Pacing is a skill that can take time to refine. In this post, we’ll explore how one of the simplest tools—the timer—can become your most powerful ally in managing lesson flow. I have my cuppa ready.
Why Timers are a Teacher’s Best Friend
One of the most common issues I’ve seen when it comes to pacing is downtime. When a lesson runs too long or when the entire class is waiting for one student to finish, that is when distractions and behavioral problems occur. Additionally, it is difficult to more towards more student-led learning if a teacher is droning on and on in a lecture style; and I am embarrassed to admit that I’ve been there.
For students, timers can create structure, predictability, and a healthy sense of urgency. They help students build their own internal clocks, understand expectations, and manage their work time effectively. For teachers, timers are an objective co-pilot. They keep you on track, prevent you from spending too much time on one segment, and allow you to focus on instruction instead of constantly clock-watching.
Pacing in Practice
The Self-Contained Elementary Classroom (The Daily Marathon)
- The Challenge: Juggling multiple subjects, transitions, and varying energy levels throughout a long day.
- The Strategy: “Chunk and Transition.”
- For Learning Blocks: Use a visual timer to break down your 90-minute literacy block (e.g., 15 mins for a mini-lesson, 20 mins for the first rotation of centers, 20 mins for the second, 10 mins for independent reading, etc.).
- For Transitions: Use a short, fun 2-3 minute timer (or a specific song) for “clean up and line up.” This makes transitions a predictable game instead of a chaotic scramble.
- For Stamina: Use a timer to build independent work stamina. Start with 5 minutes of quiet reading and celebrate, then gradually increase the time over several weeks.
I understand that this should be part of the planning process. There is no doubt in my mind that teachers work hard to pace out the day. However, time is a weird thing. In the moment, it is easy to lose track when trying to cover a topic or if students finish something quickly that was anticipated to take longer. Using a timer helps you see exactly how much time to start allotting for blocks of learning. I really like the idea of building stamina with timers. It goes the other way as well. Show the students that as their skills grow, they are able to complete tasks more quickly.
The 45-Minute Period (The Bell-to-Bell Sprint)
- The Challenge: Getting from the warm-up to the exit ticket without a single wasted minute.
- The Strategy: “Micro-Pacing the Lesson.”
- 5 Minutes: A timer for the Do Now/Warm-Up is non-negotiable. This activity can actually begin as soon as students enter the room and sit. The timer can be shortened to take up less time after the bell rings.
- 10-15 Minutes: A timer for your Direct Instruction or modeling. This forces you to be concise and prevents lectures from running long. This is key if you are operating inside a Gradual Release Model of “I Do,” “We Do,” and “You Do.”
- 15-20 Minutes: A timer for the main Student Activity (independent or group practice). This is where the learning is solidified. This gives you a moment to actively monitor and see what students are understanding.
- 5 Minutes: A timer for the Wrap-up/Exit Ticket. This ensures you have time for closure and a quick formative assessment.
Now, sometimes the 45 minute period is not enough for a more lengthy lesson. I get that. However, the importance of timers still stands. It is about using the time within the period as effectively as possible while creating optimal learning for the students. The student activity time is important because the students feel the urgency in using their time to complete the task rather than waiting around for something and causing disruption.
The 90-Minute Block (The Endurance Race)
- The Challenge: Maintaining focus and energy; avoiding student (and teacher!) fatigue.
- The Strategy: “The 20-Minute Rule.” Break the block into 15-20 minute chunks, changing the activity with each new timer.
- 10 mins: Warm-Up/Review.
- 20 mins: Teacher-Led Instruction/New Concept.
- 20 mins: Collaborative Practice (e.g., think-pair-share, station work).
- 15 mins: Independent Application/Practice.
- 15 mins: Project-Based Work or a different modality (e.g., watching a short video, peer review).
- 10 mins: Share-Out, Clean-Up, and Exit Ticket.
I actually taught on a block schedule. Timers are so necessary. Otherwise, you feel every single one of those 90 minutes. All the reasons for using timers is the same as in the two scenarios above. The trap I fell into a lot was spending too much time on lecture because I did have a whole 90 minutes with my students. The class time should be broken into opportunities for student learning. Timers keep the teacher from wearing themselves out by talking for an hour and then running out of time for students to complete learning tasks.
Choosing the Right Timekeeper for the Job
Visual timers show time elapsing for both students and teachers. A large, physical timer would do the job. Additionally, YouTube also has thousands of visual countdowns. It is easy to search “15 minute timer” and have a variety populate. You can also embed these YouTube timers into Slides.
When it comes to Google Slides, I really like using the timers in the Stickity extension. They are visually appealing and not as abrupt as some timers found on YouTube. Additionally, Slides Timer is a unique way to embed a small timer in Slides. There are different ways to use this particular timer. You can count down or count up. It can also show the current time on each Slide so you can quickly check where you are in a presentation and check pacing.
Classroom Screen is also a great option. This does occupy the whole presentation screen, but it comes with all sorts of cool widgets to help with organizing the learning including a timer. This is a freemium service, but you are able to use the timer with the free version.
Finally, I like the idea of a “hidden timer” – music. Knowing the length of a particular song or making a playlist that runs a certain amount of time is a great way to time a learning activity or block especially if you are concerned that students may be watching a countdown or be anxious initially of the idea of running a timer.
Making Time Your Ally
Pacing is a skill developed through intentional practice, and timers are the perfect tool to support that practice. I encourage you to try using a timer for just one part of your lesson—your warm-up, a transition, or independent practice. You’ll be amazed at how it empowers both you and your students to make the most of every precious minute.
Do you have other ways you time classroom lessons to help with pacing? I would love it if you shared in the comments.
An Educational Cup of Tea 
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