With the STAAR retest right around the corner, we have several finished essays laying around that need some reflection. I don't know about you, but re-entry into writing needs lots of of teacher prompting. Clocking was a good fit for us last week.
Clocking is traditionally used for revision. I designed mine more for inventory. I wanted students to walk away knowing that Ba-Da-Bings, pitchforks, complex sentences, etc. weren't a "one and done" technique. They are signs of good writing and should be used throughout an essay.
The class period before, students completed a literary story. I redistributed their writing, along with a clip board, highlighter, and clocking sheet. Then we numbered off 1, 2, 1, 2...you get the picture.
*If space allows, arrange desks in a circle (like a clock) with a smaller circle inside, facing the outer circle.
**In my case, space did not allow. So I sent my #1 students out in the hallway and told them to sit along the wall. Then my #2 students were sent out and told to sit across from one of their classmates. Digital clocking (ba dum cha)!
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| The Literary Clocking Sheet Looking for: Where in the character standing?, What do they see?, What are they thinking?, Pitchforks, Dialogue |
Clocking allows for timely feedback that students can quickly apply to their writing. (Do you have __ or not? If not, add it!) Students are engaged because they are only looking for one thing for a finite period of time. I loved that it changed our scenery, kept students moving, and allowed them to share and respond to one another without using a ton of class time. That, my friends, is a winner!
Download my literary and expository clocking sheets for F.R.E.E.E. here.