Step Sheets for Success - EPI's Launch Your Classroom!

Summary

The video script introduces a 'step sheet' as an effective educational tool for managing collaborative group work and independent learning. It's a simple, three-column paper where the left column serves as a checkoff box, the middle lists the specific steps students should follow in a predetermined order, and the right estimates the time for each step. This method helps keep students on task, manage time effectively, and enhances neural activity. Initially, educators guide students through the process, but eventually, they are encouraged to create their own step sheets, fostering procedural knowledge and executive functioning skills. Teachers report noticeable improvements in behavior within six weeks and academic outcomes within four weeks, highlighting the method's long-term benefits.

Takeaways

• 📝 A 'step sheet' is a protocol used to guide students through tasks in a structured manner.
• 👥 The step sheet can be used for both collaborative groups and individual learning centers.
• 📋 The step sheet consists of three columns: a checkoff box, the steps to be taken, and the time allocation for each step.
• 🗓 The middle column outlines the exact steps and order for students to follow, which the teacher has pre-determined.
• ⏳ The right column is for time management, helping students to keep on task and understand the duration of each step.
• 💡 The step sheet helps to combat issues like procrastination and overwhelm by giving students a clear timeline for their work.
• 👀 Teachers can use the step sheet to monitor if groups are on or off task by referring to it during instruction.
• 📈 As students become accustomed to using step sheets, they can transition to creating their own, which enhances their procedural knowledge.
• 📚 Teachers can debrief with students to discuss the steps and time allocation for a new task, fostering a deeper understanding of the process.
• 🔑 The step sheet is a tool to improve behavior and academic outcomes, with noticeable changes seen within weeks of consistent use.
• 🚀 The step sheet is not a quick fix but a methodical approach that requires initial effort for significant long-term benefits.

Q & A

What is a step sheet in the context of teaching?

A step sheet is a simple organizational tool used in teaching, particularly for collaborative groups. It consists of a list with three columns on a piece of paper: a checkoff box, the exact steps students should follow in the order they should be done, and the time each step should take.

How can a step sheet be used in collaborative groups?

A step sheet can be used to guide students through their collaborative tasks. It helps in organizing the work, keeping students on task, and managing time effectively. Each step is checked off as completed, ensuring the group stays on track.

Can a step sheet be used for independent work as well?

Yes, a step sheet is not limited to collaborative groups. It can also be used for independent work at learning centers or individual desks, helping students to structure their tasks and manage their time effectively.

What is the purpose of having a time allocation for each step in the step sheet?

The time allocation for each step in the step sheet serves to keep students on task, ensure the task flows smoothly, and increase neural activity. It helps students to understand the concept of time and prevents them from being overwhelmed or procrastinating.

How does the step sheet help with student behavior and academic outcomes?

The step sheet helps students develop a sense of time management and organizational skills, which can lead to improved behavior and academic performance. Teachers have reported a noticeable improvement in behavior within six weeks and academic outcomes within four weeks.

What is the role of the timekeeper in a collaborative group using a step sheet?

The timekeeper in a collaborative group is responsible for managing the time for each step as outlined in the step sheet. They ensure that the group stays within the allocated time for each task, helping to maintain focus and efficiency.

How can teachers introduce blank step sheets to students after they are familiar with the process?

Teachers can introduce blank step sheets by giving students the activity they will be doing and asking them to think about and fill in the steps and time allocations themselves. This encourages students to transfer the procedural knowledge they have gained to a new context.

What is the significance of the checkoff box in the step sheet?

The checkoff box in the step sheet serves as a visual indicator of progress. As students complete each step, they can check it off, providing a sense of accomplishment and helping to keep the group motivated and on track.

How does the step sheet help with executive functioning in students?

The step sheet aids in developing executive functioning by helping students to plan, organize, and manage their time. It trains them to break down tasks into manageable steps and to estimate the time required for each, which are key components of executive functioning.

What is the recommended approach for teachers when students are off task during collaborative group work?

When students are off task, teachers should calmly point to the step sheet and ask what was done last and what needs to be done next. This redirects the focus from the students to the organizing principle, guiding them back to the task at hand.

How long does it typically take to see improvements in behavior and academic outcomes when using step sheets?

Teachers have reported seeing a definite improvement in student behavior in about six weeks and improvements in academic outcomes in about four weeks when using step sheets consistently.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Introducing the Step Sheet for Collaborative Learning

The video script introduces a teaching tool called a 'step sheet' that simplifies the process of collaborative learning. It's a straightforward method involving a three-column paper where the left column serves as a checkoff box, the middle column outlines the specific steps students should follow in a predetermined order, and the right column indicates the time each step should take. This tool is not only for collaborative groups but also for learning centers and independent work. The step sheet helps keep students on task, manage time effectively, and reduce overwhelm. Teachers can initially use the step sheet to guide students, and later, provide blank ones to encourage students to develop their procedural knowledge and time management skills.

Keywords

💡Step Sheet

A step sheet is a tool used in educational settings to outline and organize tasks or activities. It typically consists of a list with columns for checkoff boxes, steps, and time allocation. In the video's context, the step sheet is used to guide students through collaborative group work, ensuring they follow a structured process and manage their time effectively. It's a simple yet effective method for teaching students how to work together and stay on task.

💡Collaborative Groups

Collaborative groups refer to a method of learning where students work together in teams to achieve a common goal. In the script, the speaker discusses the use of step sheets with collaborative groups to enhance their organizational skills and time management. The step sheet helps guide the group through the tasks they need to complete, fostering cooperation and shared responsibility among group members.

💡Checkoff Box

A checkoff box is a feature commonly used in lists and forms to indicate the completion of an item or task. In the script, the left column of the step sheet includes checkoff boxes for the teacher or students to mark off as they complete each step. This visual confirmation helps to keep the group organized and focused on the task at hand.

💡Exact Steps

The term 'exact steps' refers to the specific actions or procedures that need to be followed in a particular order. The speaker emphasizes the importance of pre-planning these steps and including them in the middle column of the step sheet. This helps students understand the sequence of tasks and ensures a smooth workflow during collaborative activities.

💡Time Management

Time management is the process of allocating and budgeting time effectively to accomplish tasks. In the video script, the right column of the step sheet is dedicated to indicating how much time each step should take. This helps students to pace themselves and avoid procrastination or feeling overwhelmed by the workload.

💡Neural Activity

Neural activity refers to the functioning of the neurons in the brain, which is stimulated through engagement in structured and goal-oriented tasks. The script suggests that using step sheets can increase neural activity by providing a clear structure for students to follow, thus enhancing their cognitive engagement and learning.

💡Timekeeper

A timekeeper is a person responsible for keeping track of time during an activity. In the context of the video, each collaborative group has a timekeeper who ensures that the group stays within the time limits set for each step on the step sheet. This role is crucial for maintaining the group's focus and efficiency.

💡Procedural Knowledge

Procedural knowledge is the understanding of how to perform certain tasks or procedures. The speaker mentions that creating step sheets increases the teacher's procedural knowledge, which is then transferred to the students. As students become familiar with the step sheet process, they learn to plan and execute tasks more effectively.

💡Blank Step Sheets

Blank step sheets are templates without pre-filled steps, given to students once they are familiar with the process. The script describes a teaching activity where students are handed blank step sheets and asked to plan out their own steps and time allocations for an activity. This encourages students to apply what they have learned about organization and time management.

💡Executive Functioning

Executive functioning refers to the set of cognitive skills that allow individuals to plan, initiate, monitor, and adjust behaviors to achieve a goal. The script mentions that using step sheets helps develop students' executive functioning by teaching them to manage their time and tasks effectively, which is a critical skill for academic and life success.

💡Academic Outcomes

Academic outcomes are the measurable results of learning, such as grades, test scores, and overall understanding of a subject. The speaker in the script notes that using step sheets leads to an improvement in academic outcomes within four weeks, indicating that this method has a positive impact on students' learning and performance.

Highlights

Introduction of a step sheet as a simple protocol for teaching

Versatility of the step sheet for both collaborative groups and individual learning

Use of a three-column paper to organize steps, roles, and time management

Emphasis on pre-planning the steps and order for students to follow

Inclusion of time allocation for each step to enhance focus and productivity

Addressing students' lack of time management skills

Implementation of a timekeeper within each group to monitor progress

Utilization of a visible clock to keep the class aware of time

Guidance on how to redirect off-task groups using the step sheet

The importance of checking off completed steps for a sense of accomplishment

Transition to blank step sheets to foster procedural knowledge in students

Encouraging students to think critically about the order and timing of tasks

Proximity teaching to support students struggling with time management

Observed behavioral improvements within six weeks of using the step sheet

Academic outcomes improvement noticed within four weeks

Acknowledgment that the step sheet method requires initial effort but yields significant benefits

Transcripts

another protocol is what we refer to as

a step sheet this is another one of

those things that's so simple I wish I

had when I first began teaching so

there's different ways you can use the

step sheet you can definitely use it

with collaborative groups but I want to

also say that this isn't just a

collaborative group tool you could use

this in your learning centers you could

use this when students are doing

independent work but I'm going to share

it with you right now in terms of

collaborative grouping so very simple

just think of a list okay and a three

column paper if the column on the left

is your checkoff box I get to check off

the steps when I'm done the middle

column are the exact steps I want the

students to do and the order I want them

to do it in

I've pre thought that out the whole time

if step one is assign roles you know in

your group that's what's going to be a

step one it's not going to be what the

first step of the actual learning task

is I'm going to start with the

organizational tasks the third column

the column on the right is how much time

should each of those steps take again

keeping kids on task

keeping the task flowing and increasing

neural activity here because most of

your students have zero concept of time

right they think oh this isn't going to

take me any time so they push it all off

to the end or oh my gosh there's so much

work to do

I just I can't even get started because

I'm overwhelmed with the work their head

games get in the way so the step and how

much time is going to take so the your

collaborative groups have this step

sheet in front of them

there's the directions here's how much

time each one should take you have a

timekeeper in each group and you've got

the big time on the on your smart board

in front of you the overhead in front of

you however you're showing

clock is ticking and that's all arranged

you turn your back this is in the

beginning when you're still teaching

your students how to work in

collaborative groups you turn your back

the group is on task or off task if

you're like most of the classrooms I'm

in the group is off task so all you need

to do is very calmly go over and say

point to the step sheet right it's not

about the kids now it's about the

organizing principle in front of us what

did you do last and one of the students

points to it or tells you okay what do

you have to do next

it's just that question that guides

students into what they're supposed to

be doing every time they get done with

the step they check it off there's that

squad square root of dopamine after a

while when your students get used to

this a great teaching activity is to

then hand out blank step sheets because

when you're creating the step sheets

you're increasing your procedural

knowledge right we want that to be a

skill that gets transferred to the

students so at one point you might say

okay here's your blank step sheets this

is the activity that you're going to be

doing and again it can be a

collaborative group it can be an

independent activity at their desk what

do you think we would do first what do

you think we would do second third

fourth you know so you're doing this

general debrief with the clip how much

time do you think each one of those

steps is going to take and you do it

that way after you do that and you think

your students have grasped how to do

that

then you hand out blank step sheets and

you say okay boys and girls these are

act this is what you're going to be

doing fill out your step sheets and then

you just walk around and you get in

proximity of the students who you think

may still be struggling with that

concept of time because that's what

you're doing that's executive

functioning our teachers who use this

tell us that they see a difference in

behavior in six weeks this isn't an

overnight trick you know this isn't

instant pudding it takes time but they

see

a definite improvement in behavior in

six weeks and an improvement in academic

outcomes in four weeks so it takes work

in the beginning but the payoff is is

huge