Transitional+Ideas

[|Teaching Transitions]


 * Making statements such as: **
 * "All eyes on me"
 * "Everyone, fold your hands and look at me"
 * "Freeze!"
 * Bell tone, rain stick, wind chime, or piano chord
 * Flicking lights
 * Rhythmic hand clapping

Charles, C. M., and Gail W. Senter. "Chapter 11." Elementary Classroom Management. White Plains, NY: Longman, 1995. 243. Print.

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Transition Songs:

Coming to the carpet song: 5, 6, 7, 8 Come to the carpet use your walking feet Come to the carpet moving to the beat Come to the carpet be careful no to shout and don't forget that when you sit to have a quiet mouth Criss cross apple sauce hands on lap ginger snap back straight chocolate shake root beer lips zipped cool whipped ssshhhhh

A whistle would be used when all of the other transition ideas are not working. This is a great way to grab the student's attention.

Silent Math -During the times your entire class is lined up and waiting, have one child start by using fingers and hand signals to give math problems. (Example: Hold up one finger (1), then make a plus sign (+), then two fingers (1+2). Lastly, put one hand above the other facing in opposite directions for the equal sign(=).) If a student wants to answer, he/she must raise their hand to be called on. They must give the answer using fingers and hand signals.

[|Teaching with Purpose]

Lining Up Ideas – Have students line in alphabetical order, in sequence of their birthdays, have the students spell or define vocabulary words while lining up, spell a spelling word, by height, by colors, or patterns, etc.

[|Teaching with Purpose]

Marvelous Microphone – Pre-make out of a cardboard roll, aluminum foil, black tissue paper and glue. This could used as an attention grabber or used when students would like to speak during circle/meeting time.

[|Teaching with Purpose]

Sensory Starters – Before kicking off a lesson give students a clue of what they’ll be learning about by creatively appealing to one or several of the senses – smell, hear, taste, touch, and sight.

[|Teaching with Purpose]

Picture Talk- Collect a series of different pictures or postcards that are related to a learning unit – ex: places, animals, people from other cultures, homes, seasons, etc. Use the pictures as a tool to create math word problems, as writing prompts, to ask open-ended questions, or as a visual memory game, etc.

[|Teaching with Purpose]

Pass the Parcel – Cover a small box in brown paper. It is played like hot potato. It could be used as a lesson summarizer - when the music or counting stops that student has to say a fact that they learned about in the learning unit, ask a question about the unit, or answer a question.

[|Teaching with Purpose]

Create a classroom “Happy Box” – decorate several shoe boxes with contact paper/wrapping paper/or fabric. Fill it with a variety of themed materials. These materials should correlate with your specific learning unit. Rotate the materials out for each unit and add to items every few weeks. This could be a filler for students who finish an activity early.

[|Teaching with Purpose]

Tips and Tricks • Be prepared, transitions should be thought out and made part of the lesson. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">• Establish and maintain daily routine. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">• Tell students your expectations. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">• Try to eliminate as much wait time as possible. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">• Make sure enjoyable activities follow a less motivating one. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">• Don’t give too many verbal directions at one time. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">• Give students a task to complete while they wait. For example counting, spelling, or guessing activities while waiting in line. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">• Be sure to have back up plans in sticky situations.