Multi-Sensory Transitions in the Pre-K Classroom

Lights, Timer, Music, Action! by Gail Mishler

Posted on July 30th, 2014

Young children are learning many new skills in Pre-K.  The daily schedule can be rigorous and the many transitions they must comply with can be difficult for them.  Think about when you are in deep concentration working on something important to you; either a paper you are writing, or a project you're creating... now imagine in this process, someone keeps telling you to stop, put away your things and do something else...right now. Frustrating, right?  So beside making the classroom environment, warm, friendly, safe and engaging, let's consider how to make transitions smooth.  

The biggest transition of the day is from Choice/Center Time to Circle Time.  The children have been active and engaged, and now we insist they stop, clean and come to circle with hands folded in laps and lips still.  A challenge for the best of us.  In my observation of children at many sites in an urban center in Connecticut, I found that time-warnings and a multi-sensory approach to transitions often helps maintain a calm classroom environment during transitions and can be comforting to students who find transitioning difficult.

Multi-Sensory Transitions

1) Give a 5 minute warning to all students, going around to each center - not a loud announcement across the room.

2) Give 1 minute warning.

3) Allow student to ring a bell or hit a gong, drum or tambourine.

4) Turn off or flash the lights (3-4 flashes are needed - let a student do this)

5) Announce "Clean up" and Set a Timer

6) Put on a song that is upbeat, 2.5 - 3 minutes in length. Use the same song every day so children learn the timing/length of clean up time. *You do not have to use a "clean up" song.  Some teachers use a short classical piece, or a traditional folk song

7) Model and assist children with clean up.

IMPORTANT

As soon as 2 children are done and heading toward the rug, one teacher is there with an activity ready to begin.  Do not wait for all of the children. Begin with finger songs or music and movement or nursery rhymes until all are seated on rug, with assistant(s) finish helping stragglers with cleanup.

Explain this routine and model it the first week.  The more you allow children to be responsible for the steps, the better!  Stick with your routine for at least two weeks no matter what.  They may resist, they may dig their heels in, but two weeks seems to be the magic time to establish a routine.  The teachers I manage who have stuck to this routine have reported back the success and decrease in problematic behaviors during this transition time.

Remember, the students should not be waiting for you ...
to find the book or materials you need next, talk to another adult, and other distractions. Planning, prepping ahead of time and engaging the students in the steps of the lean up process are the best ways to guarantee smooth transitions.