One of the most effective (yet overlooked) strategies in the classroom is making small stops between lessons. I call them STOP AND CHECK sessions. These mini checkpoints give teachers the chance to check for understanding, offer feedback, and reteach when necessary, before misconceptions snowball into confusion.
🧠Why These Stops Matter
Pausing between lessons allows you to ask:
- “Did they really get it?”
- “Do I need to clarify before we move on?”
- “Is someone quietly struggling and falling behind?”
Without these quick checks, we won’t be teaching “on schedule” but “in sync” with our students’ actual learning. And let’s be honest: most of us have moved on too quickly at some point, only to realize later that a few students were still processing step one while the rest of the class was already on step five.
🌀 Yes, It Might Get a Bit Messy
Sometimes when we stop to reteach or give one-on-one feedback, our attention naturally narrows to a single student or group. The classroom might get noisier, less structured and that can feel uncomfortable. But messy doesn’t mean unproductive.
The key is to prepare for these moments by giving the rest of the class purposeful, independent tasks:
- Reflection prompts
- Short skill practice
- Project work
- Mind maps
- Silent reading with a comprehension check
🛠️ How do I do this?
One strategy I love using is something I call a “Stop and Check” session. I usually prepare a short Canva presentation (PowerPoint works just as well!) with quick review slides that feel like mini-test questions — but without the pressure. I ask students to respond just as they would in a test situation. Their responses give me a clear picture of who’s grasping the topic and who might be falling behind.
✨ And here’s the key: I don’t grade these.
This isn’t about assessment — it’s about awareness. As teachers, we sometimes default to evaluation mode, but these check-ins are about pausing, noticing, and responding. They give me a valuable window into my students’ understanding, and they give them a safe space to make mistakes and ask questions.
Once I’ve gathered that insight, I use the moment to reteach, clarify, or give individual feedback so that everyone can move forward with confidence. It’s a little messy sometimes, but it’s always worth it. These moments of checking and recalibrating help make learning more responsive and inclusive.
đź’ˇ Want to see one of my Stop and Check sessions in action? [CLICK HERE]
đź’¬ In Short
Making time to stop, check, and listen is a powerful teaching move. It helps us catch misunderstandings early, support students meaningfully, and create a classroom culture that values reflection, growth, and connection over speed.
So next time you’re in the flow of a unit, don’t be afraid to press pause. Sometimes the most meaningful progress happens when we stop for a moment and truly see where our students are.
If you’re passionate about making your teaching more intentional, reflective, and student-centered — these are some of the kinds of strategies we dive deep into in my self-paced course:
👉 The Magical Teaching Course (MTC)
Inside the course, we explore how to:
- Create powerful feedback loops
- Design engaging, learner-centered lessons
- Use formative assessment meaningfully (without stress!)
- Bring more joy and autonomy into your teaching
Whether you’re just starting your journey or looking to refresh your practice with purpose, MTC is here to support and inspire you every step of the way.
🌟 Curious? Check it out here.
And if you’re looking for daily ideas, tips, and a community of creative educators, come hang out with me on Instagram:
📸 @theresourcefulenglishteacher
✨Because teaching doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be magical.