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Home : 2002 : July : 29

Hermie
By Sarah

I think it all depends on what you want them to accomplish during this time. I require that the students choose an activity. It doesn't matter to me what they choose (if they want to do puzzles every day that is fine- as
long as they are engaged), but they have to be actively working wherever they are. If they are goofing around, they are asked to return to their seat and I give them fun puzzle worksheets to do.
Most of the kids enjoy this, but then again, some like to just come in and read silently which is fine for me. I also have a computer that has educational software on it and they have a rotating

schedule for that.

Sometimes I work with the students that might need some extra help or adult time (maybe they don't get much attention at home). For the most part though, it is just me doing what I need to do at my desk and monitoring them making sure they are working productively and silently.

Again, I really have to teach this to the students at the start of the year. We go through it like any other lesson. Practice, model, practice, review, etc....
After the first few weeks they are doing what they are supposed to.
All of the things I have them do are educational, and have some merit with what we are working on. I consider puzzles educational because they are working logic and fitting pieces together. The coloring sheets go with units of study or novels, and the logic problems are working on critical thinking skills and problem solving.

If this doesn't help- let me know.