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| http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/2011/09/hand-signals-classroom-management.html |
1 - Bathroom
2 - Tissue
3 - Pencil
4 - Water
5 - Question
"I ask that they do not request to get a drink or use the bathroom (unless it is an emergency) during read alouds, whole group instruction, or when they are working in a small group with me so that they do not miss part of a lesson. It is important to discuss what an actual emergency entails or you will have your friends claiming that it is always an emergency. The majority of my instruction is done in the form of shorter mini-lessons so this is never a problem.
By
using the hand signals, students are able to let me know what they need
by holding up a specific number of fingers. I am able to simply look
at them and nod to acknowledge their request. I can do this without
stopping what I am doing. This is important as I am frequently working
with other students.
In
the past I have experimented with simply allowing them to move around
as needed, but there were always a few students who took advantage of
that. They would get off task and wander the room to get a drink or a
tissue to avoid working on something. This then distracted others from
their work. The hand signals are an added step to prevent off task
behaviors. Knowing that I am aware of their actions eliminates
impulsive behaviors associated with wandering."
