Using A Timer

INTERNET users: You may copy and print this for your own use and freely distribute to others. You cannot sell this information. You cannot use this information on your own web site but feel free to provide a link here. Please include my email address & phone # on anything you copy and print for others. Thanks. BJ Madewell ADDchoices@yahoo.com (316) 733-9532
===================================
TIMER

Timers in the classroom or at home can save you lots of aggravation with hesitant learners.

Here’s how I like to use them.

15 MINUTES TO WORK & PLAY
This is a terrific homework helper but you have to be diligent to have success. I’ve never tried it with a whole class but it might work.

Most kids hate homework. They’d rather be playing. Who wouldn’t? To combat this you visit with the child and set up an agreement. You tell the child they MUST PLAYfor 15 minutes then they MUST WORK for 15 minutes. This cycle continues until the homework is complete. You must be very RIGID about the time. Use a timer.

Here’s what will probably happen. The child plays for 15 minutes. At the end of the time the child must go to a designated work area and stay there for 15 minutes. (Consider using a standup desk as a work area. Stand Up Desk ) Many ADD/ADHD kids seem to work better if they stand and work. I don’t know why and have no studies to back this claim up. It just works.

If the student doesn’t work, don’t worry about it. At the end of the time, let the child play for 15 minutes. Most kids will want to watch TV or play a computer game for their play time. DO NOT allow them to exceed the time. No, they can’t wait until the commercial or until they complete the game. DO NOT WAIVER ON THIS!!!

When the timer beeps, they must return to the work area. Eventually, most students realize that they are might as well work for the 15 minutes because they have to stay at the work area anyway. Kids might pitch a fit for most of the 15 minute work time claiming it’s not fair, etc. Stick to your agreement. Sometimes kids have to be uncomfortable as they learn new skills. Don’t fight with the child. Agree that it doesn’t seem fair but remind them of their agreement.

Eventually, most kids find they are able to complete all homework within two 15 minute work periods.

NOTE: You must be as rigid about the play time as the work time. Kids might want to continue working past the designated time. Don’t give in. Why? Just trust me. You are trying to instill a desire to complete work quickly and accurately. If you give in, it undermines the effectiveness of the agreement you’ve made. Realize, you might want to make other agreements with this child and you want them to know that “a promise is a promise.”

I’ve heard that some kids kind of hang around the work area obviously wanting to work during the play time. These students are starting to realize that it’s better to do the work first and get it over with and then they can have uninterrupted play time. Having to leave a TV program before it’s complete irritates them and they will usually figure out it’s best to work first, play later.

After a while, renegotiate and stop the agreement. Restart as necessary.

TIMERS FOR ADULTS

I’ve found it helpful to set timers for myself. For instance, I spend way too much time messing around on the INTERNET. So, I set a timer and get off after an hour (or so).

If I notice a child is not working as rapidly as I know the kid can, I say something like, “I’ll be checking your progress in 10 minutes.” Then I set the timer!! Otherwise I might get busy and forget.

I also do things like ... set the timer when the class takes a bathroom & drink break. The last person back has to turn it off. If it beeps, we discuss “time management” when taking such a break.

We also take VACATION BREAKS. During this time, we all, teacher included, stop working for a while and just visit. It’s a judgment call as to when to use this strategy. If the students all seem rather out of sorts or if they just had a fire drill or there’s some other situation that they all seem to want to talk about, take a vacation. We sometimes just share about our lives outside of school. Students like to hear about their teacher’s family, college days, hobbies, etc. However, use the timer to get back to task.

CAUTION ABOUT TIMING ACTIVITIES

I’ve found it to be detrimental to use timers and stop watches when you want children to be creative. It tends to stifle their creativity and they get so caught up in the time crunch that quality of work can suffer.


Return to: ALL STRATEGIES

===================================

That’s it. Let me know if it works for you. Feedback is always appreciated. Does the description of this strategy make sense to you? Thanks. BJ Madewell When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.