Preschool teachers... what special things do you do to help students transition smoothly between activities?

Question

Preschool teachers... what special things do you do to help students transition smoothly between activities?

Answer 1

I have a schedule that I follow everyday, and only changes if the children's need make it necessary, or we have something special  like a field trip.  I give 5 minute warnings for transitions... 5 min left to play before we clean up, 5 min left outside, 5 min left of lunch, etc.  That really seems to work.  Also I have a visual schedule for the children to look at.  It has pictures of each thing  we do in the day and they can see what comes after each thing.

Answer 2

Having a set schedule is probably the best way to do this.  Your schedule may vary, but consider the following.  This is a schedule for half day:

--Children come in, use the bathroom if needed, and sit down on the line.  Talk quietly until class is ready to start.

--Begin with greetings and asking how people are, etc.

--Story (1 or 2, depending on the length)

--Break up into groups for a presentation.

--2 1/2 hour long work period.

--Come together to go outside until it is time to go home.

To move from the presentations into the work period, I quietly say one student's name - one at a time - while they choose a work.  I don't call the next student until the last one has chosen a work.  If a student wants to work with someone else, they may ask and that student may be excused to work with them.  If a person cannot choose a work, I invite them to sit back down until they are ready and know what they want, but they have to wait until I call their name again.  (They basically go to the back of the cue at that point).

For transition from work time into outside time, I found a bell works best.  Other people have other attention getters.  I have them put their work away and come sit down on the line.  Then after a brief meeting, we move outside.

Matt

Answer 3

I sing the "clean up " song which lets the kids know it's time to clean up (after a 5 minute warning of course) The chlldren who are finished sit on the carpet or the table and we do fingerplays depending on what the next activity is. If it's circle time we sing if your ready for a story please sit down

if your ready for a story please sit down

let's all gather near so everyone can hear

if your ready for a story come sit down.

Also we use another fingerplay to get the sillies out of the children to remind them of our class rules.

You can email me if you have any other questions.

Answer 4

I highly suggest songs and limmericks....they work wonders!  I worked with a head start class and we had a little sing-songy verse for every activity. (storytime, playtime, clean-up, lunchtime, naptime, outside time.....)  I suggest getting together with some parents of the kids and see if they use anything at home for these times. If not, they can help you come up with some cute ones!  Good luck!