We all experience moments of distraction. For example, you might be sitting at your computer trying to grade or update your blog, or, ahem, write an article, when all of a sudden, you find you’ve been shopping for shoes on Amazon for 30 minutes. These events are part of the human condition; they are to be expected! So, it’s no wonder even our most focused art students will get off-task from time to time. But as educators, we have an opportunity and an obligation to provide structures to help our students be more purposeful and thoughtful during class.
If your students are off-task, it’s important to discern whether or not the behavior is symptomatic of a larger issue.
1. Provide focus through student goal setting.
Purposeful progress can’t be made without a well-defined direction. One excellent strategy for providing direction is to encourage personal goal setting. This could be done formally, with a goal-setting worksheet or a quick goal statement written in a sketchbook. Or, goal setting can sometimes be equally successful when implemented informally. To do this, have students share a goal with a partner or in small groups at their table. Either way, off-task behaviors are minimized when students have a clear vision of success in their minds.
2. Create awareness with countdown timers.
Time management skills require being cognizant of passing time. For students young and old, a clock or countdown timer can be a helpful tool to help foster this attentiveness. Consider purchasing a large format timer, or use an online version, projected onto your overhead screen. Both methods create a deeper awareness of the time left to complete a task, which can be a huge motivator.
3. Encourage peer accountability partners.
Adults frequently use accountability partners to keep one another on track toward diet or fitness goals because it’s easier to stay on track when a friend is involved. Why not employ the same strategy within your art room to minimize off-task behavior? Assign accountability partners or have students self-select partners. Encourage partners to check in with one another in an informal critique capacity at several points during class so they can share progress and keep on track toward project completion.
4. Allow students to “sharpen the axe.”
We’ve all heard the old adage it is easier to chop a lot of wood when you take the time to stop and sharpen the axe. In the same way, taking a structured break can reinvigorate the artistic process. Demonstrate and model how to take brief breaks and transition quickly back into productive work mode. Whether it is a quick bathroom break, a brief time allotted for social conversation, or a whole brain learning break, there are lots of ways to let your students let their brains rest a bit. For whole group breaks, consider gonoodle.com.
5. Provide project benchmarks.
Knowing the expected timeframe for various steps of a particular project helps students understand how to better allocate their time. By providing your students with an expected timeline, they can see how their working speed is measuring up. One way to do this is to start by taking the total amount of time (whether minutes or weeks) you are allotting for a particular project. Then, list each task or process involved in chronological order. Finally, assign an expected amount of time for each portion and post it for students to see. Of course, students may naturally deviate from the timeline, but it can offer a helpful overview to keep everyone on track.
6. Implement “Ask three, ask me.”
Sometimes, students get off-task when they are not sure how to proceed with a project. With many students and a single art teacher, it can often take a while for students to get individual attention to answer the question at hand. To eliminate this challenge that often leads students off-task, implement the “Ask 3, then ask me” strategy. When you are busy helping individual students, encourage kids to ask three friends if they know the next steps or a strategy to overcome the stalled-out portion of the project. If, after talking with three peers they still are unable to proceed, then they can ask you. This eliminates long lines and empowers students to gather instructional information from one another instead of getting off-task.
7. Incorporate printable checklists.
Frequently, when a project or process encompasses many steps, students can get off-task because they don’t understand or remember the directions. Try creating a brief checklist that lists each step in order. Make and distribute copies to each student so they can check off each step of the process as they complete it. This eliminates off-task behavior due to not knowing how to proceed.
8. Hold direction-focused conferences.
Rather than circulating the room and addressing student challenges as you see them, consider a more structured system to hold kids accountable and keep them on task. Tell each student they will have a 60-second mini-progress conference with you sometime during the class period. Move through your class roster. Keep the conference short and sweet. Limit your discussion to two questions. What have you been working on and what are your next steps?
These eight strategies offer various ways to minimize off-task behavior and increase student engagement:
- Student goal setting: Provides focus and direction for students, allowing them to see a clear vision of success and reducing off-task behaviors.
- Countdown timers: Fosters time management skills and helps students become more aware of the time left to complete tasks, increasing motivation.
- Peer accountability partners: Encourages students to stay on track and share progress with each other, promoting collaboration and reducing off-task behavior.
- Structured breaks: Allows students to "sharpen the axe" by taking brief breaks and quickly transitioning back into productive work mode, reinvigorating the learning process.
- Project benchmarks: Helps students understand how to allocate their time better by providing a clear timeline for various steps of a project.
- "Ask three, ask me" strategy: Encourages students to seek help from peers before asking the teacher, reducing wait times and promoting collaboration.
- Printable checklists: Provides a clear outline of each step in a project or process, reducing off-task behavior caused by confusion or forgetfulness.
- Direction-focused conferences: Offers structured accountability through short, focused conversations about students' work and next steps, keeping them on task and engaged.
Benefits for students:
- Improved focus and engagement: Students become more attentive and actively participate in classroom activities.
- Enhanced time management skills: Students learn to allocate their time effectively, leading to better overall productivity.
- Increased collaboration: Working with peers promotes communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
- Greater self-awareness: Students become more aware of their strengths, weaknesses, and progress through goal-setting and accountability.
- Higher quality work: With clear expectations and guidance, students are more likely to produce better quality work and reach their full potential.
- Greater independence: Students learn to seek help from peers and rely on their own problem-solving skills before turning to the teacher.
Benefits for teachers:
- Better classroom management: Strategies help maintain a focused and engaged classroom, reducing disruptions and off-task behaviors.
- More efficient use of time: Teachers can spend less time addressing off-task behaviors and more time on instruction and support.
- Enhanced student-teacher communication: Structured conferences and goal-setting activities promote open communication and understanding of student progress.
- Greater student autonomy: Teachers can encourage students to take ownership of their learning, fostering a sense of responsibility and independence.
- Easier assessment and monitoring: Clear expectations and benchmarks make it simpler for teachers to assess student progress and provide targeted feedback.
- Increased job satisfaction: Teachers can experience a more productive and enjoyable classroom environment, leading to higher job satisfaction and reduced burnout.
- Edutopia (edutopia.org) - Offers a variety of articles, videos, and resources on teaching strategies and classroom management.
- TeachHub (teachhub.com) - Provides lesson plans, teaching tips, and resources for educators.
- Cult of Pedagogy (cultofpedagogy.com) - Shares practical classroom strategies, teaching techniques, and reviews of education-related books and technology.
- ASCD (ascd.org) - Offers a variety of resources for educators, including articles, webinars, and professional development opportunities.
- Education Week (edweek.org) - Provides news, information, and resources on various aspects of education, including classroom management and teaching strategies.
By visiting these websites and searching for specific topics related to classroom management and keeping students on-task, you should be able to find valuable information to enhance your teaching practices.
