EXCLUDING TIME WASTERS

The author is Teacher

BIANCA CAMILLE Q. PARE

Teachers are always concerned about instructional time with students. Expectations from students may have changed over time, but the thing is, actual class time has not. Can teachers solve the time problem? Not really, but they can lessen the problem and its effects. Teachers should exclude the so-called “time wasters” which can destroy up to 20 minutes a day per class.

Some activities are worthwhile but some may be questionable. Even if these activities only make three (3) minutes a day. Three minutes a day for one eighty days (180) adds up to nine hours. You can use this time for deep discussions of texts you have just read or even games that can hone students’logical skills. Students should also be given opportunities to interact with peers around books, and many other techniques which are more likely to foster long-term reading motivation.

Also, research shows that there is a connection between physical activity and academic learning. Recess breaks before or after academic lessons lead students to being more on task. There are a lot of opportunities to make better use of instructional time in schools. All teachers have to scrutinize their use of instructional time minute by minute. Take a deep look at the practice which has been used, and consider its advantages and disadvantages. If the practice gets the results in an efficient way, then teachers should save it at all costs. — oOo—

I at Duquit High School