Reading Timer
A calm countdown for silent reading, read-to-self and stamina building.
Activity
Time
Station rotations
4 × 20 minutes, 60s to switch · 20 minutes total
Press Show to class for the board or projector. The disc shrinks and turns yellow, then red. Space starts and pauses. The screen stays awake while the timer runs.
Time's up!
Great work, everyone.
Why use a reading timer
During independent reading you want students looking at their books, not at you. A quiet visual timer on the board answers “how much longer?” without a word. Turn the colour change off if you'd like the disc to stay a calm green the whole time.
How to run it
- Set the length your class can manage today. Early in the year that might be 8 to 10 minutes.
- Turn off “Warning chime” if any sound will break concentration; the end chime still plays unless you mute it.
- Press Show to class, then Start. Students read until the disc runs out.
- Each day or week, add a minute to build stamina, and celebrate when the class reaches a new length.
Tips
- Track stamina on a chart next to the board: 8, 9, 10… minutes.
- The end message says “Bookmarks in!” when the board reads “Silent reading”.
- Copy link saves today's length so you can open it tomorrow.
Questions teachers ask
How long should silent reading be?
It depends on age and how far into the year you are. Many teachers start short and add a minute at a time as stamina grows. This page starts at 20 minutes; change it with the chips or the minutes box.
Can I make the timer silent?
Yes. Tap the speaker button to mute every sound, or just turn off the 1-minute warning chime.
Will the screen go to sleep during reading time?
While the timer runs, the page asks the browser to keep the screen awake (supported in most current browsers).