6.3.1


Classroom Activities

There are a number of classroom activities that can be utilized to ease a transition. These activities include:

  1. Invite the family to visit the new classroom for a meal, snack, or activity.
  2. Make a picture book of the receiving classroom and staff.
  3. Children visit the receiving classroom.
  4. Receiving staff visit the sending classroom to meet children in their current classroom.
  5. Make a family picture book for the child to keep at school.
  6. Remember the three emotional stages of transition: Letting Go, Uncertainty, Taking Hold.
  7. Help parents to say good-bye to their children in an appropriate manner.
  8. Allow the child to bring a special comfort item from home.
  9. Label the child’s emotions and encourage them to express their emotions appropriately.
  10. Read books about going to school.
  11. Ask about the child’s routine and find ways to incorporate it into the HS classroom at the beginning of the year.
  12. If transitioning from EHS to HS, introduce Circle Time and other routines used in the HS classroom.

Kindergarten Transitions

When a child is transition to a kindergarten program, consider using the following kindergarten-specific transition activities:

  1. Plan a field trip to a kindergarten class including riding a Head Start bus, preferably to the school the children will attend.
  2. Eat cafeteria style meals at the end of the year.
  3. Read books about going to kindergarten.
  4. Enlist the help of a kindergarten student to visit and tell the children about kindergarten or make a book/video about kindergarten.
  5. Have children help get the classroom ready for next year’s students (take art off the walls, clean, organize toys and materials).
  6. Have children share dictations of what they think they will do in kindergarten.
  7. Invite a kindergarten teacher to a parent meeting or have the meeting at their class.
  8. Have children write a letter to their new teacher about their hopes for the next year. The letter can be added to the Transition Packet.
  9. Involve children in choosing items for their portfolios.
  10. Invite staff from local schools to visit (librarian, nurse, bus driver, receptionist).

 

Resources

Additional resources that may assist in the development of transition activities include:

  • Simple Transitions for Infants and Toddlers – Chapter 2: Center Transitions.
  • The Creative Curriculum for Preschool Teaching Guide Transition to Kindergarten.