The document provides tips for classroom management strategies to deal with students who finish assignments at different paces. It suggests having bell ringer activities, clearly specifying assignment timeframes, monitoring student progress, and providing early finishers with non-disruptive follow-up activities like checking their work, reading, writing, or using educational computer games and websites. Engaging students immediately, varying assignments, using cooperative groups, and communicating expectations can help reduce behavior issues from bored, struggling, or rushing students.

1. Eliminating Down Time Classroom Management Blackboard Course

2. What do I do with them? Because we teach a large number of students with different levels of understanding, they often finish assignments at varying times. Many behavior problems may arise from students who are bored, who finish their assignment early, and from those who do not understand.

3. Reflection Do I engage my students immediately upon entering the classroom? Do I vary my assignments for the different ability levels in my class? Do I use cooperative grouping? Do I have activities for early finishers that are not disruptive to others? Do I clearly communicate a time frame for completion of assignment?

4. TIPS Always have a bell ringer activity ready. Make sure your students understand the assignment. Teach your high functioning students how to be mentors. In doing so, they will know the right questions to ask their peers and not simply give them the answers. Pair mentors with struggling learners.

5. TIPS Clearly specify the amount of time a student has to complete an assignment. Remind them toward the end that they have three to five minutes left. In primary grades, put on a song and tell them they have until the song ends to complete their work. http:// www.songsforteaching.com/transitions.htm

6. TIPS Walk around the room during independent or group work to monitor their progress. Give positive specific praise to those students who remain on task. Have materials ready for the next activity. Give specific instructions on how to begin the next activity.

7. Activities for Early Finishers Check your work for errors. Can it be made better? Allow them to keep a book in their desk for independent reading. Place a book box including books on various reading levels in the middle of the table for early finishers. Have a journal (notebook) at each child’s desk. Allow them to write about the topic or just engage in creative writing.

8. Activities for Early Finishers Have various pictures placed in a box at each table. Allow students to use these pictures as a writing prompt. Computer time with a specific skill that is practiced. Catch up on homework. Study for a test. Before beginning assignment remind students of the activities they are to engage in upon completion.