Hi friends! Popping in today to share one of my favorite (probably THE favorite) classroom management strategies I use. Finding things for kids to "do" after they finish their work was always something I worked on as part of my classroom management. When I first started teaching 16 years ago, I would put out games that I made BY HAND! Who remembers file-folder games?! Then when TPT became popular, I bought several products and tried to set up an early finisher station. That idea was nice, but it required TONS of worksheets being copied. Our copies were tracked at the time, and I needed to save mine for my actual lessons. Plus, who really wants to do a bunch of worksheets after they have finished doing their work? Fast forward a few years later to when I would only let kids read after they finish their work. I'm all for reading whenever you can, but 6-7 year olds can't hold their attention on books for the amount of time necessary for the rest of the students who are still completing their assignment. All of these strategies that I tried were good, but nothing was solid. That is, until I created a game-changer, the "Early Finisher Board."
The board is a single poster or paper (I print mine in good ole' 8.5x11 paper) that can hang on a white board, wall, or bulletin board. A piece of Velcro goes in the middle of the square on the poster. Opposing Velcro goes on the choice cards.
You choose the activity to place on the poster, depending on what you want your kids to do after they finish their work.
You choose how often you change the activity card. Personally, I change mine once in the morning and once in the afternoon. It only takes a minute to switch the card and grab a container of whatever the activity card says.
You decide how you want to set this up. In my room, I just throw a box of whatever the activity card says on the floor under the board. However, I have seen more elaborate set-ups using organizational systems like the one shown below. It's all about what works for you and your students!
I love this management tool because it's hands-on. What kid doesn't want to play with blocks after they've completed their work?! I also adore the fact that this doesn't require you to buy anything extra. This product comes with tons of activity card options! Use the cards that go with the materials that you have. In addition, this product is editable, so you can customize the activity cards to match your supplies.
I very, very rarely have someone complain about the activity on the board. I also tell my kids that reading is ALWAYS an option.
If you'd like to check this out, and end the "I'm done; what should I do?" saga, click the product cover below. Beware: Your classroom management and life will be transformed!!!!!!!!
xo
Megan
The board is a single poster or paper (I print mine in good ole' 8.5x11 paper) that can hang on a white board, wall, or bulletin board. A piece of Velcro goes in the middle of the square on the poster. Opposing Velcro goes on the choice cards.
You choose the activity to place on the poster, depending on what you want your kids to do after they finish their work.
You choose how often you change the activity card. Personally, I change mine once in the morning and once in the afternoon. It only takes a minute to switch the card and grab a container of whatever the activity card says.
You decide how you want to set this up. In my room, I just throw a box of whatever the activity card says on the floor under the board. However, I have seen more elaborate set-ups using organizational systems like the one shown below. It's all about what works for you and your students!
I very, very rarely have someone complain about the activity on the board. I also tell my kids that reading is ALWAYS an option.
If you'd like to check this out, and end the "I'm done; what should I do?" saga, click the product cover below. Beware: Your classroom management and life will be transformed!!!!!!!!
xo
Megan
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