Classroom Transitions
The act of students moving within educational units in different perspectives or teachings is described as classroom transitions. The primary reason is that with the right transition the students will be able to have the required concentration on the next task which in terms will make them less troublemaking and it all together will give the better learning environment.
A very good method for handling the transitions in a classroom is to utilize visual or auditory signals such as timers or bells to indicate when the transition is about to happen. To make it easier for students to follow, a teacher can also use a routine such as a "transition song" or cabalistic chant to represent the transition and involve students. For example, a teacher might play a snippet of music that the students already know is their signal to clean up and get ready for the next activity.
Transitions have the potential to affect the behavior and learning of students either by helping them in a smoothoing shift or by causing them a disruption. A well-handled transition can help the students keep concentration andm reduce downtime, while the transitions, which suddenly come or are not well communicated, may bring about confusion and behavioral issues. For instance, students are, all of a sudden, moved from a calm reading session to an active group activity without any notice, which may lead to the students being restless or misbehaving.
In the classroom transition, visuals serve as vital means of instruction by showing students the specific behavior that is expected during a change of activity. This may include charts and schedules, visual schedules, or use of colors to indicate what might help students comprehend the day's activities. An example of such visuals is a visual schedule that contains the list of activities in order, to help students realize what they are going to do next, thus, decreasing anxiety and promoting self-dependence.
During the transition phase, teachers are able to involve students with the help of giving them the ownership of certain activities like leading the class in a transition song or being solely responsible for passing out materials required for the next activity. This type of strategy empowers students and at the same time encourages them to be more committed and responsible. For instance, the teacher can let one student play the ''transition leader'' task, which would foster the development of leadership skills and consequently make transitions more fun-filled.