Bell Ringers: Yay or Nay?

Over the years I have strayed away from your typical bell ringer at the beginning of class.  In my first couple of years I followed what most of my co-workers were doing as I tried to navigate through my first couple of years in teaching.  

My first swap into my bell ringers was called Motivational Monday.  I found that starting off the week with a math problem was a STRUGGLE for my students – and honestly, a little bit for me.  We were starting off a new week, we were trying to get back into routine, and this method was just not IT for my classroom.  I started to find motivational videos between 2 minutes and 5 minutes that could start off our week on the right tone.  They vary in time, content, and characters.  I find that this is the perfect transition from weekend back to class – and it helps me get my act together as well! 

My next swap was called chutes and ladders.  This is a multiple class game where students have to collectively get a question correct in order to roll the dice.  Sometimes the questions are math related  (questions pertaining to the content at hand) and other times the questions are just random & fun (Name 20 types of candy in 2 minutes).  I turned one of my bulletin boards into a giant game board with ladders, slides, and mini prizes along the way.  The class has to get a majority correct in order to roll.  First team to the finish line gets a class party.  This opener keeps students WAY MORE INVESTED than I could have imagined.  The earliest I have had a class reach the finish line is in March, and the latest was end of May – where I just had to crown the team who made it the furthest. 

My last swap into my bell ringer is called Friday Fun Kahoot.  I started to run this during Covid as a way to get to know my students a little better remotely.  I picked 10-15 question kahoots on random, but fun, topics.  Some of their favorites are “Music from the 2000s” or “Disney Channel Throwbacks”.  This may eat up the first 10 minutes of class BUT I have found it to be so worth it.  The students live for it.  They can’t wait to come to class.  They are devastated when we have an assessment that day or I am not there. (see email picture below).  I have gotten to know my students so much better by using this bell ringer, as it introduces topics we wouldn’t otherwise have talked about.  The last Friday Fun Kahoot of the year is called “How well do you know Mrs. Finley?” and it is the perfect sendoff.   

I am currently working on a list of working links to give you all of the FFKs that I use, but I will update that information here when it is ready!

Of the two remaining days, one of them is shortened periods due to teacher meetings, so we usually get right into the lesson/activity for the day.  This leaves one day a week where my classes have a typical “bell ringer” question.  Sometimes we do it, sometimes we don’t!  I choose what is right for the classroom at the moment. 

I believe that these swaps have made students engaged in class right from the beginning and honestly make them encouraged to come to class.  It allows us time to have fun together, get motivated together, and most importantly – ready to do math together.