

Instructional Minute
October 18, 2022

Workshop Model Teaching and Learning Series
- Week of October 17th: Classroom Visits - Giving feedback and collecting exemplars
- Week of October 24th: Celebration of Do Nows across the district
The way we start class sends a strong message to students about the culture, purpose and expectations of the community they are entering, so teachers should be intentional about it. We want students to engage in productive and high-quality work that interests and challenges them right away, and over time we want to make a habit of this, so they expect to be meaningfully engaged any time they enter our classrooms. We want them to know we are prepared and value their learning. They will not be passive and there will be very little down time.
So consistently starting quickly and with a quality task is important. A predictable familiar activity that students know how to do and that is waiting for students as they enter the classroom or transition to a new subject....a Do Now.
Do Now at a Glance
- Takes place at the beginning of every class or subject area transitions
- It is a consistent procedure
- Located in the same place every time (on the Clevertouch, on a table, on student desks, etc.)
- Completed with little to no direction from the teacher
- Limited to 5-10 minutes maximum
- Thoughtfully planned to relate to previous content or priming the learning pump for today's content
Do Now Sample Activities
Click the image to view more closely.
Additional Middle Years/High School Idea:
- AIMSweb Grade 8 : M-Comp / M-Cap
(Submitted by Jay Krefman @ Eastern)
DIAFL Do Now Ideas
🎨 Art Do Now Ideas
🎵 Music Do Now Ideas
📕 Library Do Now Ideas
These ideas can be modified easily to be used in the library setting.
https://www.weareteachers.com/bell-ringers-for-middle-school/
🧰 Adding to Your Teaching Toolbox
Teach Like a Champion 3.0: 63 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College Companion Site
- Click here to access the specific videos related to Teach Like a Champion.
- Check out the videos on the website for Chapter 5. They contain some great Do Now examples!
📸 Photos of Do Nows in Action
Please share pictures of your students working on a Do Now!
- We would love to feature them in the Instructional Minute.
- Email them to: sarah.hipps@lansingschools.net
- In addition to the photo, please be sure include your name, school and grade level.
⭐ Your lesson could be featured in the next Instructional Minute!
Click the link below, "Share Your Ideas", to submit interest in having your lesson recorded. We would love to feature your classroom as part of the Workshop Model Teaching and Learning Series.
💡 Share Your Ideas with Other Teachers
We are collecting your suggestions for great Do Nows that you use in your classroom.
Please click the "Share Your Ideas" image to the left and submit your ideas so they can be shared with other teachers in the district!