You Oughta Know About: Minimizing Interruptions from Students During Small Group Instructional Time

Ahoy, my fellow blogging friends! I am SO excited again to link up with Jasmine McClain from Buzzing with Mrs. McClain for this month's You Ougta Know About . . .

This month, I wanted to share with you some awesome management tips I learned during my Project G.L.A.D training about 4 years ago on: "How to Stop Students from Interrupting you When You are Pulling a Small Group or Providing One-on-One Instruction." Since then, I have been using it every time I am teaching small group or one-on-one instruction with a group of students & it has been a TOTAL LIFESAVER!

Above is a picture of my kidney table where I meet students for small group instruction. Notice how I have some student numbered cards and a sign on the left side of the table.

Some Materials You Will Need:

• a chart stand (I blogged about how I made this on this post)
• a sign with all your small group instruction rules
• cards with each student's numbers 

Step 1:

You will need a stand to hold up your sign. I am using one that I made out of PVC pipes. I hang all sorts of mini anchor charts in this chart holder, but I always have my small group instruction rules sign when I am working with a group of students or providing one-on-one instruction.

Step 2:

Create your sign and your rules. I was told that too many rules confuse kids. So the most you would want is a total of 3 rules. Here is what the sign I made looks like:

I made sure that the first rule I had was that students HAD to re-read the questions or the directions of their independent work. A lot of times, I have found from experience, that students ask me questions because they don't read the directions on each page or the questions correctly. 

Next, if that still didn't help them, then they need to ask 3 students before they ask me. I always assign a "captain" (usually a challenge student that can handle independent work in all subject areas) for each table that is in charge of their classmates. They are also allowed to ask captains from other tables in case their own table captain is not sure how to answer their classmate's question themselves.

 Step 3:

FINALLY . . . if students still need additional help, then they bring me their number cards.

Students place the cards by the small group rules sign from left to right so that I know which student came for help first. (I got mine from Hope King from Second Grade Shenanigan's "Gone Coastal" classroom decor).

My students wait for me to call on their number to see me. When my small group works on something, I take that opportunity and window of time to call on students that have additional questions. Most of the time students figure out the answers after thinking for a longer time and often just want me to see if they did do their problems correctly. 

Step 4:

 Model, model, model!!! During the first few days of school, my students are constantly modeling and practicing the classroom rules and routines with me. They ALL participate so that the routine and rule has been instilled in their brains. And IF for any reason, my students interrupt me because they have forgotten our classroom rules, then I simply point to the sign without saying a word while I am still providing small group or one-on-one instruction.

 Of course, students also know that if there is a case of emergency, then they can interrupt me. We have made charts earlier in the year discussing what would be considered an emergency that needs immediate attention from their teacher & what it would possibly look like.

I hope you will find this strategy helpful & as useful as it has been for me! 

An InLinkz Link-up

O.M.G...I am at Week 3!

Ahoy, there! Can you believe I have made it to week 3 of teaching?!? It's crazy, but it also explains why I am SO looking forward to Labor Day weekend! And...what better way to make it 3 weeks long than with a Monday Made-It with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics.

 While You Were Absent Folders

I have been having a lot of kiddos absent the last 2 weeks. It seems like there is a cold going around my grade level and other teachers are experiencing the same thing. With more than 1 kid being absent, it is easier to have the table captain from each table be in charge of the absent classmate's work. This past year, I remade my "Missed You While You Were Absent Folder" to go with my classroom's theme. Last year, I had a Jungle theme folder and this year I have a Nautical theme folder. Inside the folder, there is a "classwork" flap and a "homework" flap. Students take the folder home and they get one day per absent days to make up their work. So far, this system has worked for me for 2 years in a row. I really wish I discovered this earlier. I used to use a pocket chart where I would put extra work papers and students who were absent were responsible for grabbing the work they owed. Yea...that never made it back to the classroom...THIS however, works way better!

 Daiso Desktop Trash Can & Mini Broom w/Sweeper Pan

Okay...I have to admit. I have a pet peeve with students constantly getting up during instruction to throw away pencil shavings, extra scrap papers, or whatever other thing they feel they need to throw while I am in the middle of a lesson. To minimize ANY classroom interruptions or unnecessary getting out of their seats, I invested in these Daiso mini trash cans and mini broom with sweeper pan. For those that aren't familiar with Daiso, it is a Japanese dollar tree (but the items are $1.50 BUT with WAY better quality). 

I assign a "monster scrapper" each month. This is THE only person allowed to use the little broom and dust pan. He/she is also responsible for emptying out the mini trash cans every Friday prior to going home. I started this last year as well and it was THE most popular job, no matter if the student was a boy or a girl. I only pick students that can handle the responsibility. Towards the second semester, I would make my 3rd graders apply for their jobs and they would have to tell me why I should hire them.

Clarifying Unknown Vocabulary Bookmarks--Melonheadz Edition!

Made my kiddos their very own "Clarifying Unknown Vocabulary" bookmarks. I used to use this "pre-made" version in my last school when I was using the Imagine It! curriculum and my students and administrators loved it!!! Whenever we start a new story, on top of using Project GLAD strategies, my students bust this baby out as we focus on one of the strategies on the bookmark. This year, I made my own! HOORAY!!!

So...if you would like a copy, just e-mail me and let me know. All I ask is that you refer back to my blog and give me credit for the time and effort I put into making these.

Wellps, that is about all my brain can handle this Monday. Don't forget to head to Tara's blog to link up!