If you’re a teacher prepping for back-to-school season, you’re probably thinking about systems that will keep your classroom running smoothly. One of the most powerful, low-effort tools you can have in your routine?
A solid warm-up strategy.
Psst… You might also know warm-ups by other names:
Bell Ringers, Do Now, Quick Starts, First Five, Brain Boosters, Entry Tickets, Kick-Off Questions, Morning Work, Start-It-Ups, Activator Tasks, ELA Starters, or even just “the thing we do when we walk in.” 😄
No matter what you call them, the goal is the same:
Start strong, build consistency, and sneak in powerful skill practice from the minute students enter the room.
Now back to it. When done right, ELA warm-ups:
- Create a calm, focused start to class
- Reinforce key reading and writing skills
- Provide quick insight into student progress
- Offer daily exposure to test-style questions (without the pressure!)
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to set up an ELA warm-up routine that works all year long, supports your test prep goals, and gives you a moment to breathe — all in the first 5–10 minutes of class.
1. Start the Routine on Day One
Warm-ups only become automatic when they’re introduced from the very beginning. Start using them on the first day of school so students learn: this is how we begin ELA.
Keep it simple:
In upper grades, warm-ups are especially helpful for creating structure as students transition between classes. You might project the warm-up on the board before the bell rings, so students know exactly what to do the moment they walk in.
Or — if you prefer paper — maybe you’ve trained students to grab their warm-up from a bin or tray near the door. It becomes a habit: walk in, grab the warm-up, sit down, get started. No questions asked.
Using digital warm-ups? That routine can be just as smooth. Students learn:
💻 “As soon as I walk in, I open my Chromebook, log into Google Classroom, and start the assigned warm-up.”
When these expectations are taught early and reinforced consistently, students settle into class with purpose — and you can take attendance, check in with a student, or just breathe for a moment.
But in an elementary classroom — where students aren’t changing rooms but are shifting subjects — the routine may look a little different.
You might signal the transition from math to ELA with a specific cue:
🔔 Ringing a chime or bell
🗣 Using a consistent phrase like, “Time to switch your brains to reading!”
📽 Projecting the warm-up on the boardStudents know that signal means it’s time to pull out their ELA folder with pre-printed warm-ups or log into their Chromebooks to complete the day’s digital version you’ve already assigned.
Over time, this simple ritual becomes second nature — no reminders, no redirection. Just a smooth, calm shift into learning mode.
Example: On Day 1, use a quick “get to know you” reading blurb with a single multiple-choice question. It’s light, low-pressure, and gets them used to the format.
Pro Tip: Use the same location for the warm-up every day (on the board, in their folder, on a digital slide) so there’s no confusion.
2. Set a Visible Timer
Keeping warm-ups short and structured is key. A timer not only creates urgency — it also builds routine. Most teachers find 5–8 minutes is the sweet spot for focus without dragging things out.
Example: Use a digital timer projected on the board and say, “You have 6 minutes. Start now.” This trains students to work with purpose and mirrors timed test settings.
Bonus Tip: Try pairing the timer with calming instrumental music. Playing quiet background music can help students settle into the task, reduce side conversations, and create a peaceful classroom atmosphere — especially during transition times.
Whether it’s piano, lo-fi beats, or gentle nature sounds, the right playlist can signal, “It’s time to focus.”
3. Keep the Format Predictable
The best warm-up routines are boring — in a good way! Consistency gives students the confidence to work independently without needing constant instructions.
Whether you:
- Print and pass out the warm-up,
- Have a binder of weekly warm-ups,
- Or assign them in Google Forms —
Keep the structure the same so students know exactly what to expect.
Example: When your warm-up follows the same structure each day — with a consistent timing and location — students quickly learn what to expect. The routine becomes automatic, and they transition into ELA time calmly and efficiently.
4. Focus on One Skill Per Week
Instead of bouncing from inference to grammar to theme in a single week, simplify your planning and student focus by honing in on one core skill at a time.
This allows you to:
- Align your warm-ups with your current lesson or unit
- Pre-teach or reinforce what’s coming up
- Track mastery more clearly
Example: During a week focused on revising, all five daily warm-ups could include short revising tasks tied to student writing samples.
This method supports most state assessments, including STAAR, MAP, SBAC, CAASPP, and FAST, which are all built around specific, standards-aligned skills.
5. Add a 1-Minute Share or Debrief
After the timer goes off, take just one minute to review. You can:
- Have a student explain their thinking
- Model the correct answer aloud
- Show how to find text evidence
This tiny routine builds accountability and reinforces deeper learning.
Example: “Turn to your partner and compare answers. Who chose something different — and why?”
Tip: Let students occasionally lead the debrief for added engagement.
6. Model Strategic Thinking Regularly
Every few days, model how you would answer a warm-up question — especially ones that reflect real test formats like multi-select or short constructed response.
When you talk through your thinking, students learn how to break down questions, eliminate wrong answers, and justify their responses.
Example: “Let’s look at this multi-select question together. The first choice sounds good, but does it actually match the text? Let’s reread the second paragraph.”
These moments add up. When students see test-like formats throughout the year, they’re much more confident during actual assessments.
7. Choose Questions That Reflect Real Assessments
Warm-ups are a great way to normalize test formats — especially when the questions mirror what students will see on actual exams.
Include:
- Multiple Choice
- Multi-Select
- Multi-Part (EBSR)
- Short Constructed Responses
- Highlighted Text (Hot Text)
- Text Entry
- Inline Choice
- Editing & Revising Questions
Example: Use a highlight-the-text question once a week so students get used to interacting with digital texts in a test-like way.
Remember: Practice doesn’t need to be stressful to be effective.
Want It Done For You?
If you love the idea of a strong warm-up routine but don’t want to build 180 days of content from scratch — I’ve got you.
My ELA Warm-Up Bundles are:
- Skill-based and flexible for any scope and sequence
- Leveled for built-in differentiation
- Aligned with test-style questions used across many states
- Available in both printable and Google Forms formats
Ready to stop stressing about your first 10 minutes? Click Below to grab the your complete warm-up bundle by grade level.
Build the habit now, and it’ll carry you through the entire year — with stronger skills, smoother routines, and less stress for everyone.
You’ve got this. 💛
