Transitional+Ideas

Ways to Transition Smoothly From One Activity to Another:
 * Use Preferred Activity Time (P.A.T.)- Give students a set amount of time to transition from one activity to another and be sure to make your [[image:PATGraphic2.gif align="right"]] expectations clear to students. If students are ready and transitioned to the next activity before the set time (ex. ready in one minute when they had two minutes to be ready by) then the extra time is recorded by the teacher on the board. The extra time from each transition is added together until a larger chunk of time is together and students have collected ten or more minutes, The teacher then sets a time in the week when students can use P.A.T. to do what they chose to do.
 * Have kids "switch channels"- Fun way to have kids change their mindsets from one subject to another. Tell students something along the lines of "We are done with reading. Now it is time to for math, so change your brain to the math channel." Students have fun switching a pretend switch on the side of their heads to and this is a quick, simple way to transition from one subject to another.
 * Countdown from 10- Teacher gives the students instructions about what they are to transition to next. After instructions are given, the teacher counts down from ten. By the time the teacher reaches one, students are to be in their seats working or beginning to work on the next activity. [[image:Screen shot 2012-01-26 at 9_11_31 PM.png width="256" height="186" align="right"]]
 * Song Transition- Use songs to transition from one activity to another. When it is time to transition between activities, the teacher plays a song to indicate that it is time to change activities. The teacher does not have to say anything and students know it is time to clean up and get ready for the next activity.
 * onlinestopwatch.com- The site has fun countdowns and timers that can be used, such as a rocket, to countdown time students have to transition from one activity to another. The stopwatch can be shown on the projector in the class so all can see the timer and be motivated to transition before time runs out.
 * "Come to the Carpet"- When it is time for students to transition from one activity to an activity on the carpet, the teacher can play the song "Come to the Carpet" from YouTube ([]) on the projector. It is a fun song to show students when it is time to go to the carpet.
 * Game of "Statue"- When students are in the hall waiting to go to a special/connection (music, art, etc.) the game is used to help students stay quiet in the hall. One student is chosen to be "it" and say "statue". All students must turn into a statue and be as still and quiet as possible. The person who is "it" then chooses the person who is being the best statue. The game continues until it is time to go into the specified location.
 * Quiet Game- As students go from one location in the school to another, such as from the classroom to the lunchroom, students can play the quiet game. Start the quiet game before students leave the classroom and challenge students to be as quiet as they can in the hallways. Reward quiet students with a sticker or some other form of reward. [[image:images3TCX32YM.jpg align="right"]]
 * Rhymes- Teach students different rhymes at the beginning of the year that they can say as they transition from one activity to another. The rhymes can be fun for students as well as remind them what they are supposed to be doing as they transition.
 * Signals- The teacher can create different signals that can be used in the class to show students when it is time to transition from one activity to another. The signals allow for the teacher to silently communicate with students when it is time to transition. Some signals that teachers can use include flashing the lights on and off, begin a rhythmic clapping pattern, play a song, or use a bell or timer.
 * Rewards- It is important for teachers to reward students when they do well with transitions to encourage positive transitions with students.
 * Tips for transitions:
 * ensure you are specific with students about how you want them to transition from one activity to another
 * model your expectations and have students practice multiple times how to transition
 * be organized with materials students will need being easily accessible
 * monitor transitions and use encouraging words with students when they are doing well with their transitions
 * move around the room and visit problem areas as needed

Helpful Resources to Learn More About Transitions: >
 * [|Concordia University]- details research that was done to determine which transitional technique (use of a timer, playing music, positive discipline, or explicit teaching) works most effectively to transition students from one activity to another and the site provides information about the findings of the research
 * [|Mrs. McDavid's Site]- Mrs. McDavid teaches third grade and has a page of her website that is dedicated to transitions and ideas for teachers of techniques and resources that work well to use during transitions in the class
 * [|BlogSpot]- one BlogSpot has a prompt for people to respond to in the comments section with transition ideas and attention getters they use that other teachers may benefit from using in their classes
 * [|Teaching Channel]- provides different videos with teachers in the field sharing what they do in their classrooms; the specific video shares how one teacher uses choreography to have students transition from one location to another and has students use specific pathways to get from one location to another
 * [|Scholastic]- ideas of 5-minute transitional activities to use with the class, such as the game of "statue"
 * [|Teaching in the Early Years]- an article about ways to have smooth transitions, including the use of the concept of P.A.T. (preferred activity time)
 * [|Teaching with Purpose]- gives a powerpoint that focuses on transitions, when to have these transitions, and types of transitions to have
 * [|eHow]- another source to provide ideas for transitions in the class from one location to another or from one activity to another
 * [|The Teacher's Corner]- different line-up strategies a teacher can use to help students line up and be quiet in the halls
 * [|Ms. Thurman's Chalkboard]- different forms of music and songs teachers can use to help signal students when it is time to transition from one activity or location to another