7 Great Ideas for What to Do with Early Finishers in the Classroom
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Managing early finishers in your classroom can be a little bit like having the fastest runner in a relay race— while everyone else is still running, they’re already at the finish line waiting for what’s next. The key is to channel their enthusiasm and focus into other activities that are interactive, purposeful, and self-directed so these students stay engaged. Check out these 7 great ideas for what to do with early finishers in your classroom:
Why Have a Plan for Early Finishers?
Having a plan for early finishers not only helps them stay engaged but also minimizes distractions for the other students in your classroom. When these students know that they have meaningful, fun tasks waiting for them, they’re more likely to stay productive.
You’ll also spend less time answering “What should I do now?” for the hundredth time!
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What to Do with Early Finishers
Let your early finishers choose what they can do next once they’ve finished the class assignment or activity. Create a visual list or chart of appropriate choices.
Call it the “Next Step Choice Menu”.
Putting them in charge of their “next step” has several benefits for early finishers AND the class:
- Encourages independence
- Increases motivation
- Supports individual learning styles and preferences
- Develops decision-making skills
- Reduces classroom disruptions
- Maximizes learning time
- Fosters a positive classroom environment
- Promotes creativity
By providing students with structured but flexible options, you’re not only meeting the needs of each of your early finishers but also creating a more student-centered learning environment for everyone.
Consider these 7 options when creating your Next Step Choice Menu:
1. Review Assignments
First, teach students to double-check their work. This should always be the first choice for early finishers! This step encourages students to develop attention to detail as they check for errors or places that can be improved.
Keep this option engaging by encouraging students to become “Finished Work Detectives” as they review their assignments with an extra critical eye.
Provide them with colored highlighters or a small magnifying glass to make the revision process more interactive and fun!
2. Logic Puzzles & Brain Teasers
After they’ve reviewed their work, logic puzzles and brain teasers are a wonderful option for early finishers.
These activities challenge students to think critically and practice problem-solving skills— and are just lots of FUN!
The Year Long Logic Puzzle & Brain Teaser Set includes a variety of options, so your students won’t ever get bored:
- 180 Daily Logic Puzzles
- 30 missing letter puzzles
- 30 word-play puzzles
- 30 sudoku puzzles
- 30 logic puzzles
- 30 riddles to be solved
- 30 pattern puzzles
- Puzzle of the Day Workbook
Store these puzzles in a designated folder or basket near your Next Steps Choice Menu so students know exactly where to find them!
3. Independent Reading
Independent reading is another great option for early finishers! This choice encourages a love of reading and independence by allowing students to explore topics and genres that interest them.
Students can visit your classroom library, review previously taught social skills stories, or continue reading books they’ve checked out from the school library.
4. Creative Writing
You can also let students unleash their imaginations through creative writing activities. This option not only keeps early finishers engaged but also builds storytelling and language skills.
Use done-for-you creative writing prompts like those in the Question of the Day resource.
5. Enrichment Activities
Early finishers usually love a challenge, so enrichment activities are another engaging option to include in your Next Steps Choice Menu!
Think about hands-on, open-ended STEM or art activities like:
- Creative construction toys
- Geoboards
- Play-Doh
- Pattern Blocks
- I Spy Picture Riddle Books
- Colored Pencils & Crayons
6. Be a Peer Leader
Also, encourage early finishers to be peer leaders by assisting their classmates who need extra help.
Peer leaders can:
- Read aloud or clarify instructions for their friends
- Remind classmates of strategies to use
- Review tricky problems
- Provide simple tech assistance like volume control, plugging in devices, and accessing online resources
Remind early finishers that their job is NOT to give their classmates the answers but to help them find the answers on their own.
Being a peer leader promotes leadership, empathy, and communication skills in these students.
*You may want to assign early finishers to specific classmates who usually need additional help.
7. Be a Quiet Classroom Helper
Early finishers can also choose to be a quiet classroom helper— the key here is QUIET. They cannot complete classroom jobs that will distract their peers like sweeping under desks or sharpening pencils.
Quiet classroom helpers can:
- Straighten up books in the classroom library
- Pick up supply areas
- Put away unused tech devices like headphones or laptops
Keep it Fresh
Variety is the spice of life, and it’s also the secret to keeping early finishers motivated all year long! Occasionally rotate the enrichment activities, puzzles, and writing prompts you have available to keep things exciting for them.
Deciding what to do with early finishers doesn’t need to be a stressor for you. By offering structured, engaging activities to them, you’ll help these students stay on task and enjoy every bit of their school day while ensuring the rest of your class can focus on learning too!
Don’t forget to grab the Yearlong Logic Puzzles & Brain Teasers Set to engage your early finishers in lots of brain-boosting fun!
Let me know if you have any questions about anything you see here. Don’t forget to pin this post to refer to it later!
Other posts you may enjoy:
8 Best Brain Building Toys To Make Indoor Recess Engaging and Fun
EASY Action Steps to Strengthen Executive Functioning Skills in Children
Teaching Good Sportsmanship in the Elementary Classroom in 10 Easy Steps
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Diane Romo
Thank you for being here! I love sharing ideas with other teachers! If you are looking to enhance your teaching and build a positive classroom community, you have come to the right place!
