Connect Three
By Leah A. Moorefield

As teachers, we all have those moments when we must be out of the classroom. We get the flu and have to go home, a parent springs a surprise visit and wants to have a conference immediately, a special education meeting takes 20 minutes of precious instructional time. As much as we want to be in the classroom, there are many times when we simply cannot be there. What do we do with our students when we aren't there? It's a lot of work to create easy substitute teacher lesson plans, and it's difficult to plan for the unexpected 20-minute absence or extra lesson that's thrown into our schedule due to a school performance. Still, with standards and testing, we must make sure that every moment in the classroom supports the curriculum and the standards. I recently created an activity sheet called Connect Three that provides a way to do just that.

Three columns, three rows. My Connect Three worksheet has three columns and three rows of activities. The top row has three different activities based on writing for the more literal student. The second row includes three artistic activities for those students who learn visually. Finally, the last row is for students who like to organize and make diagrams or outlines. Students draw a straight line through the three activities in the center row. Some students like variety and they can pick the three activities that they like by drawing vertical or diagonal lines. This allows students to have some control over how they learn or review the important content you are teaching.

A chance to review. This lesson works well because it allows students the opportunity to review essential information they've already studied. I've found that it also gives my students a chance to direct their own learning and use activities that they enjoy or excel at in the classroom. This lesson can be used over and over again using different content, and once students learn how it works, they'll need very little instruction. This is a wonderful thing to have if an aide or another teacher must cover your classroom at the last minute, or if you need to fill in a few extra minutes at the end of a class period. I have also used Connect Three as a homework assignment or missed work assignment.

Getting started. At the beginning of the year, I put the Connect Three worksheet on an overhead and demonstrate how to complete the activities. First, I give the sheet a title or topic. This topic will direct all of the activities. Then, I draw a straight line running through three boxes. Finally, I very quickly complete each of the items using information from one of my students' notebook. From then on, when I want my students to complete the worksheet, I simply assign a title and a place to find information. They might have to find information in their notebook, a textbook, a newspaper or any other relevant source. For the rest of the year, they need very little instruction because they know how to complete the worksheet on their own.

Other uses. As a teacher on a special education team, I am often pulled out of my classroom for I.E.P. meetings without any warning. I use the Connect Three worksheet in these situations because it's self-explanatory and provides a way for students to review relevant content or learn new material. In addition, if I have an unexpected absence and haven't prepared a specific lesson for the substitute, this serves as an emergency plan that is still relevant and reinforces current learning in the classroom. I simply leave a lesson plan and copies of the worksheet in a prominent place in my classroom and include instructions for the topic to be used.

The Connect Three worksheet can also be used as homework and students can be given a deadline to finish one or more activities. If a child misses a lesson, the teacher can assign additional reading and then have the student pick one or more activities to demonstrate mastery of that content. I also allow students to make up their missing homework assignments. For each missing assignment, my students choose and complete one of these activities; I just make sure the content corresponds to the content found in the missing assignment. Connect Three can also be used as an extension for students who finish their work early. I give extra credit for each box completed and turned in before the end of the quarter.

A moment's notice. This activity is always relevant because you can simply change the content used in the assignment. I might give students the sheet and ask them to complete activities around World War II. The next month, they might have to complete assignments pertaining to the Cold War. Science teachers can use Connect Three for specific topics and language arts teachers can have their students complete activities around a poem or a story recently read in class.

I keep a pile of Connect Three worksheets on my desk and can pass them out at a moment's notice if necessary. Thus, I'm never left frantically trying to find something with which to occupy my class and never have to assign them work that does not support my curriculum. With the limited time I have to teach and reinforce a tremendous amount of material, this worksheet ensures that I get through the material before being hit by state tests, regardless of whatever surprise interruptions might be thrown my way. Connect Three has been a valuable activity to teach and reinforce learning in my classroom – I hope it does the same for you.

Having to step out of your classroom unexpectedly will be worry-free next year thanks to the Connect Three Substitute Plan (above) and worksheet click here.

Leah A. Moorefield is a seventh-grade history teacher in Alexandria, VA. She is currently on long-term child care leave.

May, 2007, Vol.37, No.8