Ways to Maximize Time

Question 1

Strategies for Maximizing Time

Answer 1

Maintain Activity Flow, Minimize Transition Time, Hold Students Accountable, Manage Pullouts

Question 2

First, we simply need to think about keeping students busy, and working
Research from Good & Brophy suggests that four things can happen when students are left with nothing to do; three of which are not ideal:
Students might grow bored and lose interest
They might get distracted, start daydreaming
Some student might actively misbehave
Still, some students MAY remain attentive and interested

Answer 2

Maintain Activity Flow

Question 3

Teachers must remain keenly aware and cognizant of how the lesson is proceeding
They should maintain the FLOW of instruction, and minimize downtime
Teachers must keep the lesson moving forward, at a brisk, quick pace - without rushing - and without stopping and starting, or getting too bogged down

Answer 3

Maintain Activity Flow

Question 4

Teachers must be careful not to stop one activity and begin another; then RETURN to the original activity

Answer 4

Avoid Flip-Flopping

Question 5

What should you do during planning to ensure that flip-flopping does not occur?

Answer 5

Clear end goal before moving on, checklist for what you need to say/accomplish

Question 6

Unpredictable events that would draw the students’ or teachers’ attention away from the task at hand
Examples of this include: distracting outside classroom windows, noisy hallways, students getting sick in class, students falling out of their chair

Answer 6

Stimulus-Bound Events

Question 7

When a teacher spends too much time explaining concepts students already understand
Also occurs when teachers spend too much time “preaching” to students about appropriate behavior
Can occur when teachers spend too much time reprimanding or engaging with misbehaving students

Answer 7

Over-dwelling

Question 8

When a teacher breaks down an activity into unnecessary components, with too many, very small steps or instructions

Answer 8

Fragmentation

Question 9

Teach basic procedures early on in the school year for how to submit written work, log on to electronic devices, etc.
Post anchor charts in the room with key procedures; then remind students to look at the chart for guidance
Teach students to “Ask 3 before me”

Answer 9

Strategies to avoid fragmentation

Question 10

Kounin concluded that ________ ____ plays a greater role in classroom order than the specific strategies used to deal with behavior problems

Answer 10

activity flow

Question 11

Early in the school year, teach students HOW to transition
Near the end of an activity or instructional episode, prepare students for the transition to the next activity with a countdown, verbal reminder, etc.
Early in the school year establish clear routines for managing students’ movement throughout the day
Instructional activities need clear, formal beginnings AND endings

Answer 11

Minimize transition time

Question 12

Teachers should clearly communicate their expectations about assignments
Help students understand exactly what they need for a particular task or project at hand
Do they need a pencil, paper, pen, etc?
Where will students do the work?
Help students understand exactly how they will be evaluated; what will you look for in a given assignment?
Teachers must monitor students’ progress throughout the learning activity

Answer 12

Hold Students Accountable

Question 13

Teachers must coordinate with resources and special area colleagues so that students get pulled when it is least disruptive to the other students
Similarly, these same students should return when it is least disruptive to the students still in the classroom

Answer 13

Manage Pullouts