A New Year, A New Start

Starting 2nd semester means that we have the opportunity to start brand new.  I love coming back from Christmas break because by now I know my students, and this is when changes that I have been wanting to make can begin to take affect.  It was 2nd semester last year, when I came back from Christmas break and began to implement my flipped classroom.

This year's change isn't as drastic, but I decided to make a change to deal with cell phones in the classroom. I teach in a BYOD school.  I love that students are encouraged to bring their mobile devices to school, and I love that I have permission to use devices to help support 21st century learning.  However, students have difficulty knowing when it is appropriate for phones to be used and when they should be put away.  Phones were driving me crazy at the end of the semester.  I was trying to review information for finals, and kids had their phones out texting, checking Facebook, tweeting...and not paying attention to me.  Or ear buds where in and I couldn't tell if they were listening to music or not.  I have to give credit to some teachers at a neighboring school for this idea, but I started it on our 2nd day back and it has worked wonderfully.

I have moved to the Stop Light System.  I went to the local teacher's store and bought a Stop Light poster for $3.49.  I also bought one piece of black card stock.  I cut black circles out of the card stock to cover up the different lights on the stop light so that only one color will be seen at a time.  Each color represents how students can or cannot be using their phones.  Red means NO DEVICES.   I told them that I don't even want to see them when it is a red light.  Out of sight, out of mind.  A device out during a red light means I will assign a detention and confiscate the device.  Yellow means that devices can be used if permission has been granted.  This means that students can use their phones for a calculator or they can listen to music after a quiz or a test, as long as they have individually asked me for permission.  A green light means that I want them to be able to use their device to complete the assignment or activity.  For example, today we were completing our newest vocabulary list in order to be able to talk about our daily routines.  Students could access the internet in order to find the words or use our online textbook.

I want to be able to use BYOD to its fullest, but students need to have boundaries to eliminate any confusion and so that they are not distracted by their phones.  So far, it has been a great system.  Kids will ask if we can move to "Green". Or they will come in and see that it is a "Red" and ask if it will be moved during the class period.  They are paying attention to me when I need them to do so, and they are using their devices appropriately when given the opportunity to use them.