Line Activities, Entry and Exit Password

• While standing in line, if we are doing a bathroom break, and if my students have earned it, I do a line game called Statue. I learned this from my mentor teacher while student teaching. It is an easy, quick, and quiet way to calm students. The students stand in line, one behind the other. The teacher says, "1, 2, 3 STATUE!" and by three the students have to stand still, like a statue. I then call on the statue that is the best and most statue-like (which basically means absolutely no moving!). That person then comes up and then they are the statue caller. They choose the best statue and the game continues. The best thing about this game is that it doesn't require a teacher to monitor it and it is not a loud game. 

Exit Password Hand

• Last year with my kindergarteners, I did an entry and exit password. I think I will continue this year in 2nd grade. I laminated two different colored handprint cutouts and taped one on the wall inside my classroom and the other on the wall right next to my classroom door, at child level. Twice a week, I wrote a different sight word from that week's list on each handprint. In order to enter/leave, students had to read the sight word correctly and slap the handprint. My kids LOVED it! They also would complain if I forgot to put the sight words on the hands for that week! 
• It's such a fun way to reinforce learning. You can also do it for letters, numbers, colors, etc for younger kids.