How To Manage Students Who Are Demanding Your Attention

I'd like to share an idea I had that has saved me some sanity in the past two years. I've always found it challenging to manage groups of students who want my attention (at the same time!) during the school day. Whether it be for an answer to a question, a conference about some work, or to edit a piece of writing together, I can't be in twenty-five places at once, and having students waiting (doing nothing!) with their hand up has always been frustrating!
So, I was inspired to come up with something different by some of the numbered tickets and such that are on Pinterest. Great ideas, but none that totally worked for me. So, last year, I created this little trick for managing the line-ups of students... and it has been fabulous!!

Photo of attention management strategy in action.

The students clip their name to the sleeve, and I work my way from top to bottom. As I finish with the top student, they head over to move their clip back to the bottom, and send the next student in line over to me! Easy-peasy! I LOVE IT!!

What strategies do YOU use in your classroom? I love hearing from readers! Leave me a comment below.

Want more great tips like this one to use in your classroom?
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Photo of attention management strategy with text, "How to Manage Students Who Are Demanding Your Attention."

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