The third huge “no-no” when using bell ringer is not holding students accountable. These types of tasks could be strengthened by adding a follow-up question or other requirement that increases the level of critical thinking. Choose something that requires thinking and action just reading a fact, writing a definition, or copying down a definition doesn’t require much of students. I don’t have students write in journals each day or record their feelings about a famous quote because that’s not a standard I’m trying to cover. Avoid selecting tasks that do not connect to your class’s goals or even your students’ learning levels. Secondly, bell ringers must be important, meaningful, and useful for students otherwise they know it’s just busy work. Bell ringers must be used daily otherwise students forget that’s the routine, and they take longer than intended to get started, etc. Three major pitfalls I’ve seen with teachers using bell ringers ineffectively are being inconsistent, selecting irrelevant/meaningless/basic/disconnected material, and never holding students accountable. While bell ringers are the “best thing since sliced bread” for a classroom, you do need to implement them correctly in order for them to work. That also lets them know that a certain level of responsibility and academics is expected in my class. However, because my bell ringer is ready-to-go when students enter, they are working immediately. We do work from “bell to bell” in my classroom, but I can’t start teaching right away because of attendance, announcements, etc. I use my Ten-Minute Grammar Program each day to set the stage when students come in, and this choice allows me to cover ALL those grammar skills. Of all the perks on this list, the top two reasons why I love bell ringers so much are establishing classroom management/procedures and drilling skills. Those advantages include establishing classroom management/procedures, engaging students, helping students mentally prepare as they’ve transitioned to a different subject, implementing skill drills, and squeezing in spiral review. There are many, many reasons why you should start each period with a bell ringer. Bell ringers are more than just “something students do while you check roll ” they are the engine to the classroom train, the secret sauce to setting the tone, and the trick to calming the chaos. They may be standards-driven, spiral review-orientated, inspirational, challenging, or even game-like. What is a Bell Ringer?Īlso known as warm ups, bell work, do-nows, openers, entry-tickets, or jump starters, a bell ringer is the short activity that students do upon entering the classroom.
Here I’m sharing everything you need to about bell ringers for class.
Along the way, I learned what didn’t work and what did. Without fail, each day my students have an assignment to do right after the bell rings - every day! About my 2nd or 3rd year teaching, I implemented a system of top-of-the-period daily work, and I haven’t looked back since. Even my yearbook students must complete a task at the start of the period.
Bell ringers are a staple in my high school English classroom.
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