Creating a Sense of Urgency- A classroom management secret

We've all had that class--the ones that saunter in after the bell or take an obscene amount of time to get out materials. Whichever is the case, it's about creating a sense of urgency. It's a momentum created by the teacher or presenter or the boss to get things done. It's essentially intangible, a feeling that someone creates so that a wave of movement spreads across the classroom and viola, notebooks are out or materials are put away.

How do you create a sense of urgency?

You have to count.

Now, this may sound silly but please stay with me. You have to count. That's right. Count. And you have to count down. Any parent will tell you this is a tried and true technique to get your kids out the door, in the car, dressed and ready. My husband finally bought into the counting deal but he was counting up with no end in sight. You see, (most) people don't want to see what happens when you get down to one, especially my son. He thinks of it as a competition with the counting. And you have to count. Posting it on the board works, if students are looking at the board or care what's on the board. In most cases, you will count.

The Case for Counting

1. It gives students motivation. You will see. If you don't, you calmly walk over and stand by the student not moving but don't say anything and just keep counting.

2. Everyone needs time to get organized. Transitions are hard. Many teachers don't want their students talking or moving for fear they will never get them back. What this does is it gives students a time to reset, finish a conversation, or put away/take out materials. Having it as an expectation isn't really being fair.

3. You are creating a culture; therefore, you have to be ready. By creating a sense of urgency, students see that learning is important in your class, that you have something important planned, and that there is no time to waste. This means that if you are sauntering in, the message received is that we have all the time and we can take our time.

But I'm Not a Counter...

Most seasoned teachers (and most parents) count. Build it in to your repertoire. Like I said I give them 10 seconds for clean up or set up and I count down 3 seconds for partner talk time. By counting down 3, this respectfully gives students a chance to wind down a conversation. In the real world, we are not interrupted by a barking teacher. Students need an opportunity to quickly finalize their comments and end the conversation.

Part of our unwritten responsibility is teaching students a work ethic. Being a successful, hard worker is hustling. We are subliminally teaching our students a hustle by creating a sense of urgency. I encourage to create that feeling today. NOW!