Using a Classroom Password to Quickly Reinforce Skills
Our time in the classroom is precious.
I don’t know about you, but I always feel there is never enough time in the day! Our schedules are jammed packed and I wish I had just a few more minutes to practice or review the skills we are learning throughout each week.
What if I told you I had the perfect solution to quickly and easily practice and review skills without having to add more minutes to your day AND your students would LOVE doing it! BONUS: They might not even realize they are learning!
A Little Background Information
We teachers are creative, we think outside of the box to make the most of our time. We practice skills during bathroom breaks, in line waiting for our special, or as we transition from activity to activity.
One day, I was working with a small group of students on sight words. We had the weekly sight words spread out on the table and I would say the word and students looked for the word and tapped it.
As I was watching my students eagerly find and tap each word and wishing that we had just a little more time in our day to practice…
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a classroom password where I could post skills related to our learning targets for the week and students would have to tap and say the password before they entered the room?!
It was then where my idea for a Classroom Password was created.
A fun and engaging way to squeeze in just a little more practice without students even realizing it 😉
We live for those moments!
Entrance Tickets and Classroom Password Bundle
How to Use Classroom Passwords:
Laminate your classroom password mat and stick it outside your door.
I like to laminate my classroom password mat and stick it inside a sheet protector and tape the sheet protector to the wall. (this allows me to easily pull out the mat each week to change out the cards and the sleeve protector stays taped to the wall)
Post a Classroom Password Mat outside your classroom at a comfortable level for all your students to tap the boxes with their finger.
At the start of each week select six cards that match your targets for the week and adhere them to the squares.
(Stick the cards to the mat with sticky tac or Velcro)
Then, when students walk into the classroom they can take their index finger and tap each square as they quietly say the classroom password.
Example: If my class was using the password pictured above a student would touch the “O” and say the letter name and sound, they would read the sight words (do, make), and they would read the three numbers posted (12, 10, 4). The ten frames are listed below to help students who need to count to identify each number.
How to Organize your Classroom Password Cards
Over the years I have tried a variety of ways to sort and organize my cards.
I have found the best way to organize them using the Really Useful Box (16 Box Organizer)
Laminate, cut, and tape the password card sign to the top of the box.
Laminate, cut and tape the password card labels to each box.
This allows your cards to stay nice and organized so each week you can easily pull the skills you need and switch out the cards.
Frequently Asked Questions:
When do you have your students say the password?
Really it is up to you and what works best for your class. The one non-negotiable time I like to have my students tap and say the classroom password is at the beginning of the day. I like this time the best because students are coming in at a staggered pace and I am usually standing by the door greeting them, so I can help and listen to them repeat the password. In the past we have also done it after lunch/recess and specials.
What do you do if a student doesn’t know the password?
When I introduce the classroom password to the class and review procedures and expectations we talk about how we are a family and we are here to help one another. If a friend is in front of you and struggling on a box it is polite and respectful to whisper a hint or help them. I have found if I lay the ground rules from the beginning students do not feel embarrassed if they do not know the password, but rather encouraged by their classmates as they try to figure it out. It also serves as a teachable moment for the students in my class as they take the role of teacher and help their fellow classmates.
What voice volume do you expect your students to repeat the password?
When I introduce the classroom password I explain that is important to use a whisper (level 1) voice when repeating the password. We want everyone to have a chance to practice the skills so if use a softer voice it gives everyone a chance to try the password on their own.
During short weeks do you change the password?
Really that is up to you and what works best for your learning targets and schedule. If we are having a week where we are reviewing skills I will go back and target skills that students struggled with to practice again.
Interested in trying Classroom Password with your class?
Click the picture below to check out the Classroom Password Bundle
Entrance Tickets and Classroom Password Bundle
Do you have any other questions about using classroom password in your classroom? Or have you had success using Classroom Password in your room? I would love to hear.
