Ķvlog

Teaching Video

Teachers, Try This: Help Your Students Embrace Boredom

By Lauren Santucci — March 9, 2023 4:45
Margaret v2.00 02 29 18.Still002 BS
Email Copy URL

“I’m bored.”

It’s a phrase that regularly comes out of the mouths of students.

But this Toronto teacher has found a solution. Through a 10-minute “nothing period,” in which her class is quiet and seated, Margaret Fong’s students have learned how to occupy themselves and fill their time when they have nothing to do. Some have invented games or drawn comic books; others have come to relish the opportunity to just take a breath. Fong has seen how this experience has had a positive impact on students. It’s also been particularly helpful in her split classroom, enabling her to keep one grade occupied while she works with the other.

Here, she explains how she’s incorporated this practice into her classroom and offers tips for teachers who’d like to do the same.

Lauren Santucci was a video producer for Education Week.

Video

Reading & Literacy Video What Happens When Middle and High Schoolers Still Struggle to Read?
When it comes to reading, teachers and experts alike say that many older students still struggle with the basics.
1 min read
Students attend Bow Memorial School in Bow, N.H. on Oct. 29, 2025. Bow Memorial School is a middle school that has developed a systematic approach to addressing foundational reading gaps in middle school students.
Students attend Bow Memorial School in Bow, N.H. on Oct. 29, 2025. Bow Memorial School is a middle school that has developed a systematic approach to addressing foundational reading gaps in middle school students.
Sophie Park for Education Week
Special Education Video How This District Teaches Bilingual Students With Dyslexia
Students with dyslexia receive instruction in Spanish or English, depending on their dominant spoken language.
2:28
School & District Management Video The Enemy of Smart, Strategic Spending Decisions in K-12 Districts: Leadership Churn
The EdWeek Research Center surveyed district leaders on the barriers to long-term thinking.
Professional Development Video How One District Is Getting Secondary Teachers Up to Speed on Reading Support
A district invests in improving secondary teachers' knowledge to help students needing reading support.
1 min read
High school teachers learn how to teach reading to struggling older readers during an AIM training at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga., on Nov. 10, 2025.
High school teachers learn how to teach reading to struggling older readers during an AIM training at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga., on Nov. 10, 2025.
Jason Drakeford for Education Week