Transitions make the school day feel smooth and well-organized or rushed and crazy! Smooth procedures help both the students and teacher create an efficient, positive, and productive classroom.
Establishing and teaching transitions that your students can learn quickly is extremely important.
I recommend teaching transitions the very first day of school. Explain, model, and practice! The modeling is key. Model the incorrect ways to transition and then ask for volunteers to model the correct ways. This ensures the students know exactly what it is they are supposed to be doing during a transition. At the beginning of the year, I recommend teaching no more than 2 transitions per day. This will prevent overwhelming your students.
Consistancy is KEY. If you've been around my blog for awhile, you know this is something I preach often. You.Have.To.Be.Consistant. The transitions must be practiced in a pre-set way for the same routines/activities each day.
It's vital you give your students enough time to transition. This helps eliminate or reduce any problems that may arise, which in turn, gives you more instructional time. However, on the flip side, if your kids are struggling with taking TOO long to transition, set a timer! Kids love trying to beat the timer!
With smooth transitions in place, you'll find that your day is much less stressful for both you AND your students!
Over my teaching career, I have used sounds as transition tools. I have found that they are soothing and kids respond so well to them. I use four specific sound tools in my classroom and I will outline them below.
1. Zenergy Chimes-I ding these chimes three times to let kids know to come to the carpet. When they hear the sound of the chimes, they know they need to stop what they are doing, clean up their area, and come join their classmates and I at the rug.
2. School bell-I ring this anytime the kids need to clean up. I use it daily for center time clean up as well as when I want my student to stop working and clean up their area. It comes in handy after inside recess, as well.
3. Doorbell-I use the wireless doorbell to indicate to the class that it's time to line up. This is a transition that we practice a lot at the start of the year!
4. Push bell-I use the push bell to let the class know we will be meeting at the front of the room. The majority of my teaching is done on the rug, but occasionally we meet at the front of the room.
When I introduce these sounds in the fall, we practice a lot! I've linked my sound tools for you below. Click the Amazon image and you'll be taken to my store. Once there, click "Classroom Supplies." You'll find all my classroom favorite there, including my sound tools. *affiliate links*
A movement word/word of the day poster is a great way to implement transitions. Simply choose a word for the day (or week) and let your kids know what it is upon arrival. I like to use seasonal/holiday words! When explaining directions, remind them not to move until you've said the word! I use a little poster that I made but you can always just write the word on your whiteboard. Click HERE to grab the free poster!
Classroom Callbacks are a fun way to get students' attention! I like using these callback posters for simple reminders and encouragement.
A few years ago, I created this "Procedures" checklist. It includes many common procedures you'll be going over at the start of the year. It's editable, too, in case you want to add procedures specific for your classroom or school. You can use this as a guide to teach procedures and transitions in your classroom!
xo
Megan
Establishing and teaching transitions that your students can learn quickly is extremely important.
I recommend teaching transitions the very first day of school. Explain, model, and practice! The modeling is key. Model the incorrect ways to transition and then ask for volunteers to model the correct ways. This ensures the students know exactly what it is they are supposed to be doing during a transition. At the beginning of the year, I recommend teaching no more than 2 transitions per day. This will prevent overwhelming your students.
Consistancy is KEY. If you've been around my blog for awhile, you know this is something I preach often. You.Have.To.Be.Consistant. The transitions must be practiced in a pre-set way for the same routines/activities each day.
It's vital you give your students enough time to transition. This helps eliminate or reduce any problems that may arise, which in turn, gives you more instructional time. However, on the flip side, if your kids are struggling with taking TOO long to transition, set a timer! Kids love trying to beat the timer!
With smooth transitions in place, you'll find that your day is much less stressful for both you AND your students!
Over my teaching career, I have used sounds as transition tools. I have found that they are soothing and kids respond so well to them. I use four specific sound tools in my classroom and I will outline them below.
1. Zenergy Chimes-I ding these chimes three times to let kids know to come to the carpet. When they hear the sound of the chimes, they know they need to stop what they are doing, clean up their area, and come join their classmates and I at the rug.
2. School bell-I ring this anytime the kids need to clean up. I use it daily for center time clean up as well as when I want my student to stop working and clean up their area. It comes in handy after inside recess, as well.
3. Doorbell-I use the wireless doorbell to indicate to the class that it's time to line up. This is a transition that we practice a lot at the start of the year!
4. Push bell-I use the push bell to let the class know we will be meeting at the front of the room. The majority of my teaching is done on the rug, but occasionally we meet at the front of the room.
When I introduce these sounds in the fall, we practice a lot! I've linked my sound tools for you below. Click the Amazon image and you'll be taken to my store. Once there, click "Classroom Supplies." You'll find all my classroom favorite there, including my sound tools. *affiliate links*
A movement word/word of the day poster is a great way to implement transitions. Simply choose a word for the day (or week) and let your kids know what it is upon arrival. I like to use seasonal/holiday words! When explaining directions, remind them not to move until you've said the word! I use a little poster that I made but you can always just write the word on your whiteboard. Click HERE to grab the free poster!
Classroom Callbacks are a fun way to get students' attention! I like using these callback posters for simple reminders and encouragement.
Megan
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