Pacing: The Rhythm of the Classroom

This PowerPoint presentation with leader notes were developed by the Davis School District, Farmington, UT Curriculum and Instruction Department for school leaders to use for professional development. Each slide offers ideas to improve pacing, vary the format of activities, and hold student attention.

 

Implementation

One best-practice for teachers to improve pacing is to take planned breaks between different activities. Ensuring that activities begin and end crisply and clearly, rather than melding together, can have enhance pacing. Because beginnings and endings are perceived by students as reference points or markers in a lesson, making sure that they are clear to students enables them to sense that a lesson is progressing and gives them a positive sense of pace.

1. This technique has been referred to as “bookending” or “brightening lines” because learning segments are clearly delineated by the teacher.
2. Lines can be brightened by reminding students of what just has been learned, or what is about to be learned, and giving them very clear timeframes.
3. This helps them focus on the fact that they are learning, and doing so at a good pace.
4. The more specific you are, the clearer your “bookends” or “bright lines” will be; you may even want to tell students they will have 2 ½ minutes rather than 3, or 7 minutes rather than 10.
5. A good model for this is to study how a nightly news program is scheduled and implemented to keep the viewer's attention.

Classroom Management

Good pacing means students recognize they are learning and feel that the material is moving fairly quickly.