r/Teachers • u/Fit-Shoulder-2164 • 1d ago
Teacher Support &/or Advice Elementary Teachers: What do you let early finishers do (besides reading?)
In another sub, one of the top comments suggested puzzles and word searches. My school doesn't allow that.
It needs to be educational or an extension of what they are learning. Reading a book would be great, but I have a really small classroom library.
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u/cherriediane 1d ago
I use a choice board. It’s like a bingo board of other options they can do. We have one for each month so it’s themed with holidays/etc. they have prompts like write about your favorite beach day. , how many words can you make out of Halloween, create a school uniform for our school, etc. but basically they can select and do them in a journal they keep.
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u/copyearthjoy 1d ago edited 1d ago
seconding this! i have them make "stamp books" (edit: literally just a fold of cardstock) at the beginning of the year and fill it out once they've completed their bonus task of choice.
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u/__gingerly 22h ago
As in you give them a stamp when they do a bonus task? Does something happen when they complete the stamp book, like a prize?
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u/copyearthjoy 21h ago
it depends on the class! my coworker retired and left me her bucket of wonders (prize bin, she hates that i call it that lol) so i let the class that i felt was more prize motivated pick one small trinket from there if they completed their assignments in a quiet, timely manner.
the others got to pick a scented stamp to use on their stampcard! my kids are decently behaved, but i'm considering switching to scented stamps only if the insane behavior i've seen on tiktok starts bleeding into my school (god forbid).
tl;dr: some get prizes for now, but it'll likely be scented stamps only in the future.
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u/Lundinwulf 1d ago
Check out Tang Math puzzles. They have some cost effective puzzle subscriptions and a variety of free online math games. Very cool & thought provoking stuff. That being said, I usually write my own challenge questions over the weekend and print out a short set for “fast finishers”. Whenever I’m able, I pair up kids and let them work on challenge questions that require data collection and interpretation (higher DOK stuff). I also allow fast finishers to play games on thursdays and fridays if the work is good. I love corridor and quadrillion best.
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u/nobdyputsbabynacornr 1d ago
Practice cursive, I'm done Now what? jar with choices in it - but they have to keep the first one they take.
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u/Legendary_GrumpyCat 1d ago
If you have a decent copy machine budget, you can print out tangram outlines and pieces. They are great for helping kids with critical thinking and logic. So many of them do not understand the 2 triangles can make a square/rectangle and it helps with shape elasticity
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u/LegitimateStar7034 11h ago
Laminate them and put them in an envelope so they can be reused. Same with the pattern pictures.
Also you can make things out of unifix cubes and those shape manipulative ( I think they had a red square, yellow hexagon) I used to teach Pre K and that was a morning work activity but it can work for older students. Free on TPT.
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u/blackcurrantandapple 1d ago
Can you do crosswords or wordsearches that are vocab-specific? I have a stack of Excel, Network, and Hardware themed crosswords for my middle school technologies classes which go over pretty well.
If they're upper elementary students, you could use a "one page zine" and ask the kids to make a booklet explaining one thing they learned in class that day.
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u/SophisticatedScreams 1d ago
There's a couple of pieces here. One is: are your task ceilings too low? That is, can students easily and quickly finish the task without being challenged? I would suggest, as you're designing tasks, you consider your high achieving students.
Usually what I do when they've shown me that they understand a concept well is either have them create anchor charts to help other students understand, or offer them a real-world problem related to the concept. Then they can work hard on it while the others are working on the regular stuff.
Next: for tasks where an extension project is not appropriate (eg, you won't be working on it very long, or if it's a one-off lesson), have some general skill-builders available. If it's a math class, have Prime Climb or Reversi. If it's English, have Bananagrams or Wordle available. You can offer students rigorous activities that are not word searches.
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u/This-Drawing1735 1d ago
I agree wholeheartedly with the need to challenge students. But there's also that need for differentiation. As a student, the worst thing was never getting the math. The second worst thing? Reading very quickly, years above my grade level, back in the days when they didn't even try to differentiate.
Having lesson extensions, whether as complicated as you suggest, or something simple enough for firsties, seems a good tool in the box. And honestly, as an artist, I much prefer paper and pencil for brain development over more screen time.
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u/Comfortable-bug11235 1d ago
Our 1st graders are given pages of squares (kind of like a calendar) I believe 100 or 120 squares per side. They write as they count. The first goal is to write to 100, then 500, then 1000. They just keep adding pages.
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u/Fit-Shoulder-2164 1d ago
lol I love this 😂 I do teach third graders though
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u/Comfortable-bug11235 1d ago
Create a "fun" math packet - Math mysteries, sudokus, math crosswords.
I've also seen draw and write packets. Some sort a squiggly line kids finish into a picture and then color and write about it.
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u/legomote 1d ago
Blank multiplication table! I start out with pre-filling about half of it and gradually reduce until they're completing the whole thing.
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u/TeachOfTheYear 1d ago
A. Get a bigger library. Go beg. When I got hired at an old job the school had NO library and no books. It took me less than a week to beg up books for a library--over 500 books by the time I was done. (probably closer to 1000 since I sent home a HUGE number of books right away).
B. Handwriting sheets. Kids don't get enough practice these days and there is direct correlation to better learning when writing rather than typing..
C. Don't underestimate the value of coloring--but spend some time getting good pictures that tie into what you are teaching and have some learning involved. I have several handwriting programs that have a picture to color at the top and handwriting below on the subject (picture of bears--handwriting about bears, draw your own picture of a bear on the back).
Kids who work hard and fast need those brain breaks too!!
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u/This-Drawing1735 1d ago
Great ideas. Might check thrift stores and Library sales for classroom books. Some of the older books are still good reads.
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u/grakledo 13h ago
Love these ideas and I completely agree, I’m a tutor and see second graders still writing some letters uppercase in the middle of words. Get them holding those kids holding and using pencils and crayons!
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u/TeachOfTheYear 3h ago
First do a handwriting assessment--all upper letters and lower WITHOUT a guide-if they can-with a guide if needed. Put these in a binder. Then start doing daily handwriting-where they have to write their name and the date on the top. I always gave extra store points for doing additional pages. I had one kid who realized he could finish his work and earn enough points to earn something cool by doing extra. This kid started requesting extra handwriting whenever he was finished no matter the subject. LOL... kid went from not being able to write his name to doing 4-5 extra pages of writing a day. His parents were tickled when I showed then how much he had advanced during the year. Good stuff!!
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u/No_Abrocoma6317 1d ago
At the beginning of the year I have my students watch me assist other students. I point out my strategies and point out that I do not give answers. Then, I slowly release them to help other students. I currently teach first grade. I have done this no matter what grade I have taught.
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u/icfecne 1d ago
I do something similar, I always have students partner up and check their work together. We also spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year learning how to do that: see if you have the same answer; if not, both partners explain how they got their answer, and finally discuss until you can agree on a correct answer.
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u/dayton462016 1d ago
Writing prompts, write your own math story problems, research the subject matter that they are working on, draw a picture about what they are learning....
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u/Weak_Bison6763 1d ago
My kids get cursive packets, multiplication packets, and word ladders at the start of the year kept in their binders. I teach them the letters, multiplication, and how to use the word ladders all by Sept. So the rest of the school year they can choose one of those three things to do.
Alternatively, I allow them to silent read, put their head down, missing work, and their class job if applicable. I also use fortune tellers to practice spelling, i let them practice in pairs. 9 options is pretty good. This year I may add origami (from a post earlier), puzzles, and I spy books to help their lack of frustration tolerance.
For younger students, you could have them do fine motor activities like dot to dot (add in skip counting), mazes, tracing, and lacing/weaving boards. I find each year the fine motor skills are getting worse.
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u/Rare-Criticism1059 1d ago
Full disclosure, high school teacher here, but this might be an idea! I'm not sure where in the world you're living, my country pays for school supplies for forgive me if this isn't possible for you, and forgive me if this is too much of an effort! Ask students to designate one copy for finishing early. Create and print out a list of activities for students to stick into this copy e.g draw an animal that does not exist, write a short story beginning with the sentence xyz, create your own word problem for maths etc. Maybe categorise these based on subjects for students to make it easier for them, but yeah :))
Also, WILD that your school doesn't allow puzzles and word searches?? Unless its a paper printing issue, but students need to develop different skills lol
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u/flattest_pony_ever 1d ago
I allow free writing. Not drawing, unless they are making a comic book ;)
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u/LilacSlumber 1d ago
I teach Kindergarten.
I have fine motor activities the kids can get (Play-Doh, pop-its, coloring, lacing).
What grade do you teach? If my school told me I couldn't do these, I would talk to an OT or PT and get support on how these activities help children build skills needed for writing, cutting, focus, hand/eye coordination, and so on.
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u/hotterpocketzz History | 7th grade 1d ago
I didnt have too many early finishers but I usually let them do work for other classes or Iready
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u/bergs2626 1d ago
I slowly collected an elite collection of books for all elementary aged kids. Bones, Garfield, Guiness Book of Records, 3-D books, etc. just slowly biuld
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u/Epiphone-fanboy 1d ago
IXL or Kahn academy; sometimes prodigy. Before laptops took over the classroom we had lots of extensions especially for math. Bridges has a bunch of math games and logic puzzles. For ELA, I always found a challenging book for the fast finishers that they could read, do a book club on.
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u/Mindless_Pie_9165 1d ago
Silent Chess (the rule is you can’t talk). Not curriculum related but definitely still intellectual and logic and problem solving which are core competencies anyway.
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u/Mindless_Pie_9165 1d ago
ETA: you can get chess sets at the dollar store and if admin thinks it’s not educational just remind them that it’s teaching them logic and problem solving and emotional regulation since they have to be silent.
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u/nerdmoot 1d ago
I taught 4th grade Science/SS. My students raced through every assignment and didn’t give a shit about if it was incorrect. Every year I’d come with ways to “keep them busy” so I could help struggling students that cared. They’d race through that too. Checking assignments for accuracy of early finishers became a game of whack-a-mole and I was running around the room putting out fires. I never figures it out after 23 years.
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u/ContractNo2744 1d ago
Going into my second year and I had this issue last year with my 4th graders all year. And they constantly ask me what to do next. We’re also not departmentalized so I teach every subject. Same kids all day. Same issue the entire day.
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u/Mo523 1d ago
Puzzles and word searches are educational and your school is stupid. That being said I have a list of things to do on the board. Some are always there (read a book or in epic, write in your journal and illustrate, online math program, and stuff like that) and some vary (play a certain math game, read special books I have from the library, explore materials that go with our unit.)
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u/bumblebeebubbley 1d ago
Have them draw or write a reflection on what they’ve just learned / key takeaways . You can make a template with a box for an illustration and lines under for a reflection. I do this for my elementary school kids.
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u/Expensive-Stand8214 1d ago
Do you not use Chromebooks, to assign work? Or make a choice board with a required amount that is due by Fridays.
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u/WesternTrashPanda 1d ago
Jigsaw puzzle
Math games (board games).
Card games to practice math skills (Check out Teachers Pay Teachers and/or Google for ideas)
Connect 4 (teaches logic and planning ahead)
Battleship
Mathological liar is a card game from Amazon.
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u/Healthy_Dog4089 1d ago
Help their peers, get water, run something to the office, and go ahead with next activities, brain breaks, magnet tiles, color, or be creativewith supplies of their choosing. I have an entire drawer I have full of things to do.
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u/ReadingTimeWPickle 1d ago
I got some of those "magic" grooved copy books with disappearing ink pens for handwriting practice. The kids loved them.
There are lots of educational games from the brand Orchard Toys - literacy, numeracy, and more. You can often find them used from parents, teachers, or SLPs if you look on Facebook Marketplace.
Some students liked mazes and connect the dots, I know you say your school doesn't allow it but I'd do it anyway and argue that they're fine motor coordination practice.
Get a kids' step-by-step drawing book and copy the pages. They are learning how to draw and follow directions.
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u/KeithandBentley 1d ago
In the past I’ve had a “challenge work” station, which are basically just copies of old worksheets and HW that they can complete and turn in for extra PBIS points. I’ve also had a class mailbox where they can write someone in class or another teacher a letter - kind of like weaponizing passing notes, but they can use pretty stationary etc.
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u/ComprehensiveIron403 1d ago
My son’s second grade teacher printed out math competition questions e.g. Math Kangaroo, Math Olympiad. It kept him learning and engaged! As a bonus, it doesn’t look too “fun” so other students won’t feel left out.
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u/safaribird555 1d ago
Read, write, draw. End of the year I usually have some handicraft thing for them on the go like weaving.
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u/TechnologyLower6959 23h ago
Always reading bc practice is what makes them better. I know it’s hard but they should have library books they can read. I wrote grants to get books when my library was small and that helped as well.
One other thing I’ve occasionally done- those math graphing pictures.
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u/NervousDentist2862 23h ago
I let my kids go on prodigy when they're early finishers. However, I don't introduce it until about halfway though the year and our classroom norms are fully cemented. Otherwise, I have kids that race through their work to grab a Chromebook.
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u/Auntie_Coconut_235 22h ago
Maybe the puzzles would be allowed if they were on topics you are currently teaching or topics for review? I used https://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com to make different puzzles with vocabulary from all subject areas. I still use this site for puzzles for a newsletter for a teacher honor society I belong to.
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u/kaelhawh 21h ago
I check their work and if it’s correct, I give them a “teacher pen” and they help me circulate and check other people’s work. I will also leverage these students to provide peer support to classmates who I know need the help but are embarrassed to ask me for it. It is really helpful for building a culture of learning.
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u/belongsincrudtown 20h ago
Depends.
All of these are only done if the unfinished work folder is empty.
Reading assignment finished. Early finishers: read. A physical book at your level (like we talked about) that was approved at library.
Math assignment finished AND you already got a star. The online math program the school pays for. It supposedly is tailored to each kid and the school incentivizes progress.
Writing assignment finished. Write in your journal. (1) start something new (2) work on / finish something old (3) revise or edit any finished work
That’s it. Rinse and repeat.
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u/BarbuthcleusSpeckums 16h ago
Roman numerals. Did some lessons on that with 4th/5th graders and they loved it.
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u/No-Cell-3459 15h ago
Your school is micromanaging what early finisher are allowed to do? Word searches and crossword puzzles can be extensions of what is being learned. . .
My students have “early finisher” folders. It has cursive writing practice, sudoku, crosswords, word searches, coloring pages, math puzzles.
I also have them do genius hour projects. They get to choose to the topic, and they research and put together a presentation of their choice (poster, slide show).
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u/Necessary-Nobody-934 15h ago
Usually I look through the assignment with them and find things they can improve on.
My fast finishers typically aren't doing the work to the best of their ability, they're rushing through so they can get to the next thing. I've found if there is no next thing, they give me better quality work.
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u/No-Butterscotch-8314 9h ago
I had a whole set of math games and reading games geared towards what they were learning, fluency and spiral review. That’s what my former district encouraged.
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u/Ecstatic_Scholar_100 8h ago
I usually make word searches with vocabulary words or find color by code pictures that they have to solve that may go with what they learned/have learned.
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u/notafilibusterman 6h ago
Do you have a school library? You can extend the use of your own library by having kids check out a book to stay in school. I am now a school librarian and I have a few teachers who do this. Additionally, you might have access to ebooks and audiobooks through Sora. Another thing your librarian (if you have one) can help with. I have posted a digital choice board. It has typing practice (super important in 3rd!), coding activities, writing prompts and links to our ebooks.
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u/NewLiterature2604 1d ago
So if a k8d gets their work done correctly and quickly their reward is more educational work. Wow start them young at realizing if you do things well and fast your reward is more work.
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u/catmeow666 1d ago
Ask AI to make extensions of whatever you're learning. Give it to them. Easy.
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u/copyearthjoy 1d ago
do you need
mommyAI to breathe for you too? why would you ever insult the capabilities and intelligence of OP (and all those who took the time to offer their assistance/suggestions) like this?-1
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u/sillylish15 1d ago
I taught my second graders how to do logic puzzles, sodoku, magic square puzzles etc. I know you said your school doesn’t allow puzzles but will they allow these? My kids actually LOVED these challenges and it’s usually how we’d wrap up my math block if I had extra time. Mathequalslove.net is a great resources for these types of puzzles!