The Classroom Routine You Didn't Know You Needed
Inside: This simple classroom routine will eliminate a common pain point in elementary classrooms
CLASSROOM ROUTINES
I love a routine. I’m an enneagram type 1 (any other 1’s out there?!) who loves an organized approach to just about every aspect of life. I considered myself a master of routines in my classroom. We had a morning meeting routine, a phonics routine, a number talk routine, an afternoon meeting routine - the list goes on. Most years, my room operated like a well-oiled machine by October, but there was always one time of day that plagued me…snack time.
SNACK-TIME WOES
Snack time was a time of day where it felt like the wheels fell off the bus. There were tattles, spills, and just general chaos.
My students loved (and needed) a snack time, and I loved giving them an opportunity to chat with friends…. but it also felt like a time that could so easily out of hand, mostly because they didn’t have a direction to channel their (abundant) energies. Most of the time, when I was ready to move on to the next thing, students weren’t even finished with their snacks because they had been so busy chatting and wandering the room. I needed a plan and my students needed some structure.
That’s exactly how I came up with the Fact Snacks routine. Here’s how it works:
DISPLAY A FACT
Each day, display a “snack-sized” (see what I did there?) fact on the board with some sort of question or thinking prompt. Students will be begging to learn more about these topics! You can find your facts anywhere, but Did You Know? Blog is a great place to start. Here’s a few examples:
START A TIMER
I always set a timer during snack time, but it never seemed like students were finished on time, no matter how many, “one minute left!” warnings I called out. It took me years, but I finally figured out how to make sure students were done with their snacks on time - a visual timer, DUH! This way, students can actually see the time tick by. A visual timer is the KEY, I’m telling ya. You can create a visual timer with any piece of clip art within PowerPoint by using animations. Check out the video below for a quick tutorial!
SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE CONVERSATION!
With this routine, students have a direction to focus their conversation, and you’ll be amazed at the conversation that comes from these little prompts each day!
READY TO USE FACT SNACKS IN YOUR CLASSROOM?
You can find your facts anywhere, but I have partnered with Did You Know? Blog to curate an entire year’s worth of Fact Snacks just right for students. Play the video below for a tour of one month of Fact Snacks!
Snack time doesn’t just have to be for munching on apples and crackers - it can be the perfect time to feed your students’ brains and build classroom community! Using Fact Snacks in your classroom? Be sure to tag me on Instagram @sarahgardnerteaching!
Want to save this post for later? Pin the image below!
