5 Time-Saving Classroom Routines to Boost Engagement

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned as a veteran teacher, it’s that the holidays can make or break you. I’m not trying to sound dramatic…but if you don’t have effective classroom systems in place to streamline your classroom management and maximize engagement, things can get a little crazy. Since I’ve learned a thing or two, I’m here to share my top 5 time-saving classroom routines to help you survive the holiday season. You’re welcome 😉 

Something I find vital to surviving the holiday season is using self-checking, low-prep resources with my students because those two things are vital to saving time and minimizing stress. The productive classroom practices and resources I share below will fall into one, if not both, of these categories. Keep reading to hear some of my top classroom productivity hacks. 

5 Simple and Effective Time-Saving Classroom Routines

1. Class Dojo

A lot of us think about using Class Dojo for one thing – tracking points – but it actually has some other really neat features that keep us on track. I love using the digital timers on Class Dojo for two reasons – 1) they keep us on track and 2) they limit our transitions. If we’re taking a brain break, I can set the digital timer on the board and it allows students to see a visual timer on the screen. This holds them accountable and keeps them on track. 

Class Dojo also has the ability to group students for you. This saves us so much time. Whenever I give students the opportunity to group themselves it takes a lot longer because they’re discussing what to do and who to partner with. What I love about grouping them digitally is that it mixes them up and has them working with different people each time. Once students find their partner, I use the countdown timer to help them find a spot and get seated quickly and quietly. 

Using Class Dojo is definitely one of my favorite quick classroom management techniques. It’s user-friendly and full of a lot of helpful features.

2. Fast Finishers

If you’re trying to boost engagement, having fun fast finisher activities is a must. When you have activities like my STEM boxes ready for students to complete, they become motivated to finish their work and turn it in in a timely manner. Having exciting activities prepared for my students ahead of time is one of my top classroom productivity hacks. 

I keep STEM boxes set up on a shelf from IKEA. Students grab a box of STEM supplies and a task card and get to work. Each task card has a QR code on it for students to scan. It takes them to Wonderopolis where they can learn more information about what they will be constructing. I love that not only are students building but they’re also getting a little extra English language arts exposure too.

I have all kinds of STEM boxes to choose from – holiday and seasonal as well as no-themed boxes, making these perfect to use all year long. Want tips on setting up STEM boxes? Click here.

3. Morning Workbooks

One of my biggest time-saving classroom routines is having morning workbooks put together. I hate wasting time passing out and collecting papers, so these make my life so much easier. All students need to do is grab their multiplication math booklets out of their morning work folder and they can complete their daily drill practice. 

Another way that I save time with these is by printing front to back, using the staple feature on the copier, and using the tabletop guillotine to cut them in half. I print out half of the amount that I need – 13 for 26 kids – staple and cut and I’m done! These morning workbooks are such an easy and effective way to keep things organized this holiday season and plus, I’m all about labor-saving classroom methods!

4. Surprise Box

One of my favorite time-saving classroom routines to boost engagement is using a surprise box. My students LOVE it. Let me show you why. 

I allow my students to collect tickets based on their Class Dojo points at the end of each school day. Another shout out to Class Dojo, but I love using their point system as a quick classroom management technique. It’s easy to use. 

Then, I choose three winning ticket numbers from my ticket bucket. Each of those students comes up to spin the Spin to Win wheel from Amazon (recently donated by a parent). The wheel has numbers 1-9 on it and each number corresponds with a particular prize box prize. Students open the corresponding number drawer of the surprise box and take their prize. You can learn more about how to use a surprise box here.

I love that it’s fast and that it keeps my students excited. Not only that though, I love that sometimes kids don’t get the prize that they want. And I think it’s critical for students to learn how to lose respectfully. Sometimes they get the prize they wanted and other times, they don’t. Either way, using a surprise box has been a fun way to keep my students engaged. 

5. Math and Grammar Games

If you haven’t heard about my math and grammar games, where have you been!? I’m just teasing but they’re total engagement boosters and they’re low-prep and easy-to-use. It honestly doesn’t get better than that.

I keep my math and grammar games stored in these easy grab-and-go craft keeper kits because they make it easy for students to grab a game, pick a spot in the room, and start playing. I’ve also made review baggies before and placed them into a bucket each time we finish a new math or grammar topic. 

To prep these, I make 13 review baggies – I have 26 students in my class – and print out 5 pages for each group (65 pages total, if you’re doing the math). Then, I use the tabletop guillotine to cut each of the game cards and throw them into a baggie. It’s super easy to prep them! 

My students are up to about 200 game cards right now and they’re still collecting and earning more. I love that they’re a great review for my students and that by state testing time, we’ll have a set for every single language and math standard that our curriculum covers. 

Not only is this one of my favorites when it comes to time-saving classroom routines, but it also boosts student engagement. My students love playing games and these make them forget they’re learning sometimes! 

If you’ve never played one of my math and grammar games, I’m offering a free Thanksgiving math game here for you to try! I can’t wait to hear how you like it. And if you decide you’re interested in these games, I’m happy to share that I have a Black Friday sale coming up where you can grab them at a rare discount. Once you sign up, you’ll receive updates about the sale and your free Thanksgiving math game. 

I hope these time-saving classroom routines to boost engagement were appealing to you. Which one are you wanting to try with your students to help you survive this holiday season (and the rest of the year)?