Looking for fun ways to start class?
Finding fun ways to start class can be difficult, but I found a list of great suggestions on Twitter that I’ll share here. I watch social media closely and it’s my job to share some of the hot topics on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other outlets that teachers, principals, students, and parents are contributing.
Roberto A. Gonzalez posted an infographic from Teach Thought that listed 14 different interesting, different, and unusual ways to start class. Staring anything is one of the most difficult parts of any process. Having to start the same class over and over every day makes keeping it interesting extra challenging. This list should help.
While this list is fairly brief, hopefully it sparks some ideas to switch-up your starting class plans. (PS. I know the tweet says 15 ways to start class, but I only mentioned 14 ways; read suggestions #9 and #15 and you’ll know why).
It’s easy to see how some of these suggestions would get students excited for class. For example, students love videos, so starting your class off that way might get them more excited and engaged with the whole lesson plan. I also think starting with a ridiculous debate would be lots of fun, and you could end up turning that debate into something more serious and spark a classroom discussion about that day’s topic.
How do you start class? What ideas did this list inspire? What would you add to this list?
Tori Pakizer is the Social Media Editor at SimpleK12.com. She writes regularly about the use of educational technology in K-12 classrooms, and specializes in how teachers use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media. You can follow Tori and SimpleK12 on Twitter @SimpleK12. If you have ideas for using social media in schools, please send your information or tip to editor@simplek12.com.
Sorry to throw water on a fire but Instagram? Tweet? Students in most schools are not allowed to use their cellphones during the school day. Also- starting class is different for different age groups. For middle school I wonder if a ridiculous debate could end up in chaos.
These are simply ideas! As a teacher, I hope you’re flexible and can apply IDEAS to your grade or content area!
I teach Middle School, and I think a ridiculous debate would be lots of fun. Kids are not supposed to have phones out during class, however, a lot of schools use iPads which gives them the ability to use instagram, What’s App, iMovie, and many other great apps to help with class starters. Twitter is off the board for this one, they cannot use Twitter. With middle school, you never know what could end up noisier than you might expect, but chaos?? Never. Some days, some projects, could cause a little more chaos, which I’d rather call controlled chaos… or just a little noisier than usual, but most of us know how to keep that under control pretty well.
I am a photo fanatic, on the very first day of school I ask parent sign a consent form allowing me to photograph their child. Any photo opportunity I get, I start shooting! I post pictures throughout my web page and DOJO. At the end of the year I create a powerpoint with popular music (they love) and display a 20 minute power point on “A year in a life of a 3rd grader.” Fast forward the beginning of the new school year, I am planning on showing my new students all the fun, while still learning that they’re “in for.” I’ve never done it before, but I think it would break the ice and might answer alot of their questions. What do you think?
great idea
I also take a LOT of pictures, and we use them on our bulletin board outside of our room. The kids love it, especially when they see themselves at work in a place where other people can see them too.
I love taking pics of the kids and post to Dojo but can’t afford to print them out. Hello QR codes. Just post them in the hallway to link to our albums. Basic QRs are unattractive so put nice frame around them to blend in with hall displays.
One semester I started each class with a riddle. My students loved it and started bringing their own riddles. It was a lot of fun and showed my accounting students I had a “fun” side.