Feb 3 Opening Task by Heather Robbins https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq Describe your favorite classroom openers! What do you like about these openers? How does your opener impact the environment of your classroom? Can you see/feel a change in students' demeanor with different openers? Share what you are already doing that other teachers may want to try! Read other responses and "like" ones you agree with or may want to try. Responses are anonymous. en-us 2023-02-02 15:28:05 UTC 2023-02-03 13:50:44 UTC hello@padlet.com I like to ask students to give a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs to the middle to indicate how they are feeling. This helps me to gauge how students are doing. https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467582566 2023-02-03 13:44:42 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467582566 Quick Trivia Qs https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467583179 Quick trivia questions with buzzers for candy or other small prizes. It’s amazing how motivated 17/18 year olds get for quirky stickers]]> 2023-02-03 13:45:09 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467583179 "Do Now" biglin_g https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467583345 Questions that cover prior class knowledge to guide the students' thinking for the beginning of class.  This can help the classroom environment by preparing students to engage in the content earlier in the class.

]]> 2023-02-03 13:45:15 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467583345 Greeting my students https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467583409 I say the same thing everyday to my students and that signals to them that its go time.  They get upset with me if I try to start class without saying my greeting to them ]]> 2023-02-03 13:45:19 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467583409 Monday struggles https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467584205 Mondays I start by asking what they did over the weekend that they want to share. I feel like it gives them an opportunity to get to know each other and practice listening to their peers too. It often leads to another student saying, “I did that too!”
Other days I will ask other conversational questions. ]]> 2023-02-03 13:45:53 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467584205 Opening with a check-in discussion to let students know they are heard and determine if they are having an good or bad day https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467584672 2023-02-03 13:46:15 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467584672 On Monday's we watch a short "dance of the week" video to spark class discussion and creative ideas. https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467584710 2023-02-03 13:46:18 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467584710 Celebrations https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467586112 Asking students what their celebrations are from the last time we meet (a week ago, over the weekend etc.) 
I feel this really helps build that connection/relationship with the students.]]> 2023-02-03 13:47:18 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467586112 https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467586195 One of my favorite openers is when I would have my students paired together and set the timer for each student to reflect and share knowledge of the previous lesson. It could be a major concept or an opinion-based question and each student gets equal time to talk while their partner just listens. This way the conversation is not dominated by one student. It also challenges students to be active listeners and to be concise with their main points while getting students comfortable speaking with different classmates throughout the year. It helps create a friendly and discussion-based class where students grow confidence in themselves.]]> 2023-02-03 13:47:22 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467586195 Riddles https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467586829 Riddles where students have to think to solve a situation based problem related to our content with a few little clues]]> 2023-02-03 13:47:50 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467586829 opener https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467587671 I give students a choice of what they would like to work on the first 10 minutes of class. In my math class, I allow them to work on their "homework" for the week during the first 10 minutes, and it allows me to work with small groups of students who have questions over that homework. They also have the opportunity to work on math fluency if they want to. They can also work on missing work, and get help in my small group on things they're not understanding. As long as they are working on something math related, I allow them to have choice in what they do to transition to that math mindset.]]> 2023-02-03 13:48:27 UTC https://padlet.com/robbins_h/xvjpfcoyx3tjtcjq/wish/2467587671