If you find yourself struggling to get through your lessons or to know how much time has lapsed since you gave students partner work, then timers may be the answer to your prayers!
Timers are a great tool for students, but also for teachers. I used to struggle with pacing my lessons (believe it or not, it’s easy to get me off topic!) However, once I started using timers for everything, I found that it not only ensured I got through what I intended to get through, but it also held students accountable to do what I needed them to do! It was a win/win!
Middle School Classroom Management
Managing a middle school classroom of 30+ students can be overwhelming. It’s like multitasking on steroids when one student needs a band-aid, another is asking to go to the bathroom (always at the most inopportune time, too) and your classroom phone is ringing to let you know a student has an early dismissal (and all students must say “good-bye” to said student at least 10 times too!) Now you’re flustered and you forget how long students have been working on the task at hand and everyone is now talking, so you throw your hands up and think “Oh well.”
Sound familiar? I’ve been there, too. And let me tell you, students LOVE it when they get me flustered. This is something many of them actively try to achieve. However, I’ve learned that the more structured I am with my class time, the less wiggle room students have to get off task.
Using Timers with Middle School Students
Below are three insanely easy ways you can implement timers into your middle school classroom tomorrow!
1.) Add to your entrance routine. When students enter your room, have a timer projected and counting down. You might also put this on a slide alongside materials students will need for the class period. Communicate that your expectation is that once the timer ends, everyone will be in their seats with their necessary materials out, ready for class to begin.
2.) Use for group/partner work, independent work, turn & talks, etc. If you give your students a problem set to complete and they have 10 minutes, turn on that timer! Not only are you teaching students how to manage their time, but it’s easy informal data for you when you circulate and see what they have completed (or not completed) during this time.
3.) Brain break anyone? If you teach a lengthy class period, then you might give students a brain break. I used to teach 90 minute blocks and that is a long time to work! After about 45 minutes, I would give students a 5 minute brain break. Using a timer here works wonders. Oftentimes, middle school students just want to talk to each other during these breaks, but sometimes you get a class that wants to play a game, read, etc. They know this time is sacred and the timer helps ensure that!
Timer Tips
Timers should be visible for both you and students to see. If you use Google Slides for your lessons. This video gives a tutorial on how to embed a timer. You can even get creative and select timers with soothing music or fun animations!Use Classroom Screen, which has a timer option (plus a lot more cool things you can do!) It’s free to sign up and you only need a basic plan (also free).
Be Flexible! While timers are great, sometimes students will need more/less time. The good news is, you can adjust your timer! Often, students will say, “Can you give us 2 more minutes please?” They are able to estimate how much more time they need based on how much time has elapsed! I love that they self-advocate and I usually always grant more time if they request and I see the majority of the class also needs more time.
Let me know if you try any of these tips out for yourself and how they work! Timers have seriously made a huge difference in my classroom and I feel less stressed because I know exactly how much time I have for each activity, even if it needs some tweaking for each class period (because it probably will!)
