Category: Timers

Kick-Start Your Blended Learning Classroom: Must-Have Tools for Success

6/9/2025

If you're ready to launch or refresh your blended learning environment, having the right tools on hand can make all the difference. Whether you're creating Future Ready Studios, fostering student ownership, or personalizing instruction, the setup matters.
Below are our favorite go-to items—simple, affordable, and classroom-tested—to support a smooth rollout and sustained engagement in your blended learning classroom.

🎯 Start with the Essentials

Before diving into supplies, make sure you have these two foundational resources:

The Blended Learning Starter Kit Digital - Blended Learning Starter Kit
Your one-stop resource for checklists, station templates, planning guides, and rollout tips. Designed to help you get started fast—whether you're new to blended learning or ready for a reboot.

The Field Guide for the 12 Elements of Student Engagement and Ownership
This must-have book walks you through the research-based framework we use to build self-directed, future-ready learners. Perfect for coaching cycles, PLCs, and classroom implementation.

🛠️ Classroom Tools That Make a Big Impact

Here are the simple tools we love to use to launch studios and support blended learning routines:

Classroom Timers- Link
These visual timers help students manage their time in rotations, build independence, and stay on task. We recommend having multiple timers set for each studio.
Picture Frames for Direction Cards - Link
Elevate your studio signage with affordable picture frames. Place your laminated studio directions inside so students know exactly what to do.
Light-Up Lanyards for Studio Experts - Link
Empower student leaders by giving them light-up lanyards. It’s a fun and functional way to designate studio experts who can help others during rotations.
Voice Recorders - Link
Great for fluency practice, reflective learning, or recording instructions. Students can listen back to their own work or leave peer feedback.
Plastic Sleeves - Link
Reusable and perfect for any activity sheet, checklist, or rubric. Pair with dry erase markers for instant feedback and low-prep studio activities.
Zip Bags - Link
Keep hands-on materials and task cards organized and portable. Color-code bags by level or subject to make differentiation easy.
Story Cubes - Link
A fun and flexible way to spark creativity in your writing or reading response studios. They work great for warm-ups, reflections, or collaborative storytelling.

🛍️ Garage Sale Finds: Budget-Friendly Treasures for Your Studios

Blended learning doesn’t have to break the bank—especially when you know where to look! Some of my favorite classroom items have come from unexpected places, like neighborhood garage sales or thrift stores. These finds can turn your studios into inviting, functional, and engaging learning spaces.

Here’s what I always keep an eye out for:

🎨 Craft Supplies
Think pipe cleaners, pom-poms, stickers, markers, glue sticks—you name it. These are perfect for creation activities in your Future Ready Studio, especially when students are building models, posters, or prototypes.
🎲 Game Pieces & Boards
Old board games can be repurposed for all sorts of content review or classroom challenges. Dice, spinners, chips, cards, and boards all increase student engagement and add a playful twist to studio learning.
🪑 Flexible Furniture
Look for small tables, rolling carts, bean bags, game chairs, stools, or cozy rugs. These pieces help you design comfortable, flexible studio spaces that support student choice and movement.

The key? Go in with a creative mindset. A box of mismatched Scrabble tiles could become a spelling challenge. A rug might define the space for a reflection station. Garage sale treasures help you build a rich, hands-on learning environment without spending top dollar.

💡 Final Tip: Set the Tone Early

The right tools help you streamline routines, minimize confusion, and maximize student ownership from the very first week. When students see a well-prepared classroom, they rise to meet the expectations. Start small, stay consistent, and keep evolving.
👉 Ready to get started? Download the Blended Learning Starter Kit, grab a few of these tools, and check out the Field Guide for step-by-step support all year long.
Let’s kick-start your studios with confidence—one station at a time!

👉 Ready to get started?

Download the Blended Learning Starter Kit, grab a few of these tools, and check out the Field Guide Field Guidefor step-by-step support all year long.
Let’s kick-start your studios with confidence—one studio at a time!

0 Comments

Increase Student Agency with Timers

5/12/2025

0 Comments

In the Field Guide for the 12 Elements of Blended Learning, we emphasize the importance of effective time management in the classroom. One of the most powerful tools for managing time and ensuring smooth transitions in a blended learning environment is the use of timers. Timers can keep students on track, promote self-regulation, and support differentiated instruction. Here’s how you can effectively use timers to enhance your classroom environment.

Teacher Hack Video

Start with a Whole Group Timer

Begin with a whole group timer that keeps all students moving through the learning studios at the same pace. For instance, set a countdown timer visible to all students. This helps establish a sense of urgency and provides a clear expectation for how long each activity should take. As students become familiar with the routines, they develop a sense of pacing.

✅ Pro Tip: Keep your studios to 8-10 minutes when first training students to navigate the learning studios. Remember, the ultimate goal is for students to transition seamlessly and work at their own pace.

Move to a Class Countdown Timer

After introducing the whole group timer, move to a class countdown timer that shows how much time is left in the class period. This allows students to plan and adjust their work speed, ensuring they stay on track. For example, if there are four studios and 40 minutes, you might display a countdown of 40 minutes, with periodic reminders of how much time remains.

✅ Pro Tip: Use a visual countdown timer with clear reminders to foster student agency as they work through the studios. This approach minimizes interruptions during your small group instruction.

Show a Transition Timer for Quick Movement

A transition timer is another powerful tool in the blended learning environment. Displaying a clear countdown for transition time between studios helps students move quickly and efficiently. Students can see how much time they have to clean up their current studio and move to the next. This visual cue promotes smooth transitions and minimizes wasted time. Make sure the transition expectations are clear (e.g., calm, quiet, and efficient).

✅ Pro Tip: Create clear and visually engaging transition slides, like this teacher has done, to help students move smoothly from one studio to the next.

Amazon Timers

Sample Student Timer T Current Price - $9.99

Sample Student Timers Current Price - $19.99

Sample Teacher Timer
Current Price-

Sample Whole Group Timer -

Add Timers to Student Checklists

Next, introduce timers as part of the student checklists. Each studio can be assigned a recommended amount of time. For example:

Small Group Studio: 8 minutes for open-ended questions.
Independent Practice Studio: 12 minutes for reading or completing practice problems
Digital Content Studio: 10 minutes for an EdPuzzle
Future Ready Studio: 8 minutes for the gallery walk

Implement a Teacher Timer for Small Groups

The teacher timer is a game-changer for small group instruction. This timer helps the teacher manage the time spent with each group, ensuring that all students receive the support they need. Differentiation becomes more precise as the teacher can adjust the time for each group based on their proficiency level.
In the photo example:

High Flyers receive 6 minutes with open-ended questions.
Strugglers receive 12 minutes of reteach time with a hands-on activity.
On-Level students receive 10 minutes of review.
Middle High students receive 8 minutes.

Why Timers Work

Timers provide a visual and auditory cue for students, creating a structured yet flexible learning environment. They support student agency by helping learners make decisions about how to manage their time. They also ensure teachers maintain a balanced focus across groups without getting too caught up with one set of students.
Ready to try timers in your classroom? Start with the whole group timer and gradually introduce more advanced timing strategies as your students become comfortable with the process. Watch as your classroom transitions become smoother, and your small group instruction becomes more effective.

Level Up Your Teaching This Summer!

Ready to transform your classroom with proven strategies for blended learning, student engagement, and personalized instruction? Our summer workshops are the perfect opportunity to recharge, learn, and prepare for a successful school year! 🌟
✅ Explore hands-on strategies for blended learning.
✅ Master data-driven small group instruction.
✅ Discover AI tools to streamline planning and boost student ownership.
✅ Walk away with ready-to-use resources and templates.
📅 Reserve your spot now and take your teaching to the next level: Secure Your Spot Here! 🚀
👉 Don’t miss out on the chance to refresh your skills and network with educators from across the country!

Question

✅ Question for You: How do you currently use timers in your classroom? What strategies have you found most effective for keeping students on track? Share your insights in the comments below!

0 Comments

Kick-Start Your Blended Learning Classroom: Must-Have Tools for Success

🎯 Start with the Essentials

🛠️ Classroom Tools That Make a Big Impact

🛍️ Garage Sale Finds: Budget-Friendly Treasures for Your Studios

💡 Final Tip: Set the Tone Early

👉 Ready to get started?

Increase Student Agency with Timers

Start with a Whole Group Timer

Move to a Class Countdown Timer

Show a Transition Timer for Quick Movement

Amazon Timers

Add Timers to Student Checklists

Implement a Teacher Timer for Small Groups

Why Timers Work

Level Up Your Teaching This Summer!

Question

Author

Categories

Created By:
DSD Professional Development
All rights reserved

E: [email protected]
w: blendedlearningpd.com
w: dynaguide.org
T: @dsdPD

Kick-Start Your Blended Learning Classroom: Must-Have Tools for Success

🎯 Start with the Essentials

🛠️ Classroom Tools That Make a Big Impact

🛍️ Garage Sale Finds: Budget-Friendly Treasures for Your Studios

💡 Final Tip: Set the Tone Early

👉 Ready to get started? ​

Increase Student Agency with Timers

​Start with a Whole Group Timer

Move to a Class Countdown Timer

Show a Transition Timer for Quick Movement

Amazon Timers

​Add Timers to Student Checklists

​Implement a Teacher Timer for Small Groups

​Why Timers Work

Level Up Your Teaching This Summer!

Question

Author

Categories

Created By:DSD Professional Development All rights reserved

E: [email protected]w: blendedlearningpd.comw: dynaguide.orgT: @dsdPD

👉 Ready to get started?

Start with a Whole Group Timer

Add Timers to Student Checklists

Implement a Teacher Timer for Small Groups

Why Timers Work

Created By:
DSD Professional Development
All rights reserved

E: [email protected]
w: blendedlearningpd.com
w: dynaguide.org
T: @dsdPD