If you have been in education for any length of time, you have likely noticed that classroom transitions can be tough. While some students seamlessly transition from one activity to another, other students can fall apart. Whether it’s due to lack of structure, leaving a preferred activity, or following group directions, they can be hard for some kiddos. The good thing is, we have the ability to manipulate environmental factors so students can be successful. Here are some helpful strategies to implement in the classroom to help make transitioning between activities a bit smoother.
Timers
Timers are the MVP of supporting classroom transitions. They can be used as a countdown to when the activity will end, or can time the length of the transition. I like using timers to show how long students have to clean up an activity. This helps give students a more concrete reference, as saying something like “5 minutes” may be abstract for younger students.
Songs
Using songs as a signal for classroom transitions can help with independence among students. Playing a clean up song to denote clean up time, a line up song so students know it’s time to line up, a rug song so students know it’s time to meet on the rug. This also gives time for the transition to the new activity, as the length of the song gives that natural cue. It also saves your voice as a teacher! You can support individual students during transitions instead of having to verbally cue.
Visual Schedules
I like using a whole class visual schedule so students can visually see the activities and the order of the day. Flipping over schedule cards can give a concrete cue that one activity is ending and another is beginning. Having individual visual schedules for specific students is also really helpful. They can be tailored to student needs and can support independence and reading for meaning.
Transition objects
Sometimes classroom transitions are very overwhelming for children. Providing an object that a student takes during transitions to provide security, a consistent task, and potentially sensory input, can be very helpful. In the past I have used small stuffed toys, sensory tools, and books.
Transition tasks and jobs
If transitioning between tasks is challenging for a student, try building in a job for them. Having a specific task, like passing out hand sanitizer or turning lights on/off, can be very supportive. This gives students a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and positively occupies them.
Countdown warnings
When students are really engaged in a task, it can be hard to have that task end abruptly. Even if students know they’re transitioning to PE at 10:15, if they’re engaged in free reading, they may have lost track of time. Providing countdown warnings can help students ready themselves for the upcoming transition. Providing individual timers for certain students can be a simple and effective accommodation.
Short, preferred task after transitioning
Some children respond well to a short and simple task after they transition to a new activity. Consider coloring in a chart, writing their name to “sign in” to the new activity, or completing a simple puzzle. This short task can be grounding and give kids a sense of accomplishment and success.
Buddy system
Use the buddy system! Having peer buddies in classrooms can be a fun, community-focused way to support student success. Student buddies help keep their classroom running smoothly by using classroom-identified language to help redirect one another to the classroom schedule.
Extend transition time
Don’t be afraid to accommodate. If you have a student that really struggles with transitioning between activities, extend their transition time! Some students really thrive when they’re given the right tools and time to get where they need to be. The extended time can allow for timers, transition objects, tasks, and jobs to be utilized without sacrificing valuable instructional time.
What do you think? Will you try some of these classroom transition supports to move from chaos to calm?
