Really good ideas! I’d like to try a few this year!
I also use different hand signals to measure response. For example, If we’re talking about common and proper nouns and the students must classify the noun I tell them to make a fist for common nouns and and an open hand for proper nouns. This way when I ask, all the students can answer and I can quickly see who has the hang of it and who doesn’t.
I also give them the opportunity to answer with an “I don’t know" (they put their hand on their head). The reason I do this is because it holds the student accountable of their learning. When they can admit that they don’t know or don’t understand it gives me the opportunity to clear things up for them. When they only have two options they tend to guess and it makes it harder for me to figure out who really gets it.
Do you guys have any alternatives to the usual “raise your hand to answer"?
I agree with you. Just finished my first year in first grade. I thought I knew what I was getting into because I tutored for 2 years and the year before I was the Risk Interventionist teacher but I was wrong. Next year will be smoother even with new bumps I'll encounter.