If your school has a strong policy for cell phone usage, thank your administration. Seriously, bring them a gift because you aren’t playing cell phone whack-a-mole.
For the rest of us attending a national conference last month, we all talked about how each teacher has to create his or her routine for cell phone management.
I insert these three videos in the beginning and the end of class into my daily tech guide and we kiss our phones goodbye and give them a hug – just like the video demonstrates and staying in the target language.
We also make a big deal about hugging them hello at the end of class. Post-pandemic I added the ear pods. But since I use my daily flip chart, they quickly become routines and not the battle grounds that they were before. Students do respond to the humor and catchy tunes.
I know that some teachers are able to make students put their phones in a cell phone holder, but our admin in the past has not wanted us to be responsible for any lost or stolen phones.
In fact, our 2000 students know that we really aren’t suppose to touch their property. If you do insist on a cell caddy, and someone refuses, or property is lost or stolen – will you admin support you? If not, think about the fable of the wind and sun trying to force the traveler to take off his cloak. The wind blew hard and the man held on tighter. The sun was warm and the man took off his cloak. I use this system of good natured routines and it works. But if your admin supports you, go and thank them, you are lucky.
I am a big believer in using a daily flip chart to structure my class and to insert transitions between activities.
I use a remote presentation device to click on to the next slide from anywhere in the room.
If you want to learn more about the structure of my class, click here.
If you want to see my complete lessons, click here.
If you want to see all the videos available, click here.
If you want to convince parents to stop texting their children all day long, read this blog.
