I'm trying to put up an "I'm done...now what?" board in my classroom to use for students that finish activities, tests, etc early. It doesn't happen too often in my biology classes but my marine sci classes are mixed levels because they're an elective and even with levels and differentiation, I have some more advanced kids that will always finish early. I don't necessarily want to give them more work, nor do I want things that will be extra credit (because some of them will speed through their work to get to the extra credit). Right now, I have "check your work", "finish any unfinished classwork", "file papers into folders" (I have a file system to return ungraded work) and "read a science book or magazine" (I have a stack of nonfiction books, popular science/mechanics magazines, etc). I have some students that will help reorganize science equipment and lab supplies, but I don't really want to make that an option for all of my students. If you have one of these boards, what other kinds of activities do you have?
Can you offer some science puzzles or higher level thinking puzzles? Maybe offer something with science vocabulary...creating visuals or pictures for the words that you could hang in the classroom on your word wall. An activity that digs deeper into the science you are teaching (looking at slides, using microscopes, solving a mystery).
I have them start that night's homework,and they are usually grateful for the time to get some of it done.
Free Reading Mainstream time (let them do work from another class) Study Do you have computer in class? If so give them some educational sites they can go on.
At the high school level I allow students to work on long-term projects, start their homework, do work for another class or read a novel. I'm not a fan of giving more work just to keep smarter kids occupied. My courses are differentiated enough and I typically do not differeniate within a classroom as a result. Giving more or harder work would come across as punishing those who work harder and faster. So, if you finish independent work early, then you get to choose what you want to do later.
read work on homework from another class study I tell mine that they have to find something PRODUCTIVE to do without bothering anyone else. If it's not productive, I'll find something for them. I usually say the last part in a pretend "Miss Attitude" voice.
If you do give this, how do you keep them from being unproductive? When I do this, I find that a lot of my students choose to fiddle with their phones (facebook, text, etc.) or sleep. Even though it's clear that sleeping and phones are not allowed, they still do it anyway. I feel like I'm constantly waking students up. Any tips on this?
Phones are not allowed in my classroom, unless I have said that they can be out (listening to music while working independently, etc. happens occasionally, but even then I have pretty strict requirements- phone must be out visible, you'd better put it on a playlist you like because once you put headphones in you're done touching the phone, etc). First time I see it, it's a warning. Second time, I collect it and it must be picked up by a parent through the front office. As for sleeping...these are never "free time" assignments, they're pretty much saved for after tests. Frankly, in my eyes, if you've finished a test and you want to put your head down and take a nap...be my guest. If you don't want to take a nap, here are your list of options.
