Our time in the classroom is extremely valuable. It is my job, as the teacher, to ensure that my students are engaged in meaningful learning from the minute they walk through the door until they exit the classroom at the end of the day. One way to do so is to plan for quick and effective transitions and activities for sponge time that will support learning.
TRANSITIONS: Moving from one activity or lesson to the next can take up too much class time if not done efficiently. Transition activities help the class transition to the next task quickly and in an organized manner.
1. Timed Transition
The teacher will set a timer for 30 to 45 seconds. The students are capable of transitioning to the next activity in this time frame, and the timer will keep them moving! The timer will be projected on the screen for the students to see. To add some excitement, use a fun timer such as the one in the link below.
In order for students to prepare for a quick transition, let them know how much time they have until the next transition. Give 5 minute, 2 minute, and 1 minute warnings so that students will be ready to go when it is time to execute the transition!
3. A Version of “I Spy” (Shelby, 2009)
Explain to the class that when you say, “I spy,” everyone needs to stop what they are doing, listen, and respond with, “What do you spy?” Say something like, “I spy children dancing in one place,” or “I spy a rock star silently playing a guitar.” The students will act out that idea until you say again, “I spy.” They will again respond with, “What do you spy?” Then say, “I spy students lining-up quietly.”
You may select a student to lead the activity.
4. Pass the Facts
The teacher will have a beach ball and will ask a question relating to the lesson that they just completed. Then the teacher will pass the ball to a student and the student will answer the question. The teacher will ask another question and the student will pass the ball to a classmate for them to answer the question. The teacher will continue to ask questions about the subject they just discussed and eventually begin asking questions about the subject in which their upcoming lesson is. This is a great way to transition from one subject to the next.
5. Musical Transitions (Vasicek, 2011)
Play music while the students are entering the classroom or while they are transitioning. Select certain songs for certain tasks such as a clean-up song or a line-up song. Keep the songs upbeat so that the children feel the music and move more quickly. Choose timed songs to keep the transitions quick!
SPONGE TIME: Sometimes our perfectly timed lessons end a couple minutes sooner than we anticipated they would, or the students come inside from recess before the recess because it started raining. In these instances, it is important to have a short activity that will engage the students in learning. The activity should be able to start and stop at any time and should be approximately 30 seconds to 3 minutes in length.
1. Flashlight Sight Words (Key, n.d.)
Write sight words on star shapes and stick them on the ceiling. When you have a few extra minutes, grab a flashlight and turn out the lights! The entire class will recite the following chant together:
Flashlight, flashlight oh, so bright! Shine on the word _____ with all your light!
Then choose a student to shine the flashlight on the chosen word. This could also be used for vocabulary words across all subject areas.
2. Be the Teacher (Roberts, n.d.)
Have one or two students “be the teacher” depending on how much time is left.
For this activity, a student will go to the board in the front of the room and be referred to as “Mr.” or “Ms.” In one or two minutes they will reteach what they’ve learned that day. They will be asked questions by both the classroom teacher and by classmates so that the teacher can assess their recap and field questions from classmates.
This can be used in all content areas.
3. Math Facts Race (Hopkins, 2004)
On the board, make two grids numbered across 1 to 9 and down 1 to 9. Divide the class into two teams. Decide whether the students will practice addition, subtraction, or multiplication facts in this game of speed. When the chart is set, say "Go!" The first person on each team races to the board and fills in any square on the math facts grid. For example, if you are using the game to practice addition facts, the student will write the number 6 in the square where the 4 column and the 2 row meet. If any student on either team sees a mistake made by a teammate during the game, he or she can use his/her turn to correct that error. The first team to finish is the winning team if they have every correct answer on their chart.
4. Rhyme That Word! (Shelby, 2009)
Choose a word and a student to start the activity. The first student will think of a word that rhymes and then the next student will think of a different rhyming word. Move around the room allowing the students to take turns rhyming until someone either repeats a words, uses a word that does not rhyme, or cannot think of a rhyming word. Then, start with a new word and keep going!
5. Writing in the Air (Shelby, 2009)
Have students practice their vocabulary words, spelling words, or sight words by writing them with their finger either in the air or on their desk or table. Tell them which word to write and have them practice it two times before giving them another word to spell. You could also have younger students practice writing their name or have students practice writing in cursive.