We have spoken previously about the activities which might make Y6 transition easier for them. But what about children’s wellbeing during transition? Not just in Year 6, but across the school?
It can be a scary time for any child; moving up a year group can seem daunting. So how can we make the process easier for them?
1. Start each child with a clean slate.
Some children will come to you with a label.
‘They are always distracting others!’
‘Probably won’t ever be above working towards.’
‘They always worked so hard for me!’
These things might turn out to be true, but it’s only fair every child gets a do-over when they get a new teacher, or go into a new year. It gives them a chance to spread their wings and make a difference to their own experience, before we treat them with our pre-conceived perceptions.
2. Give children a chance to show you who they are.
Even if you know the children, which often happens in a small school, it’s worth doing a few tasks during transition to get a view of their individual skills: writing, art, sports are all great activities as you can see a range of talents the class may have.
If you don’t know the children already: a larger school, moving to a different area of the school or a new school altogether – then choosing activities will help you get a real feel for not only the individual children, but also the class as a whole.
It still surprises me every year just how different each cohort is, even in the same year group!
3. Start as you mean to go on…
It’s easy to let behaviour slide on transition days, but introducing rules and routines they will always have means you can start in September with clear expectations. Easier for you…but also the children as they know where they stand!
4. Pass on any needs to teachers, with some background.
If there is something that will make the child more comfortable, able to learn or is necessary for their daily routine then try and know as much as possible before transition days, not just September. Again, easier for you, as well as the child! They will get that immediate sense of understanding from you, which means relationships will have their foundations laid to continue building on during your time together.
Every school will have their own transition routines and ways of working. Some schools have one morning, or day transition. Some schools have more than this. So here are some handy activity hints for the time spent with your new class:
- Letter to their future selves – could be a motivational letter used by Year 6, to open before their SATs. Or, for other year groups, a letter to show how far they’ve come.
- Make bookmarks of their favourite book cover – these can be laminated and given out on their first day and give you an easy insight into which books are popular with your class!
- A Dragon’s Den style project (e.g create an eco invention). Really shows a range of skills – both academic and social – allowing you to get a real sense of how your class work together.
- An art activity – I love @_missiebee Julian Opie style class portraits! A perfect display to start you classroom with a welcoming feel come September!
Every teacher approaches transition day differently! Any handy hints or activities? Add them to our comments, or reply to our blog tweet on Twitter! We’d love to hear and share them!
Emily
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Teaching Isn't B&W 