Ten-Po Shift

See how it works

At a glance

Time in class

Whole lesson

Prep

5 minutes: plan the lesson in 10-minute blocks.

Materials

A visible timer

Grouping

Changes by block

Use it when

Longer lessons or block periods

Why it works

Attention doesn’t drop off at one set minute. It drifts in and out in short cycles all lesson long. Research with classroom clickers found fewer of these lapses during active segments, like questions and demonstrations, and right after them. Switching formats regularly builds those active moments in.

1. Plan the blocksBefore classExample: teach (10), partner talk (10), practice (10), check (5).
2. Post the plan30 secondsWrite the blocks on the board.“Here’s our game plan. Watch the timer.”
3. Run each blockAbout 10 minutesStart the timer each time.
4. Shift30 seconds“Shift! Stand, stretch, and move to block two.”A quick physical reset helps.
5. Close with a quick check5 minutesOne question on paper or boards.

See it in action

Watch out for

• Blocks that are all you talking: at least half should be students working.
• Messy transitions: pair this card with Flow Finder.
• Rigid timing: 8–12 minutes is fine. The switch matters more than the exact number.

Level up

• Students choose the order of the blocks.
• Add a 60-second recall question at every shift.

Make it work for everyone

• Multilingual learners: use the same block icons every day so the plan is easy to read.
• IEP and 504 supports: the posted plan helps students who need predictability.
• Early finishers: keep a “bonus block” task ready.

Tech option

Put a timer on each slide that matches the block.

Resources