Picture this: You’re in the middle of a direct instruction lesson. As you’re teaching your heart out…..working you’re butt off you look to see a student raise their hand in the air. You think, “Yes! An inquisitive student wants to expound more on what I’m saying!”…..only to have the student ask, “Can I got to the bathroom?” *spfizzzz* (That’s the sound of the balloon in your chest deflating…..)
In order to save myself from that heart breaking experience ever again, I found the perfect management tool. Students raise a certain finger to ask a certain question. That way at a glance I can address it – sometimes without even speaking!
Now of course you know that nothing is ever “brand new” anymore, I found this as I was perusing my favorite playground….the internet. But I’ve tweaked it to make it my own for my classroom.
1 finger – Pencil Issues (need one, sharpen, eraser)
2 fingers – Classroom movement (Get a book, blow my nose, hand sanitizer)
2 fingers crossed – Bathroom (Don’t you think that’s cute? Like you cross your legs when you have to go really bad.
3 fingers – I need help with my work.
I have the signs posted onto the wall in the front, and students also have a copy glued into their ISN.
![photo[1]](http://www.mrsjeff2u.com/files/2014/01/photo1-1i6611x.jpg)
Like I said, no more heart break for me! What management tool do you use to find out what your students need?
Until the next time,
