Start the class the right way with Warm-Up activities

Starting class the right way can make a big difference in how the rest of the lesson goes. One great strategy is using warm-up activities to get students focused and ready to learn.

Warm-ups don’t need to take long—just 5 to 7 minutes is enough. The key is to choose activities that are simple but engaging. Here are some ideas:

• Reflection Questions: Ask students to write about a topic or share their thoughts on something they’ve learned.
• Vocabulary Practice: Have students match words to definitions or write sentences using new terms.
• Quick Reviews: Go over a few homework questions or solve a problem together.
• Copying Key Information: Let students copy important facts from the board to reinforce learning.

To make warm-ups even easier, try using a weekly worksheet. Students complete one section each day, and you collect it at the end of the week. This makes grading simple and keeps everything organized.

Warm-ups help students shift their attention to the lesson and encourage participation right from the start. Plus, they set a positive tone for the rest of the class. With just a few minutes of planning, you can make the start of every class productive!

In my latest video I discuss the importance of warm-ups and how to use them for classroom management.   To watch the most recent coaching session click on the image above.