I use one

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Home : 2008 : February : 20

I use one
By hopealope

At first I didn't want to use it, I hated the idea of loosing teachable moments if the timer goes off. But I have found that it keeps me more focused and on top of what I am doing. I use it all the time for guided reading
especially. It helps my groups know when a center is over. I set it at the beginning of a group and it goes for 15-20 minutes. Each group should be 20 minutes long but sometimes we run a little late so I make sure each group gets 15 minutes with me at least. They other students know that when the bell rings they need to check the work board to see where they need to go next. I also

use it sometimes in Math at the beginning of the year to stay on focus. We do a do now, then instruction, practice with help, then centers and small group instruction. Don't worry about using a timer if you feel you need it use it. I know in math I really don't use it anymore after Nov. because we have it down but I will sometimes use it agian in Jan, after Christmas break to bring them back on task. But I will most likely always use it in Guided reading because it just keeps me and the kids focused on what we are working on, it also holds the kids at centers accountable because they know how much time they have left and makes sure they are doing their work.