Something that I found helpful is a doorbell! I ring it every time we need to transition. Getting a book basket is a wonderful idea when my assistant and I need to clean tables for snack or while we get things prepped for activities!
Your ideas work for Kindergarten kids as well...I've always thought that coming together in the circle was very much an older kid version of how a toddler keeps coming back to mom, to touch base. Preschoolers and K students seem to also need to touch base with the parent figure in the class before being able to switch to another activity. I love music with littles--it creates a group feeling, uses a different part of their brains; movement/music/singing has a way of honoring kids' needs and keeping the teacher sane!
Yes, yes, yes! This all makes so much sense. It's important for children to have a spot to come together throughout the day. I love how you describe it as "touching base". I've also needed to call the children to the carpet when we've had little issues come up that meant we needed everyone together. (We've had a couple of incidents where a child got sick and we needed to get everyone away from the area. I quickly sang my song and they knew to come to circle so my assistant could help the sick child and keep the children away.)
Love your videos! I'm currently watching thru your fall/winter videos for activity ideas for my 3 year olds. I have an all girl class this year, crazy but so fun!
I love this tip! What I usually do is to offer my students some water in the transition moments. That way I make sure they drink enough water. Maybe I can rotate between these 2 ideias depending on the transition
This is a great idea, but for instance if it’s before snack, do you have them all line up at the sink to wash hands? I feel like the books would help my classroom with transitions, if I took out hand washing or cleaning up. After centers when you do this trick, do they clean up first or just leave everything and come back later? The cleaning up is a hard part and then getting everyone’s hands washed before a meal is another hard time. I have 12 2/3 year olds with just 2 staff.
We do a group clean up after centers time is over and then I invite the children to come to the circle to get a book. When circle time is over, some children go to our back sink and some to our front sink (we have 2 teachers at that time) to wash hands and then head to snack. It definitely can be hard at the start of the year when we are still learning the routine, so I make sure to allow extra time for everything.
Sheryl, your ideas are always so easy to implement. Thanks so much! I have a question - is that a light table behind you? If so, would you be willing to share info, please?
Hi Kim! I had the link to the light table in my Amazon store and then noticed it’s no longer available. But you might want to look at Jonti Craft as I’ve used theirs, too. Check Amazon for that brand.
How would you handle a classroom full of high energy 3 year old boys? The daycare I work for is strict with schedule (so no cutting circle time short) and no cell phones allowed in the room for music.
I would find activities that allowed them to move. I would add music (you don’t need a phone - you can use CDs) that get the wiggles out. Add instruments or streamers. Try rhythm sticks! For other times of the day, find lots of hands-on activities that align with their interests. In other words, look for ways that keep them from having to stay in one spot for very long. I’ve even pulled the chairs away from the art table and had them stand.
I put a few extras in the basket but I always have at least the same amount as the number of children in the class. We also have a bookshelf close by if they would like something different.
Any tips for integrating this or something else similar not at the start of the school year? I replaced a teacher after two weeks. Transitions are HARD. The first few weeks of school were chaos. The former teacher had her baby in class with her. We’ve gotten better since I’ve been there, but it’s still so hard to get them into a routine.
Decide how you want to handle transitions and start now, as though it's the start of the school year. It might take a bit longer since they were used to things a different way, but stay extremely consistent. My first year of teaching started mid-year in a similar situation. I had to pretty much start all over again but they caught on!
Absolutely, and this is what I meant by teaching them to gently put their books in the basket. From the first day of school we learn how to treat our books carefully. Also, this transition helps them learn how to hold books and to turn pages. We have very few ripped books because we work on how to handle them from the very start.
I have toddler classroom we have 16 kids between age 2, 21/2 almost 3 and I tried everything how to do transition another activities or circle time even with a basket of books . They start fighting refused to put the book back to the basket they throw the book on the floor I talk with them with gentle voice or sing a song and nothing works. .
Hi Lakisha! I haven't taught under 24 months, so I don't have experience transitioning with that age group. But 24-36 months I'd follow what is recommended in this video, as it's what I do daily.
Something that I found helpful is a doorbell! I ring it every time we need to transition.
Getting a book basket is a wonderful idea when my assistant and I need to clean tables for snack or while we get things prepped for activities!
Those are great ideas, Stephanie. Thank you!
Thank your for always putting on great videos. Your tips are always really easily to use!
excellent. Another excellent tip that you share with the community!! Big Thanks!!
Your ideas work for Kindergarten kids as well...I've always thought that coming together in the circle was very much an older kid version of how a toddler keeps coming back to mom, to touch base. Preschoolers and K students seem to also need to touch base with the parent figure in the class before being able to switch to another activity. I love music with littles--it creates a group feeling, uses a different part of their brains; movement/music/singing has a way of honoring kids' needs and keeping the teacher sane!
Yes, yes, yes! This all makes so much sense. It's important for children to have a spot to come together throughout the day. I love how you describe it as "touching base". I've also needed to call the children to the carpet when we've had little issues come up that meant we needed everyone together. (We've had a couple of incidents where a child got sick and we needed to get everyone away from the area. I quickly sang my song and they knew to come to circle so my assistant could help the sick child and keep the children away.)
Love your videos! I'm currently watching thru your fall/winter videos for activity ideas for my 3 year olds. I have an all girl class this year, crazy but so fun!
I’m so glad you like them! Thank you!
I love this tip! What I usually do is to offer my students some water in the transition moments. That way I make sure they drink enough water. Maybe I can rotate between these 2 ideias depending on the transition
The water idea is good and important!
THANK YOU SO MUCH .... I REALLY LIKE YOUR IDEAS ....I USUALLY SING THE MAKE-UP SONGS AS WELL....THEY COME IN SO MAGICAL
Singing during transitions makes such a difference. Thank you for watching! 😊
This is a great idea, but for instance if it’s before snack, do you have them all line up at the sink to wash hands? I feel like the books would help my classroom with transitions, if I took out hand washing or cleaning up. After centers when you do this trick, do they clean up first or just leave everything and come back later? The cleaning up is a hard part and then getting everyone’s hands washed before a meal is another hard time. I have 12 2/3 year olds with just 2 staff.
We do a group clean up after centers time is over and then I invite the children to come to the circle to get a book. When circle time is over, some children go to our back sink and some to our front sink (we have 2 teachers at that time) to wash hands and then head to snack. It definitely can be hard at the start of the year when we are still learning the routine, so I make sure to allow extra time for everything.
Sheryl, your ideas are always so easy to implement. Thanks so much! I have a question - is that a light table behind you? If so, would you be willing to share info, please?
Hi Kim! I had the link to the light table in my Amazon store and then noticed it’s no longer available. But you might want to look at Jonti Craft as I’ve used theirs, too. Check Amazon for that brand.
Hi Sheryl, i love the idea of the book transition, terima kasih🙏🤗
How would you handle a classroom full of high energy 3 year old boys? The daycare I work for is strict with schedule (so no cutting circle time short) and no cell phones allowed in the room for music.
I would find activities that allowed them to move. I would add music (you don’t need a phone - you can use CDs) that get the wiggles out. Add instruments or streamers. Try rhythm sticks! For other times of the day, find lots of hands-on activities that align with their interests. In other words, look for ways that keep them from having to stay in one spot for very long. I’ve even pulled the chairs away from the art table and had them stand.
Does your class have nap time at all?
awesome! do you have enough books for all the kiddos? do you put more than you need?
I put a few extras in the basket but I always have at least the same amount as the number of children in the class. We also have a bookshelf close by if they would like something different.
Thank you for sharing us your ideas which we can use😘🥰😇
You're so welcome. Thank you for watching!
Great tips!
Thank you!
Any tips for integrating this or something else similar not at the start of the school year? I replaced a teacher after two weeks. Transitions are HARD. The first few weeks of school were chaos. The former teacher had her baby in class with her. We’ve gotten better since I’ve been there, but it’s still so hard to get them into a routine.
Decide how you want to handle transitions and start now, as though it's the start of the school year. It might take a bit longer since they were used to things a different way, but stay extremely consistent. My first year of teaching started mid-year in a similar situation. I had to pretty much start all over again but they caught on!
I love it ❤️
Thank you!
But you also need to teach them how to take care of them too. Not fight over them or rip them. Especially if I pay for them! I'd rather do toys .
Absolutely, and this is what I meant by teaching them to gently put their books in the basket. From the first day of school we learn how to treat our books carefully. Also, this transition helps them learn how to hold books and to turn pages. We have very few ripped books because we work on how to handle them from the very start.
I have toddler classroom we have 16 kids between age 2, 21/2 almost 3 and I tried everything how to do transition another activities or circle time even with a basket of books . They start fighting refused to put the book back to the basket they throw the book on the floor I talk with them with gentle voice or sing a song and nothing works. .
How to transition between all 18 months - 36 months
Hi Lakisha! I haven't taught under 24 months, so I don't have experience transitioning with that age group. But 24-36 months I'd follow what is recommended in this video, as it's what I do daily.