Brian Sztabnik. “The 8 Minutes That Matter Most”. Edutopia. George Lucas Educational Foundation. Web. 15 Feb 2016.

This blog posting emphasizes the importance of having a strong beginning and a strong ending to a lesson. The eight minutes that matter the most during lessons are the start of a lesson, which activates prior knowledge and creates anticipation, and the end of a lesson, which checks for understanding and comprehension. Developing a creative introduction to the topic stimulates student interest and encourages thinking. The blog offers many ways of engaging students at the beginning of a lesson. Some strategies include using student interests such as YouTube videos and making cross curricular connections. In ending a lesson, teachers can use technology, exit slips, or post-in notes to gain an understanding of what the students have learned. Teachers should also give a quick preview of the next lesson to spur interest and help students connect the different ideas within a larger context.