Ice Breakers.
As CRTs it is imperitave that we walk into a classroom and grab their attention, fast!
If you can do it in an interesting way the students are far more likely
to bond with you and motivate themselves to fly headlong into their work. Even more than regular teachers it is important that we have a handle on a good variety of icebreakers to help us do this time and time again.
Here's an interesting
read I found on what Icebreakers can do for you in the classroom;
From my own perspective; research has shown that Icebreakers allow students to become mentally and emotionally invested in their teacher, their class and their school (just like that PDF says). This has a very positive effect on how well they behave and the effort required on your behalf to engage them in their lessons.
Ice breakers work on the same sort of principle as a reward system from a slightly different angle. On the reward side of the scale a student will do the work to get the prize and many reward systems are aimed at finishing first, doing the best, etc. When a student becomes mentally and emotionally invested the majority of the reward comes from the self-satisfaction on doing as good as they can.
While some students will most certainly be faster or "better" than others, the reward becomes relative to their own abilities. It also becomes relative to their own values. A simple "well done" with a smile can be a fantastic reward for a student if they think they are getting it for finishing first with their usual standard of work. Likewise it can be a fantastic reward for a child used to finishing last with substandard work to everyone else. The "well done" means they have improved and encourages them to do better again next time. It's a reward that recognises that you don't have to be the first or be the best to have done something good.
Setting yourself up for this kind of self-governing system requires the initial emotional investment to be there and Icebreakers are the first step in making it happen.
Raiding my browser's Favourites bar in no particular order here's some Icebreaker ideas I've found in the last year or so;
and saving the best for last;
Of course many of these are more suitable for full-time teachers rather than CRTs. As a full-timer you can afford to spend a large amount of time on icebreakers up front. Once they have the students once they have them tomorrow and next week too so they can spend more time building a more permanent bond. We are a little more under the gun and have to grab the class quickly so they get through the lessons they need to for that day. There's quite a few here that you can just pull out of the bag and do quickly or incorporate as part of a lesson so you aren't taking away from their "learning time".
Use your discretion and pick the ones that appeal to you as much as you think they will appeal to students. It will help them identify with you as a person as much as you as a teacher. That personal touch is what it's about in my experience!
Regards,
Mel.
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