Sunday, December 23, 2012

End of Day Rockin' Routine! (Freebie, too!)

For years, I've had a closing circle (when time permitted!) at the end of the day.  Honestly, it never knocked my socks off.  Same old, same old...you know what I mean?

So this year, I wanted to make it more meaningful.  I thought and thought and thought some more and I do believe I've found one of the best, most focused, activities to do at the end of the day.  You know what?  With my idea of Personal Daily Goals, I make the time.  I NEVER have to fit it in.  It's a must.
 
What's so great about it?  It really allows the kids to be reflective of THEIR day.  I don't set the goals for them...they come up with them all by themselves and take it very seriously. 
 
Their goals range from, "I will try hard tomorrow to raise my hand" or "I won't pick my nose" or "I am going to push is my chair so no one trips and falls over it."  It tickles me to hear their goals each day and how well targeted they are for the following day.
 
Sometimes a child will keep the same goal because it wasn't reached.  They decide. It's very insightful what they choose to do.  In the beginning, some kids would simply make up a goal- any goal- even if it didn't apply to them.
 
Example: one kid said, "I won't run in the hallway."  But this child NEVER did that so we spent the first two weeks practicing naming our personal goals and telling WHY it was chosen.  I explained that they had to think about their own day and think hard about what they could improve upon tomorrow.  That really helped a lot to see the connection. It took about 20 minutes in September at the end of day.  Now?  A breezy 6-7 minutes for whole class. They get SO EXCITED the next day if they can report to the class that they reached their goal.  Ownership of the task is so important. 
 
It also allows ME to be reflective because I often hear MY WORDS coming back to me when someone states goal like,  "I need to remember to bring back my homework so I can be more responsible."
 
Up until now, I've been writing the goals to save time.  Starting in January, they will take their sticky off the door, fill it in, and it will be their exit ticket as they hang it back up and share their goals with us.  On Friday, kids always take paper home with them.  Seriously, if you are looking to change up your last miutes of the day, try it!  Let me know how it goes.
 
Click on the picture to get the printout.
 Edited post by using my answer below...

5 comments:

  1. Lisa,
    Wow! This sounds great! So I am correct in thinking that at the end of the day they write their goal for the next day or am I missing something? More details please!
    Camille
    An Open Door

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's exactly how I do it...goal is for the next day. Sometimes a child will keep same goal because it wasn't reached. They decide. It's very insightful what they choose to do. In the beginning, some kids would simply make up a goal- any goal- even if it didn't apply to them. Example: one kid said, "I won't run in the hallway." But this child NEVER did that so we spent first two weeks practicing naming our personal goals and telling WHY it was chosen. I explained that they had to think about their own day and think hard about what they could improve upon tomorrow. That really helped a lot. It took about 20 minutes in September at end of day. Now? A breezy 6-7 minutes for whole class. They get SO EXVITED the next day if they can report to class that they reached the goal. Ownership of the task is so important.

    Let me know how it goes!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a nice way to instill a reflective attitude with your students.
    ❀ Tammy
    Forever in First

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is a great idea! I really like that it is building responsibility and intention within the student, not someone else deciding on their goal and whether they reached it or not. :)
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great idea. I found your link on Erica's blog and here I am! Our button is similar so I had to check it out. I am your newest follower:)

    Tammy
    The Resourceful Apple

    ReplyDelete

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