One of the most important management strategies a Physical Education teacher can make is to have a good stopping signal. If you are struggling with wasted time during transitions and find yourself getting frustrated when kids don’t get quiet, you need to implement a good stopping signal.
At my school we use music as a management strategy in combination with our stopping signal.
If the music is playing, the kids know that they should be moving, if the music stops the kids know to listen for a transition.
When the teacher says “1, 2, 3…” the kids all say “huuuugh” and stop drop and listen
*I got this signal idea from J.D. Hughes at a Phys Ed conference during my first couple years teaching and have used it ever since
To be specific:
- STOP – sit down or take a knee – for some reason this always helps everyone quiet down and focus, it also allows everyone to see the teacher if they are standing up
- DROP – if you have equipment place it on the ground
- LISTEN – this means students are not talking to their friends, if they are talking after the signal give them a verbal warning before moving on
Of course you need to hold kids accountable or it won’t work, but that goes for any routine or procedure you implement with teaching.
Check out the video below to see an explanation and an example of me teaching the signal to my students on their first Physical Education class of the year.
What are the stopping signals that you use in your gym?
Have Fun and Teach On!
Stacey Schaefer says
Like you said it is so important to have a stopping signal. I’m going to try yours to see if the response is better. I use whistle and Time out signal.
Marcus says
Music and the 1,2,3 signal are our go-to’s! Students are trained from Kindergarten. It really helps us manage the class time.
Mary Jo says
I like this 3 step approach to stopping and transitions. I blow the whistle 3 times. The kids know that my whistle talks – when I blow it , my whistle says – stop look listen… the little ones actually hear it. (kinda like polar express).
thanks for your advice and your experiences – it makes my days seem normal…
Mary Jo
Ben Landers says
Good stuff – thanks for sharing