On Your Mark
What is this strategy?
On Your Mark is a strategy that outlines the expectations that you as a teacher have for your students. It allows them to prepare for class very well and it provides a standard for which you can hold your students accountable. Consistency again is the key component to this strategy because students need to be expected to do the same thing every class period, in a schedule type way. If On Your Mark is used in your classroom, you won't even have to ask your students to prepare for the school day, they will automatically know what to do.
How/why does it work?
Having clear expectations for your students will make a huge difference in their classroom performance. When assessing how the On Your Mark strategy works, it is very important to remember that it is important to use continuous reinforcement, which means that you constantly reinforce behaviors in class. It is proven that students desperately need consistency in order to perform well, and continuous reinforcement produces behaviors that are more difficult to extinct. In this case, that is a good thing, because if On Your Mark becomes habitual for students and therefore difficult to extinct, then you've done a great job because that means students are ready for class everyday!
How can I implement this strategy in MY
classroom?
Different ways to implement this strategy include:
1. Be extremely clear about which items students need to have at beginning of class. Also tell them where to have the items and how to have them prepared. For instance your list might include having a clear desk with the exception of a sharpened pencil, a piece of paper and homework sitting on the right corner of the desk. For younger students, it may be necessary to have a picture diagram hung on the wall of what a "ready" desk should look like. This way, students can look at the picture and compare their desk to see what else they may need to prepare for the day.
2. Tell the students a certain time that they need to have their desk/materials prepared. You must set a time limit because if you don't, then students will have excuses. For instance, if you clearly state that students must have their materials prepared by 8:10 am, then you can expect every single day that they will be prepared by then. This is a great way to ensure that there is no wasted class time.
3. Implement small and appropriate consequences for students who are not "on their mark" by the stated time limit. A logical consequences would include having to get to school 10 minutes early to prepare for the day. If students see that there are definite consequences for not being "on their mark," then they will be more motivated to get prepared.
4. Allow students access to tools without consequence (before class starts). A huge part of preparation includes knowing what you need to have before it is time to get started. If students realize that they need a new sharpened pencil or some paper before class starts, then make sure you have those tools readily available for students. This will also motivate them to be ready for class, and remind them that you care about their success.
5. Don't forget about homework. Turning in homework should be apart of On Your Mark because if it becomes a routine, then students will be less likely to forget to do their homework or lose it. Usually, you should check homework for completeness, not correctness, because it is work done apart from the teacher and students need to be encouaraged to do their homework.
For example:
You can use a picture like the photo of the desk below to show your students what the inside of their desk should look like as well. Not only will this help your classroom stay neat and orderly (for all you OCD teachers), but also your students will stay organized, which will allow them to perform better in school.
On Your Mark is a strategy that outlines the expectations that you as a teacher have for your students. It allows them to prepare for class very well and it provides a standard for which you can hold your students accountable. Consistency again is the key component to this strategy because students need to be expected to do the same thing every class period, in a schedule type way. If On Your Mark is used in your classroom, you won't even have to ask your students to prepare for the school day, they will automatically know what to do.
How/why does it work?
Having clear expectations for your students will make a huge difference in their classroom performance. When assessing how the On Your Mark strategy works, it is very important to remember that it is important to use continuous reinforcement, which means that you constantly reinforce behaviors in class. It is proven that students desperately need consistency in order to perform well, and continuous reinforcement produces behaviors that are more difficult to extinct. In this case, that is a good thing, because if On Your Mark becomes habitual for students and therefore difficult to extinct, then you've done a great job because that means students are ready for class everyday!
How can I implement this strategy in MY
classroom?
Different ways to implement this strategy include:
1. Be extremely clear about which items students need to have at beginning of class. Also tell them where to have the items and how to have them prepared. For instance your list might include having a clear desk with the exception of a sharpened pencil, a piece of paper and homework sitting on the right corner of the desk. For younger students, it may be necessary to have a picture diagram hung on the wall of what a "ready" desk should look like. This way, students can look at the picture and compare their desk to see what else they may need to prepare for the day.
2. Tell the students a certain time that they need to have their desk/materials prepared. You must set a time limit because if you don't, then students will have excuses. For instance, if you clearly state that students must have their materials prepared by 8:10 am, then you can expect every single day that they will be prepared by then. This is a great way to ensure that there is no wasted class time.
3. Implement small and appropriate consequences for students who are not "on their mark" by the stated time limit. A logical consequences would include having to get to school 10 minutes early to prepare for the day. If students see that there are definite consequences for not being "on their mark," then they will be more motivated to get prepared.
4. Allow students access to tools without consequence (before class starts). A huge part of preparation includes knowing what you need to have before it is time to get started. If students realize that they need a new sharpened pencil or some paper before class starts, then make sure you have those tools readily available for students. This will also motivate them to be ready for class, and remind them that you care about their success.
5. Don't forget about homework. Turning in homework should be apart of On Your Mark because if it becomes a routine, then students will be less likely to forget to do their homework or lose it. Usually, you should check homework for completeness, not correctness, because it is work done apart from the teacher and students need to be encouaraged to do their homework.
For example:
You can use a picture like the photo of the desk below to show your students what the inside of their desk should look like as well. Not only will this help your classroom stay neat and orderly (for all you OCD teachers), but also your students will stay organized, which will allow them to perform better in school.