omething down, and then go back to chewing as they think. It works wonders! If you can’t get your hands on these toppers, a bag of pretzels or goldfish crackers can be a great supplement!
7. Individual Partitions
Our PTO sponsored a grant that allowed me to purchase a class set of these partitions. They are available to all students, but they are particularly helpful to my students with attention issues. Limiting the amount of visual stimulation that can distract them is key, and these partitions do the trick. I forgot to take a picture of them, but I have protector sheets taped to the inside, where I put checklists and directions for students that need that individual reminder. Grabbed my class set from Lakeshore Learning.
Often students who struggle with attention also struggle with recognizing the passage of time. These are often the kiddos that you find still at the water fountain ten minutes later! Having a class time-timer (as well as smaller, independent ones available) has been a HUGE help in keeping kids on track and focused. It is a great visual reminder for students, and helps them feel more independent. Actually, one of the jobs in my classroom is the TIME CHECK. This student is responsible for setting the class time-timer at the beginning of each work block. I set individual ones, often at 10-15 minute intervals, saying, “When I come back, let’s see if you can have 3 ideas on your paper.” I cannot stress the value of this tool enough!
9. Egg Chairs
These are great for students that struggle with transitions. You know which kiddos I’m referring to… the rest of the class is cleaning up their work, putting things away, and making their way to the next activity, but they are spinning in circles with their arms out at meeting. Transitions can be incredibly over stimulating for some kids, and so modifying their transitions can really help! I bring you… the IKEA EGG CHAIR!
About two minutes before ringing the chime to begin the transition, I have my one or two students head to their “transition spot,” where they generally have a book waiting for them. They have a quiet seat in the egg chair and pull down the chair cover. This blocks all visual stimulation for them. Then I have the rest of the class transition to the next activity, whether it is to meeting, to line up, or to a center. After the rest of the class is settled, my students in the egg chairs join us, having avoided the chaos of the transition completely. Now, I don’t like to use this all year, as it doesn’t offer them a chance to learn how to deal with transitions (which is a necessary skill in life!) I slowly pull back this support as the year progresses, sometimes completely.
10. Incorporating Movement into the Classroom
I know we are all weighed down by increasing demands in the classrooms with fewer resources and what feels like an ever-increasing student case-load. However, I have found that carving out even a two-minute movement break between activities actually ends up saving me time. Being proactive in this way means that I have to interrupt lessons less often with reminders and redirections. Also, when planning out my day, I try to be conscious of how long I am asking students to sit in the same place. Between longer blocks, I try and break it up with a quick movement break, or at least a change of setting (rug to desk). I also try and have more “hands-on” activities available during center time, although I could do better there! The book 99 Activities and Greetings has a lot of great ideas for quick activities that build community and incorporate movement.