| One of the most effective classroom | | | | amazed at the results. |
| management strategies a teacher can use is also | | | | I use this teaching strategy with my own 8th |
| the strategy that teachers are most skeptical of. | | | | grade social studies classes and I can honestly say |
| Why? | | | | that when that timer signals that their break is |
| I'm not sure... | | | | over...you've never seen 14 year-olds get back in |
| This simple teaching strategy has a positive | | | | their seats and ready to work faster. |
| impact on the student-teacher relationship and | | | | Break-time for students is truly a powerful |
| greatly reduces classroom management issues | | | | teaching tip! |
| and behavior problems. | | | | However, like all the teaching tips I suggest, I can |
| Of course, there is more than a slight connection | | | | not make you try it...only you can do that... |
| between the teacher-student relationship and | | | | Along with teaching middle school social studies |
| classroom management. | | | | full-time, I also teach a course on classroom |
| So what's this simple teaching tip? | | | | management as an adjunct professor at a local |
| Teachers need to give their students a break... | | | | college. Recently, one of my college students |
| That's right an actual 2-3 minute break during | | | | confided in me that she thought I was absolutely |
| class. | | | | nuts to suggest she give her 7th grade math |
| Now many teachers may say that there is no | | | | students a break during class time. |
| way they can give a 2-3 minute break in the | | | | But, she decided to have an open mind and gave |
| middle of their 50-minute class when they are | | | | it a try. This is the difference between an |
| already so pressed for time. To those teachers I | | | | effective teacher and an ineffective teacher. The |
| say, "I am willing to give a 2-minute break to get | | | | effective teacher is willing to take risks. |
| the other 48 minutes back." | | | | Needless to say the student was thrilled with the |
| The fact is, if you give a 2-minute break you can | | | | results. She set a timer, gave her students |
| get so much more out of the rest of class. | | | | specific directions, and when that timer went off |
| Of course, you must teach this procedure just | | | | signaling their break was over, those students got |
| like you must teach every procedure (teach the | | | | right back in their seats, were refreshed, and |
| students exactly how much time they have, what | | | | motivated to learn. |
| they can do and can not do, and exactly what | | | | Giving students a break during class time does |
| you expect of them when the timer signals that | | | | not only aide in classroom management, but it |
| break-time is over.) | | | | also contributes to building on that critical |
| I promise you, if you do this right you will be | | | | teacher-student relationship. |