 they generally have a book waiting for them. They have a quiet seat in the egg chair and pull down the chair cover. This blocks all visual stimulation for them. Then I have the rest of the class transition to the next activity, whether it is to meeting, to line up, or to a center. After the rest of the class is settled, my students in the egg chairs join us, having avoided the chaos of the transition completely. Now, I don’t like to use this all year, as it doesn’t offer them a chance to learn how to deal with transitions (which is a necessary skill in life!) I slowly pull back this support as the year progresses, sometimes completely.
10. Incorporating Movement into the Classroom
I know we are all weighed down by increasing demands in the classrooms with fewer resources and what feels like an ever-increasing student case-load. However, I have found that carving out even a two-minute movement break between activities actually ends up saving me time. Being proactive in this way means that I have to interrupt lessons less often with reminders and redirections. Also, when planning out my day, I try to be conscious of how long I am asking students to sit in the same place. Between longer blocks, I try and break it up with a quick movement break, or at least a change of setting (rug to desk). I also try and have more “hands-on” activities available during center time, although I could do better there! The book 99 Activities and Greetings has a lot of great ideas for quick activities that build community and incorporate movement.