I have used the "Crossovers" re-directing and getting a "drink of water". The best crossover activity is doing the "YMCA" song which is PERCEIVED as totally fun and having nothing to do w/ classroom learning. It often helps to get a student back on track. Getting a drink of water involves walking down the hall to the water fountain and gives everyone in the room a break. Sometimes students do much better after these breaks and sometimes they are just having a tough day.
That's awesome that you do the YMCA! As a coach, I use jumping jacks or other exercises. The boys on my teams love this. It is true that the kids perceive this as a break from class and yet it is greatly beneficial in refocusing a student or the class.
I actually use 3 of them! I have a water fountain right outside my classroom so getting a drink is a very easy thing for my students to do. I use it alot when kids get sleepy! I have a rather big room with various areas so moving students around is also not an issue. I have desks, tables, chairs, and the floor. As long as students are working I really do not care where they do the work. Finally I have an Apple TV in my room and when we are doing individual work or group projects I will turn on music. Most of the time my students work better and stay focused when there is music in the background, in fact they request music being played more than I can think of it! My principal encourages teachers to play music in the classroom when appropriate. I will take responsibility when things go wrong or if there is a big miscommunication problem and try to get everyone back on track. I have never tried the cross-over redirecting activity, I would have to see what that looks like because I am having a hard time picturing it!
That's handy to have the water fountain so close. I don't know why, but it seems like getting a drink of water perks anyone up. When I was looking for cross over movements to use for students, I looked up "Cross lateralization" and "cross lateral movements."
Currently I am not a fan of music in my classroom since so many of my students would spend so much time to find or help me find "the right song" it seems time consuming. However I would be very interested what listening to music looks like in your classroom.
I choose the station on my Apple TV. Sometimes it is what I want to listen to and others times it is their choice. If they can not handle it then I turn the music off. I do have one class that struggles handling it more where as my other classes do just fine with it! It all depends on the day and their behavior!
That is great! The main problem I have with music is that most of the internet radio stations I have looked into are not edited (i.e. pandora and spotify). True radio stations, while edited are full of inappropriate messages - drinking, partying, sex, drugs, abusive relationships, etc. While there are implicit messages in everything, I have struggled to find appropriate music the kids like or that I like that doesn't have EXPLICIT inappropriate material. Does Apple TV have some better edited options?
Working in such small groups, I don't often use the redirecting activities. However, when I was in the classroom, I loved the cross overs. We did them daily or multiple times daily as students were restless and needed a break. I would also send a student on a quick errand - run this to the office for me. The office staff knew that the student was making a quick run to redirect, so they'd send him right back.
Not so much this year but in the past i have just taken a walk with students around the building. Sometimes a 3 minute walk in the hall on a non-passing period is a great way to get back on track and builds relationships too.
When the weather cooperates, the track just outside our back door is a good way to take a break and do some crossover activities while getting some fresh air.
I love crossovers. I start each class period with some bal a vis x work. We do many movements with our arms that cross over the mid-line of the body. I can see better focus after we do this and they have moved around some and are ready to sit down and get started. This is the second year I have used bal a vis x as bell work and I plan on continuing.
I have a teacher who uses Bal-A-Vis-X everyday with 2 of her students before she starts ANY activity with them. It's incredible how much it positively affects their task performance afterwards.
I do not have to use redirecting very often as I have small groups/individuals I work with. But I think being able to take a break would work well, and have seen it used in classrooms. Gives students and adults a chance to get their brain back on task and stretch out.
I think in a middle school setting, where they are up and moving to a different classroom every 45 minutes, there is a natural break with movement during the passing periods. I think this helps most students to stay focused throughout the day.
I use two for these re-directing activities mentioned in the book, as well as a few of my own. Allowing the student to move to a different spot is an easy one for me since my classroom is shaped like a "U" and I even have a futon student can work on if needed. I also use the drink of water redirect as well. However my favorite redirects are just sitting beside a student a waiting a few seconds before asking them "how's it doing? or what have you been doing so far?" sometimes if they are not fully aware of their surroundings, this can come as quite the surprise!
I ask questions like that as well. Hows it goin? what are you thinking about? Them talking about what they are doing or what they need to do gives them that extra boost sometimes.
I think that is helpful for students to be able to move to a different area of the room. Providing a quiet place for students who need that change is excellent!
I use brain breaks all the time! I love the cross lateral ones. We have some bouncy balls the size of base balls, you bounce the ball to another person and they have to catch with direct hand across from the thrower (so opposite hand), bring ball around the back and then bounce ball back to partner with opposite hand they caught with. The kids love this and it is really is a great BRAIN break. We also hop on one foot and you have to touch your nose with the opposite hand from which foot your hopping on. This is kind of hard to explain in writing. But these work amazing and the kids have fun with them. I have even just had the kids run outside to the basketball hoop and run back in!! haha so quick and easy but it gives them a minute to run some energy and wake up to come back and regroup.
It is funny to hear you say you make them run outside. 30 years ago when I was in middle school, if you got caught not paying attention, the science teacher made you go outside and run around the ag shop and come back. I guess some things never change.
I have used the cross-over activity with many students and I see a lot of teachers use these as a good transition time for kids. We use a lot of YouTube Just Dance videos, Have Fun Teaching, and many other fun videos that encourage movement and music. The kids just think it ties into what we are getting ready to learn about in math or reading or something we have just discussed but for us it is a way to get them up and moving to get their wiggles out and ready to focus again. I have used the bathroom/drink especially when I see a student is getting frustrated with a lesson/activity. Sometimes that little break gets them refocused and allows them a chance to relax before trying something again.
We used to have a Bal-a-Vis-x class in our school. I had a student that was obsessed with it. With him, we still do the bal-a-vis-x activities when he needs to help himself be more focused. Before important activities like tests we give him a few minutes to do some of the activities because it helps him stay more focused during the test. We often move to different locations when my students are having trouble focusing. In my classroom, we do calisthenics when the kids are having a difficult time focusing. When it is an individual kid, I send them to run an errand for me just so they get a chance to get out of class and move around. I have sent students to the bathroom to splash some cool water on their face, especially if they are struggling to stay awake.
Brain breaks have been very beneficial in my class. When I first started implementing them, the students saw this as an opportunity to be loud and obnoxious in the middle of class. I quickly realized that I would need to teach them what I expected during these times. I have used various exercise crossovers for the kids. It is fun to do different activities for this because it keeps them guessing (and paying attention). I also use the bathroom and water fountain excuses in my back pocket. A couple of my students struggle to sit down and pay attention for extended periods of time, so I tell them that if they are willing to work for x amount of time or complete so much of an activity, I will let them go get a drink. I also use a spontaneous break when I see a student starting to lose it. I also have a secret pile of junk paper for shredding (recycled paper) that I can give as a five minute job for students. I have sent students with messages to other teachers that I could have e-mailed, and even sent "messages" in blank envelopes to teachers. This has been nice because it not only keeps that student out of trouble, but it gives them a job (responsibility) and models ways other teachers can more effectively and less negatively handle some of their classroom management issues.
Whenever I'm collaborating with teachers about how to handle a kiddo with some behavior issues, giving them a 'job' is typically always brought up. Often times, the teacher doesn't feel like they can trust the kiddo, or that the situation will get abused somehow, etc. etc. Anyway, after awhile, the teacher can generally be talked into just trying it to see what happens, and not so long after, are completely converted, haha! It's crazy to think what "Can you take this across the hall for me, please?" can do for a student :-)
Brain breaks are something that have been implemented and used school wide, these are generally teacher lead activities but really could see this changing to be more of a student lead time. Each classroom handles these differently but they are generally a time where the students get up and moving for a few minutes during a transition time between subjects. I work quite a bit in the third grade classroom and they do a lot with groups and partners during their center time, I have worked with my students giving them several ways to regain focus on the activity. One of my students uses the method of moving to a different location, when we first started this he would get up and move on his own and leave his group, that was something we had to address and he now asks his group if they would like to go to the beanbags or to desks to finish the activity. I have been very impressed with how the other students have handled this from him, it also shows his leadership skills!
The redirecting activities I use most often are taking a break and moving to a different location to work. In regard to moving to a different location, I don’t necessarily ask them if they’d like to stand, or sit, or whatever when we’re working. We typically always start with sitting in a chair, but then I just go with the flow whenever they start moving around. If they start hopping around the room, or spinning in the chair, or crawling under the table, that’s totally fine. As long as they’re still able to complete the task I’m asking them to do, I have no problems with them having a busy body. Also, the breaks that students take with me vary too, just depending on the kid and situation. Sometimes, they’ll opt to just go across the hall for a drink/restroom, but other times, I’ve had students choose to read for a couple minutes, listen to a song on their iPad, or even do jumping jack routines. Again, I pretty much just go with the flow as long as they’re not breaking rules or doing something inappropriate.
When testing, to keep kids focus, I've had students take breaks going to get a drink, or doing jumping jacks, or letting them manipulate the materials. I like the idea of switching that up to include some cross lateral activities. When I counsel, I've worked with some who benefit from walking around unoccupied areas of the building while we talk and it has the added benefit of providing a little mood elevating activity. In consultation, I've encouraged providing responsibilities for kids that get them up and moving and providing "Brain Breaks" like https://brain-breaks.com/, or https://www.gonoodle.com/ for the whole class as a part of transitions, or to break up a 90 minutes ELA or math block.
I have used the "Crossovers" re-directing and getting a "drink of water". The best crossover activity is doing the "YMCA" song which is PERCEIVED as totally fun and having nothing to do w/ classroom learning. It often helps to get a student back on track. Getting a drink of water involves walking down the hall to the water fountain and gives everyone in the room a break. Sometimes students do much better after these breaks and sometimes they are just having a tough day.
ReplyDeleteYMCA! I haven't thought of that! We have done the Macarena though :)
DeleteThat's awesome that you do the YMCA! As a coach, I use jumping jacks or other exercises. The boys on my teams love this. It is true that the kids perceive this as a break from class and yet it is greatly beneficial in refocusing a student or the class.
DeleteI actually use 3 of them! I have a water fountain right outside my classroom so getting a drink is a very easy thing for my students to do. I use it alot when kids get sleepy! I have a rather big room with various areas so moving students around is also not an issue. I have desks, tables, chairs, and the floor. As long as students are working I really do not care where they do the work. Finally I have an Apple TV in my room and when we are doing individual work or group projects I will turn on music. Most of the time my students work better and stay focused when there is music in the background, in fact they request music being played more than I can think of it! My principal encourages teachers to play music in the classroom when appropriate. I will take responsibility when things go wrong or if there is a big miscommunication problem and try to get everyone back on track. I have never tried the cross-over redirecting activity, I would have to see what that looks like because I am having a hard time picturing it!
ReplyDeleteThat's handy to have the water fountain so close. I don't know why, but it seems like getting a drink of water perks anyone up. When I was looking for cross over movements to use for students, I looked up "Cross lateralization" and "cross lateral movements."
DeleteCurrently I am not a fan of music in my classroom since so many of my students would spend so much time to find or help me find "the right song" it seems time consuming. However I would be very interested what listening to music looks like in your classroom.
DeleteI choose the station on my Apple TV. Sometimes it is what I want to listen to and others times it is their choice. If they can not handle it then I turn the music off. I do have one class that struggles handling it more where as my other classes do just fine with it! It all depends on the day and their behavior!
DeleteThat is great! The main problem I have with music is that most of the internet radio stations I have looked into are not edited (i.e. pandora and spotify). True radio stations, while edited are full of inappropriate messages - drinking, partying, sex, drugs, abusive relationships, etc. While there are implicit messages in everything, I have struggled to find appropriate music the kids like or that I like that doesn't have EXPLICIT inappropriate material. Does Apple TV have some better edited options?
DeleteWorking in such small groups, I don't often use the redirecting activities. However, when I was in the classroom, I loved the cross overs. We did them daily or multiple times daily as students were restless and needed a break. I would also send a student on a quick errand - run this to the office for me. The office staff knew that the student was making a quick run to redirect, so they'd send him right back.
ReplyDeleteNot so much this year but in the past i have just taken a walk with students around the building. Sometimes a 3 minute walk in the hall on a non-passing period is a great way to get back on track and builds relationships too.
DeleteWhen the weather cooperates, the track just outside our back door is a good way to take a break and do some crossover activities while getting some fresh air.
DeleteI love crossovers. I start each class period with some bal a vis x work. We do many movements with our arms that cross over the mid-line of the body. I can see better focus after we do this and they have moved around some and are ready to sit down and get started. This is the second year I have used bal a vis x as bell work and I plan on continuing.
ReplyDeleteI have a teacher who uses Bal-A-Vis-X everyday with 2 of her students before she starts ANY activity with them. It's incredible how much it positively affects their task performance afterwards.
DeleteWe had bal a vis x offered for a few years as a P.E. option. It was wonderful to watch the confidence it built in kids.
DeleteI do not have to use redirecting very often as I have small groups/individuals I work with. But I think being able to take a break would work well, and have seen it used in classrooms. Gives students and adults a chance to get their brain back on task and stretch out.
ReplyDeleteI agree, when classes are small there does not seem to be much of a need for redirecting activities other than the use of small breaks.
DeleteI think in a middle school setting, where they are up and moving to a different classroom every 45 minutes, there is a natural break with movement during the passing periods. I think this helps most students to stay focused throughout the day.
DeleteI use two for these re-directing activities mentioned in the book, as well as a few of my own. Allowing the student to move to a different spot is an easy one for me since my classroom is shaped like a "U" and I even have a futon student can work on if needed. I also use the drink of water redirect as well. However my favorite redirects are just sitting beside a student a waiting a few seconds before asking them "how's it doing? or what have you been doing so far?" sometimes if they are not fully aware of their surroundings, this can come as quite the surprise!
ReplyDeleteI ask questions like that as well. Hows it goin? what are you thinking about? Them talking about what they are doing or what they need to do gives them that extra boost sometimes.
DeleteI think that is helpful for students to be able to move to a different area of the room. Providing a quiet place for students who need that change is excellent!
DeleteOne on one with a student is a great way to re-direct ! Thanks for sharing this simple, yet effective method.
ReplyDeleteI use brain breaks all the time! I love the cross lateral ones. We have some bouncy balls the size of base balls, you bounce the ball to another person and they have to catch with direct hand across from the thrower (so opposite hand), bring ball around the back and then bounce ball back to partner with opposite hand they caught with. The kids love this and it is really is a great BRAIN break. We also hop on one foot and you have to touch your nose with the opposite hand from which foot your hopping on. This is kind of hard to explain in writing. But these work amazing and the kids have fun with them.
ReplyDeleteI have even just had the kids run outside to the basketball hoop and run back in!! haha so quick and easy but it gives them a minute to run some energy and wake up to come back and regroup.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIt is funny to hear you say you make them run outside. 30 years ago when I was in middle school, if you got caught not paying attention, the science teacher made you go outside and run around the ag shop and come back. I guess some things never change.
DeleteI have used the cross-over activity with many students and I see a lot of teachers use these as a good transition time for kids. We use a lot of YouTube Just Dance videos, Have Fun Teaching, and many other fun videos that encourage movement and music. The kids just think it ties into what we are getting ready to learn about in math or reading or something we have just discussed but for us it is a way to get them up and moving to get their wiggles out and ready to focus again.
ReplyDeleteI have used the bathroom/drink especially when I see a student is getting frustrated with a lesson/activity. Sometimes that little break gets them refocused and allows them a chance to relax before trying something again.
We used to have a Bal-a-Vis-x class in our school. I had a student that was obsessed with it. With him, we still do the bal-a-vis-x activities when he needs to help himself be more focused. Before important activities like tests we give him a few minutes to do some of the activities because it helps him stay more focused during the test. We often move to different locations when my students are having trouble focusing. In my classroom, we do calisthenics when the kids are having a difficult time focusing. When it is an individual kid, I send them to run an errand for me just so they get a chance to get out of class and move around. I have sent students to the bathroom to splash some cool water on their face, especially if they are struggling to stay awake.
ReplyDeleteBrain breaks have been very beneficial in my class. When I first started implementing them, the students saw this as an opportunity to be loud and obnoxious in the middle of class. I quickly realized that I would need to teach them what I expected during these times. I have used various exercise crossovers for the kids. It is fun to do different activities for this because it keeps them guessing (and paying attention). I also use the bathroom and water fountain excuses in my back pocket. A couple of my students struggle to sit down and pay attention for extended periods of time, so I tell them that if they are willing to work for x amount of time or complete so much of an activity, I will let them go get a drink. I also use a spontaneous break when I see a student starting to lose it. I also have a secret pile of junk paper for shredding (recycled paper) that I can give as a five minute job for students. I have sent students with messages to other teachers that I could have e-mailed, and even sent "messages" in blank envelopes to teachers. This has been nice because it not only keeps that student out of trouble, but it gives them a job (responsibility) and models ways other teachers can more effectively and less negatively handle some of their classroom management issues.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I'm collaborating with teachers about how to handle a kiddo with some behavior issues, giving them a 'job' is typically always brought up. Often times, the teacher doesn't feel like they can trust the kiddo, or that the situation will get abused somehow, etc. etc. Anyway, after awhile, the teacher can generally be talked into just trying it to see what happens, and not so long after, are completely converted, haha! It's crazy to think what "Can you take this across the hall for me, please?" can do for a student :-)
DeleteBrain breaks are something that have been implemented and used school wide, these are generally teacher lead activities but really could see this changing to be more of a student lead time. Each classroom handles these differently but they are generally a time where the students get up and moving for a few minutes during a transition time between subjects.
ReplyDeleteI work quite a bit in the third grade classroom and they do a lot with groups and partners during their center time, I have worked with my students giving them several ways to regain focus on the activity. One of my students uses the method of moving to a different location, when we first started this he would get up and move on his own and leave his group, that was something we had to address and he now asks his group if they would like to go to the beanbags or to desks to finish the activity. I have been very impressed with how the other students have handled this from him, it also shows his leadership skills!
The redirecting activities I use most often are taking a break and moving to a different location to work. In regard to moving to a different location, I don’t necessarily ask them if they’d like to stand, or sit, or whatever when we’re working. We typically always start with sitting in a chair, but then I just go with the flow whenever they start moving around. If they start hopping around the room, or spinning in the chair, or crawling under the table, that’s totally fine. As long as they’re still able to complete the task I’m asking them to do, I have no problems with them having a busy body. Also, the breaks that students take with me vary too, just depending on the kid and situation. Sometimes, they’ll opt to just go across the hall for a drink/restroom, but other times, I’ve had students choose to read for a couple minutes, listen to a song on their iPad, or even do jumping jack routines. Again, I pretty much just go with the flow as long as they’re not breaking rules or doing something inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteWhen testing, to keep kids focus, I've had students take breaks going to get a drink, or doing jumping jacks, or letting them manipulate the materials. I like the idea of switching that up to include some cross lateral activities. When I counsel, I've worked with some who benefit from walking around unoccupied areas of the building while we talk and it has the added benefit of providing a little mood elevating activity. In consultation, I've encouraged providing responsibilities for kids that get them up and moving and providing "Brain Breaks" like https://brain-breaks.com/, or https://www.gonoodle.com/ for the whole class as a part of transitions, or to break up a 90 minutes ELA or math block.
ReplyDelete