Time management is one of the most critical life skills we can teach our students. Here are a few tools I use in my classroom to teach my students how to manage their time wisely!
I have several students who LOVE to know what time we are moving from one thing to the next. I use 4 inch clocks as a visual reminder of when we will be transitioning to the next subject or activity. I place them on their desks and have them move the hands to when the next transition will happen. For example, at the beginning of the day we have morning meeting at 8:00 and start math at 8:15, so the clock hands would be set to 8:15. I tell the students, "When the clock hanging up on the wall of our classroom looks like your clock, it will be time to switch." This is reassuring and calms anxiety in several of my students!
You can purchase the clocks here.*
The other trick up my sleeve are these sand timers from Amazon.*
The first way I use the timers is to help students who have difficulty focusing on the tasks at hand. I set the timer on the desk and say, "You have _____ amount of minutes to finish this task. I'll come back when the sand has reached the bottom. If you're done you get (an agreed upon reward such as a treat or sticker.)"
If the student does not meet the goal, we have a conversation about the challenges that prevented them from finishing and set another goal based on that information. If it wasn't enough time, I'll select another timer. If they need a quiet space, I'll let them move somewhere else in the room or give them the option to wear noise cancelling headphones while they work.
These tools have worked like a charm! At the beginning of the year, I had several students who only felt confident in their work when I was standing right next to them. (Sometimes guiding them and answering questions, but sometimes they just wanted me there for reassurance they weren't making mistakes along the way.) We slowly worked our way out of those habits and helped them gain confidence in their abilities.
Give these strategies a try and let me know it goes!
*Contains affiliate link.
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