How do you handle transition times in your classroom?
Transitions can be a difficult time for many students.
By having clear and precise routines, students will know their exact expectations.
Many unwanted behaviors occur simply because students haven't been taught what is expected of them.
At the beginning of the year, don't forget to spend a lot of time actually practicing and ACTING out expectations.
Bell ringers, entrance cards, or do nows are activities that students are expected to complete immediately after entering the classroom.
They should be able to be completed successfully and independently.
If they are reviewing difficult or new concepts, then students will have questions and want to approach the teacher...which defeats the purchase of having the students enter and get focused independently.
It allows the teacher time for necessary management tasks.
It also maximizes teaching time by creating structured routines.
Less time redirecting and disciplining means more time teaching and learning!
#1 Quote of the Day
A fun bell ringer is to use the quote of the day.
Teachers may also want to create a suggestion box for students to share their favorite quotes.
Each day, display a new quote.
Students may draw a picture of the quote, describe what the quote means to them or expand on a situation in which this quote could be helpful or reflective.
Students may also explain if they agree or disagree with the quote.
Students may also create their own posters or mini desk posters with their favorite quotes.
We have many posters in our store to help get you started.
Also, don't forget to use some of the quotes students submit in your suggestion box to create higher interest!
Post this free poster on the board. During a transition time, have each student share one accomplishment to celebrate!
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#2 Task Cards
Teachers may display task cards on a white board at the front of the room.
Students are given a student response form to record their answers.
Most task cards come in a set of 30.
Teachers may display 2-3 cards per day.
Remember, the cards should be a review of previously taught content, not new learning.
Here are some FREE task cards to try in your classroom.
Teachers may display task cards on a white board at the front of the room.
Students are given a student response form to record their answers.
Most task cards come in a set of 30.
Teachers may display 2-3 cards per day.
Remember, the cards should be a review of previously taught content, not new learning.
Here are some FREE task cards to try in your classroom.
Click HERE for over 100 free sets of task cards.
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#3 Word Lists
Have students make up a word list for as many words as they can think of when they hear the word school.
You may substitute any word.
You may substitute any word.
You may also wish to give a crossword puzzle:
For more printable crossword puzzles, click HERE.
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#4 Word Finder Games
Write a word on the board relevant to your current classroom themes, seasons, holidays, etc.
Students must create as many words as they can out of the one word.
For higher students, you could have them add up the value of their words using Scrabble values.
For more printable vocabulary activities, click HERE.
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#5 Onomatopoeia Writing Activity
Ask the students to write a few sentences or short paragraph about something that happened to them yesterday (or something they wish to make up).
Encourage the students to write them using words that give a stronger image, such as, crash, slam, trill, etc.
Encourage the students to write them using words that give a stronger image, such as, crash, slam, trill, etc.
You may wish to use free writing paper from our store. Click HERE.
#6 Math Word Problems
Students never seem to get enough practice solving real world math problems.
Students may write a one-step or multi-step word problems based on their current math skills.
I would suggest keeping it open ended for optimal creativity.
If you feel you must choose a concept, keep it broad to include all level of learners independently. For example, fractions.
To encourage more complex problems, let the students know you will be solving them later. Challenge them to stump the teacher.
Students may write a one-step or multi-step word problems based on their current math skills.
I would suggest keeping it open ended for optimal creativity.
If you feel you must choose a concept, keep it broad to include all level of learners independently. For example, fractions.
To encourage more complex problems, let the students know you will be solving them later. Challenge them to stump the teacher.
Students will need basic understanding of word problems to write their own.
You may wish to have them practice first.
You may wish to have them practice first.
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For 5 more bell ringer ideas, visit Edutopia HERE.
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You may also like these resources from our Amazon Associate store:
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Ready to transform those first chaotic five minutes of class into authentic learning? Then it's time to Take Five! With this resource, students will exercise their mental muscles and sharpen language arts skills as they tackle Common Core Standard-based lessons and fun-filled activities.
Whether students are inventing secret codes, concocting potions, rewriting history, making conjunction paper chains, or thinking like newspaper editors, these diverse and creative prompts will have them looking forward to the part of the day when they are asked to Take Five for critical thinking.
The 180-plus prompts establish the learning environment from the minute that students step into your class. Each ready-to-use prompt includes corresponding Common Core standards, supply lists, language arts links, teacher tips, assessment options, rubrics, and digital connections that add more than 100 extension lessons.
Students in grades 3-9 will enjoy beginning each day of the school year with a burst of critical thinking and fun with this comprehensive resource. Ready? Set? Take Five!
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General Science: Daily Bell Ringers for grades 5 to 8 features daily activities that prepare students for assessment expectations. Aligned to current state standards, this science supplement offers review and additional practice to strengthen skills and improve test performance.
Mark Twain Media Publishing Company specializes in providing engaging supplemental books and decorative resources to complement middle- and upper-grade classrooms. Designed by leading educators, this product line covers a range of subjects including math, science, language arts, social studies, history, government, fine arts, and character.
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Learners with no, minimal, or limited exposure to formal education generally do not share the expectations and assumptions of their new setting; as a result, they are likely to find themselves confounded by the ways in which the language and content are presented, practiced, and assessed in Western-style educational settings. Institutions and teachers must tailor therefore their instruction to this population. Making the Transition to Classroom Success: Culturally Responsive Teaching for Struggling Language Learners examines how understanding secondary and adult L2 learners’ educational paradigm, rooted deeply in their past experiences and cultural orientations, provides a key to the solution to a lack of progress.
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Sing your way through difficult times of the day and watch your job get easier!
Young children in school go through many transitions throughout the day. What can make ten children settle down, clean up, and move from room to room without protest?
Even if you're uncomfortable singing in public, the simple songs in this book will help you glide smoothly through tough transitions such as greetings and good-byes, calling attention, cleaning up, moving, waiting, and slowing down. Children will feel more powerful and in control, reducing stress levels during the more difficult times in your day. You will learn songs that everyone will love singing, including:
"Get On Board, Little Children" and "We're On Our Way," which move toe-tapping children in and out of the classroom
"Go to Sleep, My Little Pumpkins," which helps kids wind down for naptime
"Cleaning Spirit," which acknowledges children as they clean up the classroom
The CD includes multiple songs for each transition area, and the book includes a transition planning guide and lyrics to all 69 songs, formatted so you can easily create your own song cards.
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The author of the best-selling book Transition Time brings you more attention-grabbing, creative activities that provide children with an outlet for wiggles, while giving their brains a jump start with cross-lateral movement games. Grab their attention with songs, games, and fingerplays for any time of the day. These classroom-tested ideas are sure to become favorites!
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It’s never been easier to keep kids on track! Unique timer’s light and sound cues help to keep your whole class on track. Features 180° viewing and a large, easy to read LCD display. Allows quick programming of 3 colored lights (red, yellow and green) and 6 sound effects that alert children to time remaining. Can be customized to suit your needs.
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Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!