Effective Transitions in a Self Contained Classroom
Julie Harrell
Thomas University
Table of Contents
Abstract 4
Introduction 5
Review of the Literature 6
The Effect of Instructional Time 7
Classroom Management 8
Classroom Arrangement 9
Positive Behavior in the Classroom 10
Teaching Transition Strategies 11
Planned Lesson Activities and Visuals 14
Procedures/Methodology 15
Participants 15
Instruments 15
Treatment 16
Procedures 17
Data Analysis 18
Results 18
Conclusion 18
Final Comments 18
References 19
Appendices 21
Appendices A 21
Appendices B 22
Appendices C 23
Appendices D 24
Appendices E 25
Abstract
Efficient transition strategies throughout the day can improve a teacher 's instructional time or it can decrease it. Transitions are among the most riskiest times of the day. The busy movement, the close interaction, the loud voices and sense of freedom children have during this time, all come together to increase the possibility of misbehavior. Transitions can also waste precious learning time, bring tension and excitability to the classroom, and make it difficult to settle students back into a state of attentiveness. Therefore, this study examines the following question:
1. How does instructional time improve through the teaching of transition expectations in a first grade classroom?
The purpose of this action research is to explore the most efficient transition strategies in terms of time, readiness, classroom management, and student
“Count minutes spent on ineffective transitions into the classroom, activities to activities, etc, and reduce it by 50%” (Time & Learning, 2011)
Findings from a recent Ofsted report have shown that low-level disruption in the classroom is causing pupils to potentially lose up to one hour of learning each day, and that this may have a detrimental impact on their life chances (Ofsted, 2014). Difficulties managing behavior is a commonly reported source of stress and burnout among teachers, and is resulting in a substantial number leaving the profession within 5 years (Ford et al, 2012). Disruptive behaviour is not only stressful for teachers, but it can be unsettling for pupils, can hinder pupils enjoyment of school and can prevent pupils from fulfilling their potential (Gorard, 2010). Although there has never been a time when all pupils behaved well, all of the time (Viser, 2005), it is important that teachers have a good understanding of the challenges they may face in the classroom, and are equipped with effective strategies to help them manage classroom behaviour. After all, effective behaviour management and discipline in schools is a crucial to ensuring academic success and a positive and safe learning environment (Luisellia et al, 2005).
Preparing to teach young children is an intense process, Tal agrees when he says “Leading the classroom proactively while remaining alert to various people, behaviors, and others factors necessitates thoughtful and complex planning” (145).
Intellectual transitions include changes such as starting primary school, moving classes, key stages or up to secondary school. Also leaving school and moving on to further education or employment. These can all be very stressful changes for some pupils, others however, may be more than ready for the next big step in their educational lives. Obviously, these transitions are all planned, and known about in advance so parents and teachers are able to discuss any issue, and provide support to nervous children. Our primary school has policies and procedures to make each stage less nerve - wracking for children. In our last half term of the school year each child will be told which class room they are going to be in, with
Transitions are commonly described as different phases of concentrated learning and enhanced development in a social context. (Dunlop et al, 2007). There are three types of transitions, each have a different meaning. Vertical transitions describe a major change in a child’s life, for example, moving from pre-school, to the reception class in a school. Internal transitions occur when a child moves to a different room in a setting, for example, from a toddler room to a pre-school room, or reception to year 1. Horizontal transitions is a much broader term, they occur on a day-to-day basis, for example from their house to nursery, having multiple carers in one day, encountering unfamiliar people and many more. (O’Connor, 2013). “Development is all about transitions: conception to birth, birth to toddlerhood, to pre-schooler, school-age child, to adolescent, adolescent to adult, adult to the final
Transition within early years education is a major life event that a child and family go through together. Currently, educational transition is defined as the process of change that children make from one place or phase of education to overtime, Fabian and Dunlop (2002). Starting school is a huge step in a child’s life. For some
The transition from Smithville Middle School to Smithville High School is a stressful event and raises emotions, such as: anxiety, fear, and excitement. The more stress a student experiences from numerous changes between buildings the more they are likely to be disengaged, which results in negative discipline behaviors (Ma, 2003). During the 2015/2016 school year, students not transitioning successfully showed one or more of the following characteristics: little or no academic engagement, dropping grades, inappropriate classroom behavior, or inappropriate relationships with other students.
When you walk into Randolph school, it’s very obvious how teachers give directions and perform transitions. Appropriate procedures during transitions start as early as when students walk to their classrooms. At the beginning of the school day, students gather in the gym, then they are expected to walk themselves to their classrooms in TAPS (total and perfect silence) and buckles (when their hands are folded in front of them). Every Monday and Wednesday I see students do this perfectly in the morning. Then students are also expected to walk like then whenever they are in the hallways during school. This way they are being safe and not distracting classrooms they pass by.
A transfer support system is critical to measuring the effects of training. Since I am a teacher, measuring the effects of training on students and teachers plays a very important role in my life. This year I pre-assessed all of my students before each unit of study. I used the data from the pre-assessments to determine their level of knowledge about the unit of study. By using the pre-assessment data I was able to write individualized instructional objectives for each of my students. I believe this enhanced my understanding of how diverse my classroom is and how it is very important to evaluate each student individually. This provides support to design well-designed lesson plans and assessment. This year I wanted to incorporate higher
The aspects of withitness, momentum and smoothness, group alerting, overlapping, and challenge arousal are all important when trying to reduce classroom misbehavior. The teacher’s ability to know what’s going on in all parts of the classroom at all times is essential and makes the students pay attention because they never know if the teacher is watching them. The factor of momentum and smoothness is also important because the teacher needs to get lessons started promptly, smoothly, and provide transitions. Other factors such as keeping students alert, actively involve in their learning, and holding students responsible for their learning helps classroom management.
Transition in education is a period of change that a child may experience when starting preschool, primary or secondary education. In this essay, the focus will be on issues faced in transition from preschool to primary school.
My teacher uses a timer for transitions. She announces to the students that it is time to change activities, then sets the timer for a specific time. The students are to clean up and prepare for the next activity in that time frame. It is usually anywhere from two to five minutes depending on what type of clean up and preparation is needed. The students respond very well to this method. The beeper is also loud enough for students to here. If needed, my CT is lenient and will give students more time if she notices they are on task and need more time. I have never witnessed her timer transition method fail yet. Her students generally abide by it and respect it.
The following data was gathered while fulfilling duties as a principal intern at Theresa Bunker Elementary School. The data was observed during five to seven minutes of classroom observation as part of a walk-through in the spring of the current school year. My cooperating supervisor for my internship was able to go on these walk-throughs with me in order to have a productive reflection meeting afterwards. This elementary school has two of each grade level from Kindergarten to sixth grade. Since it was more feasible in this small school setting, I actually was able to do a walkthrough in eight classes. Here I will report my observations from five of those walk-throughs. As I went in to each room I was looking for four
Transition phrases like but, rather and or, express that there is evidence to the contrary or point out alternatives, and thus introduce a change the line of reasoning (contrast).
I taught at back home in Saudi Arabia, so I think my teaching context would be different and a little more interesting to read for teachers from outside my country. To build a base for this paper, first I am going to write briefly about the educational system there. Then explain a little bit about my city, community, and school. Lastly, focus on my teaching contexts, class, and students.