INTRODUCTIONS, ICEBREAKERS &

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Start the day off right with these introductory activities. Get to know your students names
and have them work toward a fun and interesting activity when theyre done their work.
USEFUL TIPS:

Start the day/period:

Keep to their regular routine as much as possible.
First introduction idea:
Ask who the class helper is
Students may point out a particular students or suggest some names.
Help them come to the realization that they are all classroom helpers.
Tell them that they need to decide now if today will be a good day or a bad day, and that it is up
to them. Explain to them that you are there to help them have a good day.
Discuss the plan for the day and your expectations:
Expectations for behaviour and consequences for good and bad behaviour.
Tell them what they will be doing and when throughout the day.
Write the list of activities and work to do on the board.

Throughout the day/period:

Collecting students attention:
Count down from 5 (at 0 students are to look at you and be quiet)
Class! Freeze! (Eyes on my, no movement throughout the class)
Eyes on me! Hands are free!
Address students by grade level (for example, grade 5, your attention please. Avoid using
guys)
Break time:
Shake down (shake each limb 12, 8, 4, 2 and 1 times while counting out loud)
60 second fix (students sit comfortably in their seats, with their feet on the floor, their hands
resting in their lap, and their eyes closed for 60 seconds of silence)

End of the day/period:

Take the time to make the room extra clean by having students:

straighten their desks

tidy book shelves
sweep the floor
Write a note to the teacher you are replacing reporting including the following:
Absences
Incidents (if any)
Behaviour (good and bad)
Students who were especially helpful
What you were and were not able to finish
*Include more good than bad.

 ACTIVITIES

1) Thumb & Tell

All Elementary and High School
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The teacher has a list of question for the students to answer. These
D questions can be related to getting to know each other better or to content
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The teacher throws a soft football into the class and the student that
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catches the ball looks to see where their thumb landed and what number is
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under their thumb.
This activity can be used as a way to learn the names of students, share
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This activity can be used to review content from any subject area.
ibl The questions that correspond to each number on the football can be
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selected to focus on whatever topic the teacher chooses.
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To make the activity more complex, you can give directions to the student
A that is throwing the football to prevent the students from always choosing
da their friend and to ensure all students in the class are included (ex. throw
pt to someone wearing a red shirt).
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2) See Me!

All of Elementary and High School

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The class either stands in a circle or at their desk. One-by one, each person
D says their name with an adjective that starts with the same letter as their
esc name and incorporates a movement
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 This game is designed as a fun way to get to know student names that
P incorporates movement and sound.
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This activity could be used to get younger students finding other words
ibl that start with the same letter as their name.
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For kindergarten and cycle 1, this game could also be used with the
A alphabet and students need to say a word that uses the letter in the
da alphabet they get and they add a movement to make it more fun.
pt To work on parts of speech, this game could be altered so that students
ati must come up with a verb or adjective to either go with their name or
on using alphabetical order.
s As an extension of the original game, the class can fill in the phrase:
Name is a object or appliance and add action and with an accompanying
sound. (ex. Jace is a telephone; said while making a phone with one
hand and then saying bringbring)

3) Question of the Day

All of Elementary and High School

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Materials needed
D Board visible to all students
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Looseleaf paper (one half for each student)
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Question of the day from:
tio http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0920900.html
n When students enter the classroom a task already waiting for them written
on the Smart Board or on the blackboard.
Students are asked to write down an answer or their thoughts revolving
around the question.
Useful to provide teacher with more preparation time.
Examples:
Why do I feel dizzy when I spin?
Why do boats float?
Factmonster provides questions in a variety of subjects and levels.
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4) Riddles and Brain Teasers

All of Elementary and High School

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Short questions that get kids thinking logically and creatively. Have them
D work in teams, as a class or individually.
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Select from a wide variety of riddles and brain teasers from online.
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