It's near the end of the year, and the kids are all excited about school getting out. Translation: we still have work to do, but these days, it's difficult to get them settled down to the business of the classroom...especially after recess. But I was feeling inspired by my recent Lola success with whole group learning! So, I quickly tapped out a Lola routine for a "work with your seat-partner" Social Studies assignment about the Constitution. Just as the recess bell rang, I assigned the routine.
As the kids came in, they saw their assignment clearly projected on the big screen...and got right to work without my saying a word! No repeating over and over to take out their Social Studies books...no responding again and again to, "What are we supposed to do?" questions.
It was the smoothest transition from recess back to class I'd had all week. That works for me!