Transition+Ideas

Smooth transitions for a Kindergarten class

Throughout the day it is necessary for students to re-energize themselves to be able to maintain focus on their school work.


 * When the students seem restless, have them stand up out of their seat and exercise for a minute.
 * Have the students march in place and recite the ABC's or count by 2's, 5's, or 10's.

When it is time for Mrs.Smiths class to clean and get ready for lunch the sing a clean up song.


 * Clean up song- Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere, clean up, clean up, everybody do your share
 * It's important to have predictable tasks for the kids when they come in in the morning. Every morning should start off the same way. * After lunch, Mrs. Smith has the kids go directly their seats when they enter the room to make smoother transitions.


 * Transitions between subjects, can be something as simple as getting the students out of their desk and signing and dancing to a song.
 * Using signals such as timers and bells are teachers best friend. These are great to use to get student's attention rather than shouting over them.
 * Use a backwards countdown right before a new lesson.
 * Post a classroom daily schedule

the senses – smell, hear, taste, touch, and sight.
 * 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
 * *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.
 * End of the day- Sing a good bye song.