The bell rings and your students rush in while talking with their friends and discussing this, that and the other thing. How do you get your kids settled at the start of class?

What I feel is the most effective way to settle students down is to show them a quick video that helps get them get focussed on your class and subject from the start. Once your kids start seeing this at the start of each class, they will expect it, it will become routine. They will enter your room knowing what to expect and once the lights turn off, they will focus automatically.

Once the video is over, a discussion around the video occurs and hopefully, the content gets tied into and kicks off your lesson well. This works with any grade, ability level or subject. In fact, the worse the classroom behavior, the more effective this technique is because it is those kids in particular who require that set routine the most in order to focus their minds.

What should be your criteria for choosing videos?

• Ideally they should relate directly to your upcoming lesson but should at least, relate to your subject area.
• They should be short (3-6 minutes long).
• They should be entertaining and well done.

Examples I have used in the past include:

Why Do Zebras Have Stripes?
Amazing Energy Facts
Space Misconceptions
How Much Can You Eat?
How Are Contrails Formed?
How Much Does Thor’s Hammer Weigh?

If you are interested in seeing how I utilize videos to start each of my classes, please CLICK HERE and you will be taken to my day-by-day classroom breakdown where I chronicle every single thing I do and accomplish with my class each day. Follow along and see how I kick off each of my lessons.

I have over 300 videos categorized by subject. CLICK HERE, to be taken to my video page.