Benefits of a Daily Warm Up You Need to Know

The bell rings and students hustle to their seats, fearful that they will be the last one and get called out in front of their peers. On their desks they find their first bright white warm up of the year. I wait silently in the corner for the magic to happen, but instead students just ignore the paper and start chatting with friends. This was the moment that my principal walked in. I felt flush with emotion, but mostly I was mortified.

My first year teaching using a warm up was pretty worthless. I was using a warm up that didn't seem to fit the needs of my students at all, and it was a waste of time to be honest. I didn't take the time to set my expectations, and I certainly didn't show them that I valued it. Instead, it was something I did because I was told that I had to, not because it had any benefit for my students. It was the worst.

Using a daily warm up in the classroom can be a wonderful thing, but they can also be a real pain. Constantly making sure copies are made, students are engaged, and ensuring that the time is well used can really put a strain on a teacher.

Then I started to think of warm ups as an integral part of our day. When I placed importance on them, and used them consistently my students saw their value as well. I quickly determined a few key benefits of using a daily warm up that I wish someone would have told me on day one.

They Provide Focus and Structure

By starting each day or lesson with a daily warm up you are telling students, and yourself, that it is time to focus in on the subject matter at hand. Whether you are starting the school day or switching gears from one subject to another, a good daily warm up can serve as this transition and allow students' minds to get in gear. 

We all need a little more structure in our lives. Students and teachers alike can have a hard time functioning when not in a structured environment. By starting every day or lesson with a daily warm up completed in the same way a little bit of structure is gained while maintaining the novelty of new content each day. 

They Start Conversations and Spark Interests

A great daily warm up will stretch the brains of your students. Yes, they absolutely include spiral review from your content area, but sometimes they also include a little something, something that your students don't already know. 

These questions or prompts provide students with the opportunity to explore the content either through research, conversation with their peers, or a class discussion. It is often these questions that may spark an interest or passion in students that they want to pursue further. 

They Work Like Glue

It is said that you have to hear something three to five times before it sticks. By using daily warm ups you will go over the same content that you are teaching again giving it another chance to stick with your students. 

Daily warm ups also give students to stick together information learned in different units. For example, you may be studying European Explorers in history when a warm up question comes up over Native Americans' way of life. Students may make connections between how their way of life changed, or you could introduce the conversation. This helps history units to be more cohesive and less of separate time periods. 

They Are Like a Time Capsule

I love, love, love to have students keep their daily warm ups from the whole year whether they do it in a journal, or I print them out, hole punch them, and put them in a bradded folder. This is because it gives me (and the student and their parents) the opportunity to see how far they have come in a year. 

Whether warm ups include a daily word problem, a journal prompt, or answering questions there is sure to be growth throughout the year, and it is simply amazing to have it all at your fingertips! 

Pro Tips for a Successful Daily Warm Up

1. Get Organized-
   I prefer to print and bind (usually in a bradded folder) a years worth of warm ups before school even starts, because simply it is one thing less I have to do during the crazy times. This also means that I won't be struggling for content throughout the year.
   I have also printed one copy of a warm up to use with the projector and had students complete warm ups in their journals. This works too!
   The moral of this story is to make sure you have your whole year's worth of warm ups covered so that you are running around like crazy looking for daily content!
2. Value the Time-
   Warm ups are worth it and should be treated as such. They do not have to take a long time, but the time you spend on them should be valued and not rushed. 
3. Structure, Structure, Structure
   Take the time up front to show students your expectations. I find it best to do the first week (or two) together and show students that again, this time is valuable and worth it. 

Ready to Get Your Daily Warm Up On?

If you are ready to get started with your warm up routine I have daily warm ups for you available in U.S. History, Texas History, and Word Problem of the Day! Click on over to check them out for yourself!