answers must be in complete sentences. We go around the room giving three people the chance to share their answers. After three people we move onto the next quesion. When the questions are complete, the students beg me to answer (which is why I'm careful of the questions asked), and then we move on with the lesson.
All students are accountable for their questions. Every Friday the warm-ups are collected and put in as a quiz grade for the week. I can't ask for anything better; my students are focused from the time they enter the room until they leave. This is the best thing I have ever done for my students and for myself. Questions/Situations from the "IF..." book work just as good. And don't think I spend hours thinking of questions, there are plenty of websites with ice-breaker questions.
Hope this helps some other people gain back their time and focus into the classroom.
And...I completly agree with the comment between 4th graders and 9th graders...they are very similar with their needs and wants. It is almost crazy to think that my ninth graders are at the level of fourth graders, but in many ways they are.