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Reading K-3

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Reading K-3 > Strategies > Timers

Timers

Overview

By using timers, learners develop greater awareness of their ability to pay Attention and are able to use strategies, like breaking up a task, to increase their productivity.

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Example: Use This Strategy In in the Classroom

  • Having a visual or audio timer when working on a specific task helps students develop time management skills and focuses their Attention on completing the assignment. This increased Attention is associated with a greater feeling of classroom belonging and student engagement. Timers also support Self-Regulation and Motivation by explicitly showing time expectations and facilitating when it is time to transition to another task.

    • Design It into Your Product

  • Developers can achieve these same results by embedding a visual or audio timer in their product. This awareness of time facilitates a smoother transition between activities and supports greater Attention for each activity.

    • Design It into Your Product

    Learn how a developer created a visual timer, which is also available as an app, to help learners see and understand time passing during an activity. Since learners can visually see a countdown of time, they develop a conceptual understanding of time and are able to better maintain their Attention.

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    Additional Resources

    Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Student Background Information
    Social Emotional Learning
    Cognition
    Language and Literacy

    More Organization and Reading Skills Strategies

    Micro-Goals

    Setting small goals encourages consistent, achievable progress, helping students feel confident in their skills and abilities.

    Reflect on Learning

    Self-reflection on their learning can nurture students’ growth mindsets.

    Set Progress Markers

    Breaking larger tasks into steps and receiving feedback at each step helps students both manage their work and stay motivated.

    Take Explicit Breaks

    Taking breaks from work, especially ones that encourage physical activity or calming routines, helps students reset their brains and learn how to maintain focus.

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