Reflection on Learning: Week 1 - Bell Ringer Activity

During the next 6 weeks, we will use our collaborative time to reflect on our instructional practices that made the biggest impact on student learning.  During the first week of collaboration, we will reflect on the first 5 minutes of instruction, the Bell Ringer.

Description

The first minute of instruction begins the moment that students enter the classroom or transition into a new subject (K-5), and effective teachers are prepared to engage students immediately in an independent activity that primes students for learning.  During a bell-ringer activity which takes approximately the first 5 minutes of instruction, the teacher can tackle managerial tasks such as taking attendance, checking in with individual students, or distributing instructional materials while the students are busy connecting with content independently.     What makes a bell-ringer activity highly effective is that it serves 2 purposes.  First, it is tied to prior knowledge or background knowledge, and secondly, it is intentionally tied to instruction that students will experience in the day's lesson.

Engagement Activity	Description	Questions	Content	Time Frame
		How are DOK 2 & 3 questions provided and responded to?	What content is addressed?	The approximate time that the activity should take.
Bell Ringer	Activity tied to learning for the day, that is prepared for students upon arrival to class while teacher conducts managerial tasks.	Provided by teacher for students to address independently.	Prior learning that will be necessary for the day's lesson.	5 minutes

Reflection Task

Describe a bell-ringer activity that you used this year that required kids to activate prior knowledge and the activity connected kids to your lesson.

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