-"Bellringer" -- the first activity is always on the board for students. I use this time to take attendance, resolve questions/concerns, and make last-minute preparations for the lesson.
-Daily Activities-- these vary by the day and content.
*Sometimes we have "focus groups", or groups that focus on a topic. Then, the focus groups break up into "study groups"-- groups that have at least one member from each focus group. This allows the students to teach other, and thus, learn at a higher level.
*Movement-- I like to include music from diverse cultures in my instruction. I have, on occasion, asked the students to get up and dance to the music. Everyone is a willing participant! Movement is a key aspect of education and knowledge retention. Even tapping one's pencil while learning can inspire more concentration and understanding.
*Partner work -- Students frequently discuss topics with partners. These are usually 2-3 minute activities that allow students to voice opinions and question prior knowledge.
*Powerpoints
*Notes & notebook organization
*Reading strategies for the historian/geographer
*Written responses to daily topics or news
*Summaries of the day's lesson
-Summary & closure - Sometimes the summary of the lesson is formal, such as a paragraph or timeline of the class. At other times, we break out the "closure cube" and throw it (gently) from student to student, sharing what we did and what we've learned.
