Timers are not for every student, but in my experience they have been incredibly helpful for estimating how long a task will take, completing an assignment in a timely manner and preventing procrastination. I have a variety of timers I like to use depending on the needs of the student and the type of assignment s/he is attempting to accomplish.
The Timers (clockwise from top left):
1. Reading light & timer – Set up to 90 minutes of reading time, after which, the light will turn off automatically. Great for younger children who are required to complete a certain amount of reading each night or older students who tend to fall asleep while reading, www.smarthome.com ($15.99).
2. Time Timer – This product is a fantastic visual representation of the amount of time allotted for any given task, www.timetimer.com ($30.00).
3. Sand Timer – A great source of false pressure, sand timers can motivate children to try and accomplish as much as in a limited amount of time.
4. Time Tracker – A fun product for younger children, the green, yellow and red sections can be programmed with sound effects to indicate that time is running out, www.target.com ($39.95).
5. Egg Timer – Another good source of false pressure for those students who struggle with procrastination and perform better when provided with a sense of urgency.
