A Skill to Get and Keep Students on Task


 

Keeping students on tasks reduces the chances of misbehaving. It is a way of "preventing" misbehaviors so you don't end up having to "punish" a bad behavior. Prevention of misbehaviors is always better than punishment after the fact.

Six ways to help students get and stay on tasks are:

  1. Greet students at the door
  2. Start each class with a starter activity
  3. Manage behavior by walking around
  4. Quickly get the stdents or class back on task
  5. Have a plan for students who finish early (a finisher activity)
  6. Minimize transition times.
Why should you greet students at the door?

Greeting students at the door serves two main purposes:
  1. When a teacher stands in the doorway as students enter the classroom, body language speaks a welcoming and inviting into the classroom and gives an immediate first impression of professionalism. I actually did this at the first class I substituted for and I could tell right away it had not been done before as students said to me "why are you doing that?" The gesture of greeting students at the door lets students know in a non-threatening way that the day will not be a wasted day just because a sub is on board instead of their regular teacher.
  2. Greeting students at the door also gives you the chance to then direct the student to the starter activity that you should already have written on the board as this "gets students on tasks immediately."

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