Scheduling Ideas
- Have a class schedule
posted where students rotate at 15 minute shifts all day, even during direct
instruction. This schedule is at different times during the week, so students
don't miss the same class instruction each day (Student A starts Monday at
8:15, Tuesday at 10:00, Wednesday at 12:30, Thursday at 1:45, and Friday at
3:00). Since they are in the classroom while working on their assignments,
they still hear all the necessary instruction.
- Use the computers you
have as a Center during Reading or Math instruction. Kids rotate thru Center
in pairs. If you don't have enough computers for a group of 6 students, call
the center the Tech Center. Some can be on the computer, others can use a
GeoSafari or listen to a cassette tape or watch a video in a corner of the
room (point the tv/video into a corner of the room and keep the sound low.
I call this the Theater Center) or record themselves reading & play back as
they follow in the book one more time. Use any tech you have available.
- Here's an idea from another
teacher: I have three computers in my third grade classroom. I use "blind
mice" to rotate students to the computer. The mice were once candy holders
that were given to me (found at K-Mart). I introduced the mice and explained
the procedure for using them. I then have task cards at each computer so the
students know what to do when there. I also have a list of students with the
task card. The list of names allows the student at the computer to know who
is next. If a question arises, they are to go to someone who has already completed
the task first. If that person cannot answer, then I will help. I try to put
a student who is fairly computer literate as the first person so I know there
will be a reliable helper. By Michelle McComas.
- Put a timer and a student
roster next to the computer. Teach the students how to set the timer for 15
minutes and to tap the next person on the shoulder when they are done.
- Sample Schedules for
your classroom computers. Adapt them to your own situation.
- Have Free Play sign up
1st thing in the morning, use Centers during Language Arts and have Thematic
Groups in the afternoon for research and reports with small groups.
- Schedule times for individuals
or small groups to be on computer
- Whos turn on the
computer? Use craft sticks, clothespins, charts, sign ups.
- Cycle students through
your computer in several different ways. You can assign times for students.
Janie knows she will be on the computer every Monday from 9-9:30. She sets
a timer for 30 minutes, and calls up her math project. When the timer goes
off, she quietly saves and closes, then whispers to David that it is his turn
on the computer. Twelve students can work on one computer within an hour and
a half on Monday through Thursday. Fridays are catch up days for students
who were absent, or didnt finish. Janie and David are pretty good in
Math it wont hurt these two to miss 30 minutes of direct instruction
once every two weeks to work on a math project.
- During Language Arts
time, rotate small groups of six or seven through the computer center, direct
instruction with you, an art project, and a phonics scavenger hunt. Students
change centers every 20 minutes (completing all four centers in one day),
or every 45 minutes (completing all centers in two days) depending on the
amount of time center projects will need.
- During thematic studies,
cooperative learning groups can take turns seeking information and creating
their presentations. Younger groups may consist of a reader, keyboarder, mouser,
recorder, resource person, and a timekeeper. Older groups may have similar
jobs, but more responsibilities as scriptwriter, graphics, introduction and
title slides, bibliography or credits slides, and scanner.