Anticipatory Sets aren't warm-ups

One of the best forums I have found to connect with other teachers is Instagram. New teachers sometimes reach out to me through DMs. One asked me about the idea of anticipatory sets because she thought they were a warm-up (some people call them Do Nows). I realized one of the most important tools in a social studies teacher’s toolbox wasn’t being used.

Before I begin, please understand I’m a big believer in the Madeline Hunter lesson plan. I’m trying to get students to understand the first time. It provides a structure that students need at times. Do I use it every single day? No, but I can tell you when any lesson flops in my classroom I ask myself two questions. Did I check for understanding, and did I provide for guided practice?

In my classroom, we begin each day with a warm-up. It is usually a review of the day before. Then I tell students what we are going to learn today. Anticipatory sets are activities that activate prior knowledge or hook the student into learning. It should directly correlate to what students are about to know. It is the most underused activity in the classroom. I challenge myself and others to use it more.

So what does it look like? It can be easy as a survey, a video clip, or a graphic organizer. However, the very best one I have personally used was one used for appeasement. Before class I told a student beforehand we were going to do an activity together, but don’t tell his classmates. During the warm-up time, the student got up and knocked a pencil on the ground. I said, ‘That’s fine. Pick it up.” Then the student gets up and knocks another student’s paper on the ground. (At this time students are looking at me. Students know they are to be in their seats doing their warm-up silently). I said, “ Please pick it up.” The student proceeds to come to my desk and slam down a book. All eyes are on me and the student. Kids start yelling because they are upset. My student and I are laughing by this time. I tell the students it is ok, and I go on to explain appeasement. Then we proceeded to take notes. Was it the most entertaining lesson? No, but my students were completely hooked. Did my students remember appeasement and its connection to Britain and Germany? Yes, because that's the power of an anticipatory set.