End of Class Routines
Do you have specific routines?
A few weeks ago I wrote about routines to begin class; today I’ll touch on routines to end class in middle school.
I have to admit, my end-of-class routines often didn’t go as smoothly as my beginning-of-class routines:-)
Best laid plans, you know….
When it went well, my routine at the end of class would include:
I did accomplish this nearly every day:-) Writing the homework was critical. Our team teachers made a point of doing a quick check at the end of class every day, to be sure students were writing their homework down (for some students, this was an accommodation we had to meet – checking the homework book. So, why not quickly scan/check all students’ books?)
2) Asking an ‘exit’ question
I had a “ticket out the door’ poster in the classroom that I numbered 1-30. Each student had a class number, so they’d answer the question on a post-it and then put the post-it on their number on the way out of class. I loved this method because:
- It seriously cut down on copying!!
- Students could finish at their own pace and leave class when they were ready. (I didn’t have to collect anything:-)
- I could grab the answers off the chart in order as the next class filed in and even start checking them as the new class started the beginning-of-class routine.
But, the students learned and understood the routine so that when it went as planned, they’d know exactly what to do.
- Find 6th grade math exit tickets here.
Other Routine Ideas for Ending Class
1) Reflection
Have students jot a quick reflection on a post-it. This reflection can be a variety of question types or statements, like:
- How do you feel about today’s lesson?
- Explain something you learned in today’s lesson.
- What questions do you have?
- How can I help you tomorrow?
- Tomorrow I’d like to know…
2) Pair/Share
- Have students explain a concept to a classmate and have the classmate explain it back or explain a 2nd concept.
3) Vocabulary or Fast Facts
- Depends on which applies to the day and subject.
- Ask students the definitions of math vocabulary from the lesson or ask them to answer multiplication/division (or addition/subtraction) problems. After they answer 5 as a class, they can head out the door.
What are your favorite classroom routines to end class? Feel free to share in the comments!