Transition Activities for Teachers

Easy Transitioning for Primary Grades From Diane Postman, a teacher in Yorktown, Virginia: “I taught preschool and primary grades. Here are some thoughts  on transitioning for those age groups:  1.   Have a visual schedule so transitions are expected. 2.   Play music. 3.   Give the children a fun way to move from place to place. It can be thematic. E.g., crawl like a spider when teaching spiders. It will make them WANT to change locations. 4.   Be ready for the next activity so there is no waiting. 5.   Start the activity right away. No need to wait for       everyone to be settled. If you start, stragglers will join more quickly and the fast ones won't get ‘antsy.’ 6.   Show them that the next activity is going to be fun.  Kids transition best when engaged.” Transition Tactics From Marilyn Tomaszewski, a second grade teacher in Garden  City, Michigan: “A couple of my students have difficulty transitioning to the other locations within the school and difficulty when sitting without something for their hands to do. At a craft store, I  purchased the mini tote bags for only $1.99 each. They contain items to assist them with transitions, such as a Koosh ball  for sensory input, a book of photos of school locations, and items to keep their hands busy but quiet like a   Magna Doodle, a mini dry-erase board with a marker and an attached eraser. These bags and their contents have helped prevent behavior problems; helped reduce disruptive, self-stimulatory behavior; and,helped save my sanity! The inexpensive mini tote bags could be  used for many purposes.” Works4Me Published by the National Education Association, 1201 16th St, NW, Washington, DC 20036.  Browse All Tips-Source http://www.nea.org/tools/BrowseAllTips.html  More Resources: http://www.mrscjacksonsclass.com/classmanagementideas.htm